SL/R231: Pre-Safe, Blind Spot, Lane Keeping, ESP and Acceleration issue(s)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Pre-Safe, Blind Spot, Lane Keeping, ESP and Acceleration issue(s)
Thought everyone might be interested in this set of issues and hopefully resolution. 2013 SL550 purchasd new in May '13 currently has 900 mi. Use has been mostly short trips around town--maybe 2-10 mi r/t (avg about 30 MPH) at most with a few 100 mi trips at 60 MPH or more. Observed these symptoms on two different ocassions: pre safe limited availbility, blind spot assist inoperative, lane keeping inoperative, ESP off, no acceleration (but able to reach highway speeds). After first observation and since car had been sitting for about 3 wks thought symptoms attributable to low voltage. Charged battery and symptoms went away. Second observation of same symptoms: shut car off and when to have dinner. Came back, turned the car on and no symptoms, car ran normally. Concerned enough after second observation to call dealer who thought charging the battery was the correct direction to resolve pre safe and simialr functionality but thought the acceleration problem was abnormal. Dealer is picking up car tomorrow, leaving a loaner and will proceed to diagnose problem. Will let you know what he finds.
Any similar experiences, thoughts or opinions welcomed.
Any similar experiences, thoughts or opinions welcomed.
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 86
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From: Ft. Lauderdale
2013 MB SL550
none of those issues and my car is probably close to a garage queen.
Picked it up July 2012 and have 2,000 miles on it. Car has sat for 2 - 3 weeks without being started and no issues. It is not on a charger and 90% of my driving is in town.
Of course the other 10% is at 80 - 100 mph
Picked it up July 2012 and have 2,000 miles on it. Car has sat for 2 - 3 weeks without being started and no issues. It is not on a charger and 90% of my driving is in town.
Of course the other 10% is at 80 - 100 mph
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
none of those issues and my car is probably close to a garage queen.
Picked it up July 2012 and have 2,000 miles on it. Car has sat for 2 - 3 weeks without being started and no issues. It is not on a charger and 90% of my driving is in town.
Of course the other 10% is at 80 - 100 mph
Picked it up July 2012 and have 2,000 miles on it. Car has sat for 2 - 3 weeks without being started and no issues. It is not on a charger and 90% of my driving is in town.
Of course the other 10% is at 80 - 100 mph
We have our 2nd SL for 7 weeks and I have 2500 miles on it
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Dealer picked up today around noon and left an E350 for me to drive. Anticipate some info tomorrow. FloridaJoe, that's great that you've had no charging issues!! I hope I can report the same in a few weeks. Nontheless, what I've read indicates that a trickle charger is recommended particularly when the car is driven lightly. I'm still learning about this car and will continue to experiment. The charging system, in my view, is probably the most complex system on the car and I'm anxious to find out about size of alternator, size and type of battery, amp draw by subsystem, etc.
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, Ca.
2013 SL63
None of those symptoms is normal. Have never experienced any of that.
Sounds like there is a problem in one of the processors or memory units. The MB diagnostics are pretty good. There should be an error event trail that shows up when they plug into the system.
Sounds like there is a problem in one of the processors or memory units. The MB diagnostics are pretty good. There should be an error event trail that shows up when they plug into the system.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Thanks Red308. Would you say your driving history/style with the 2013 SL550 is similar to mine? Both around town and on longer trips, I don't think the RPMs get much above 1500---unless I put it in manual mode, which is rare since I consider it to be in the break-in period.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Just heard from the Service Manager. Fault codes indicated a communication problem between the ESP module and the engine control module. Since the ESP module interfaces with many other modules I was getting pre safe, lane departure, etc errors and because it also interfaces with the engine control module, acceleration problems. Dealer indicates first line of attack is to provide updated software. My car was manufactured in Nov 2012, so ESP software has changed since that time. I have to wonder if I am dealing with Microsoft or MB!!!???
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
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From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Just received the invoice from dealer. All warranty work. The event codes stored were: U010000 in EFB (parking brake), U41600U (steering) and C3A400 in ESP (traction). ESP updated with newer software. Battery checked and no problems.
My concerns about low usage of car adversely impacting battery voltage were unfounded. When the car is at rest (unlike previous version of SL) it draws between 10-50 miliamps with typical readings between 12 and 19. The alternator is max 180 amps (this is a huge alternatior; even though not directly comparable, my boat which has 4 AGM batteries with 1300 amp hours and a 100-150 amp Balmar alternator), SL 550 battery is 95 amp hours, glass mat style, valve regulated (characterized to me by sevice tech. as a no maintenance wet cell battery and not AGM or gel cell) and the charging mgt system is very sophisticated. One objective of charging mgt system is to minimize impact of large alternator on MPG through various on/off and battery charing routines.
My concerns about low usage of car adversely impacting battery voltage were unfounded. When the car is at rest (unlike previous version of SL) it draws between 10-50 miliamps with typical readings between 12 and 19. The alternator is max 180 amps (this is a huge alternatior; even though not directly comparable, my boat which has 4 AGM batteries with 1300 amp hours and a 100-150 amp Balmar alternator), SL 550 battery is 95 amp hours, glass mat style, valve regulated (characterized to me by sevice tech. as a no maintenance wet cell battery and not AGM or gel cell) and the charging mgt system is very sophisticated. One objective of charging mgt system is to minimize impact of large alternator on MPG through various on/off and battery charing routines.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
PROBLEMS PERSIST
Just a few days after getting the car back from the dealer encounteredalmost the same set of messages: lane departure, blind spot, pre safe functionsnot operational--this time both cruise control and distronic were alsodysfunctional. Unlike the first time, acceleration was not an issue. I haveemailed the dealer about these continuing problems, am awaiting his responseand will call tomorrow to set up yet another appointment.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
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From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Message from Service Manager indicates error codes pointed to a controller problem associated with the radar unit. His thinking: controller unit provides information to blind spot, lane departure, pre safe and distronic systems (among others) all of which were not functioning; hence he believes this is the problem. Since this was the same set of symptoms the first time the car was returned to dealer, I am wondering why the computer system did not recall these codes during first service appointment? I'll be able to provide more detail when I get a record of this visit.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 379
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From: MA
13 SL550, 14 E63 Wagon, 15 S550, 11 M3, 08 F430 Spider, 12 ML350
sounds possible. I had similar whacky stuff going on in my E550. They replaced the radar unit and it's been stable since. Good luck this time.
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area, Ca.
2013 SL63
Sorry I did not respond to earlier inquiry. Offline due to family issues.
Anyway, this does not sound like a software update issue...never did sound like one. There is definitely a failed component in one of the control processors.
The MB diagnostics are usually sophisticated enough to identify which one. Somehow force your dealer technicians to call MB central support and learn how to interpret the diagnostics.
Anyway, this does not sound like a software update issue...never did sound like one. There is definitely a failed component in one of the control processors.
The MB diagnostics are usually sophisticated enough to identify which one. Somehow force your dealer technicians to call MB central support and learn how to interpret the diagnostics.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Got car back yesterday. Everything running normally---no distronic, presafe, blind spot or lane departure error messages. It appears replaced radar controller solved problem(s).
In a previous post photopete57 described an identical set of symptoms and replacement of controller to solve them. He seemed to indicate that problem reappeared when he was washing his car and speculated this was caused by a problem with the passanger side mirror. I've emailed him to get status update but so far no return email.
I should have paper work from service manager in a couple days and will provide error codes and insights the service manager may have.
In a previous post photopete57 described an identical set of symptoms and replacement of controller to solve them. He seemed to indicate that problem reappeared when he was washing his car and speculated this was caused by a problem with the passanger side mirror. I've emailed him to get status update but so far no return email.
I should have paper work from service manager in a couple days and will provide error codes and insights the service manager may have.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, VA
2013 SL550, 2011 Buick Enclave
Here's what was reported on my service invoice. All were warranty issues.
Fault code 601000 was found in the distronic control module. First checked for software update, but installed software was the latest version. Only other option was to replace the distronic control module and that was done. Everything back to normal after new hardware. I hopeful this is the last I'll see of the error messages reported earlier. I'm planning a number of lenghty trips in the next month; so if those error messages are to show up again it should be during those trips.
A big thanks to all those who contributed their insights and experience. Much appreciated!
Fault code 601000 was found in the distronic control module. First checked for software update, but installed software was the latest version. Only other option was to replace the distronic control module and that was done. Everything back to normal after new hardware. I hopeful this is the last I'll see of the error messages reported earlier. I'm planning a number of lenghty trips in the next month; so if those error messages are to show up again it should be during those trips.
A big thanks to all those who contributed their insights and experience. Much appreciated!
