SL/R230: Ill be damned.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
Ill be damned.
Cam sensor swap fixed distronic cut out. ( you better believe it ).
I have an extremely busy month behind me, not even having time to talk to friends, so when the SL started making trouble, it was just something that had to be fixed in a hurry, getting on with more important tasks.
2 things annoy me :
Distronic cut out frequently, often after 2-5 miles, for no reason whatever.
Engine started to go from running super smooth to below smooth. It has been sneaking on me for some time, but only recently got worse.
Connected the computer and run Xentry, no errors. Hmm.
Looked at all sensors, with engine running, through Xentry and found that the signal from one camshaft sensor was low and uneven.
Ordered 4 new sensors and replaced them. The engine immediately did run and spin like a kitten, so one task was solved.
Now after driving more than a 1000 miles, the damn Distronic did not cut out, even once, just working perfectly.
At first I thought there is no way this could be related. That thing is fu..ing with me.
On second thought, it came to me that maybe the distronic module had difficulties controlling car speed ( engine rpm ), and therefore did cut out.
I can’t explain it otherwise.
Any other explanation is welcomed.
I have an extremely busy month behind me, not even having time to talk to friends, so when the SL started making trouble, it was just something that had to be fixed in a hurry, getting on with more important tasks.
2 things annoy me :
Distronic cut out frequently, often after 2-5 miles, for no reason whatever.
Engine started to go from running super smooth to below smooth. It has been sneaking on me for some time, but only recently got worse.
Connected the computer and run Xentry, no errors. Hmm.
Looked at all sensors, with engine running, through Xentry and found that the signal from one camshaft sensor was low and uneven.
Ordered 4 new sensors and replaced them. The engine immediately did run and spin like a kitten, so one task was solved.
Now after driving more than a 1000 miles, the damn Distronic did not cut out, even once, just working perfectly.
At first I thought there is no way this could be related. That thing is fu..ing with me.
On second thought, it came to me that maybe the distronic module had difficulties controlling car speed ( engine rpm ), and therefore did cut out.
I can’t explain it otherwise.
Any other explanation is welcomed.
Last edited by SLcharge; Nov 2, 2021 at 04:05 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Just a guess, perhaps a wild one. One could imagine that ANY implausible variable would push the distronic into a safe mode (cut out). The throttle pedal, as an example, acts similarly. Safety wise, the distronic really ought to be very nervous about improbabilities.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
Just a guess, perhaps a wild one. One could imagine that ANY implausible variable would push the distronic into a safe mode (cut out). The throttle pedal, as an example, acts similarly. Safety wise, the distronic really ought to be very nervous about improbabilities.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
2007 Mercedes SL550, 2017 GLC300, 2002 Suzuki Bandit 1200S, 2004 Ducati Monster
You might try a throttle reset, which you should do after disconnecting the battery anyway:
Step on the gas pedal all the way down, the put your key in the ignition, turn it all the way on but don't start the engine. Wait for 60 seconds. then tun the key off and remove it from the ignition. This should reset the throttle. If you don't feel any difference in throttle response, you may want to try it again.
I find it will shift a lot smoother after the reset, especially from 1st to 2nd gear. FYI you should also reset your windows and steering after disconnecting the battery as well.
Brian A.
Step on the gas pedal all the way down, the put your key in the ignition, turn it all the way on but don't start the engine. Wait for 60 seconds. then tun the key off and remove it from the ignition. This should reset the throttle. If you don't feel any difference in throttle response, you may want to try it again.
I find it will shift a lot smoother after the reset, especially from 1st to 2nd gear. FYI you should also reset your windows and steering after disconnecting the battery as well.
Brian A.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
The throttle reset, roughly as described above, makes the tranny 'think' you had a stiff ride and adapts shift patterns accordingly. I found that it quickly adapts to your actual driving style again, so the effect is short lived. Tuners propagate tuning the transmission, personally I think there's not much wrong with the occasional paddles or stick shift use.
