Just got this warning on my dash along with several yellow (orange?) illuminated warning lights, including engine light, ABS light and stability light. Turned off the car and re-started it, hoping it might clear the warning, no luck. Also, when I parked the car I was unable to close the roof and got the “reduce speed” warning on the dash even though the car was parked. Fortunately, I was able to close the roof using the fob.
Has anyone here had this happen to them? Car is a 2016 SL400 with 20,000 miles. TIA.

 

A quick search brought up this result; I hope it's helpful.
https://xenons4u.co.uk/blog/mercedes...rators-manual/

 

Thank you. I also found that when I searched but I was hoping to find someone here with 1st hand experience with it and what the result was. Certainly appreciate your help though.

 

Check your battery, car will behave strangely if your battery is not within spec. Is it the original battery?

 

Yes, it is the original battery and is probably due for replacement. Do you know if this would be the cabin battery or the trunk battery?

 

I would check the trunk battery first.
Good Luck.

 

Just wanted to give an update.
I stopped by my local indy shop this morning. Tech said he has seen this problem before and it’s usually the battery. Have an appointment in 2 weeks to take it in (I’m leaving tomorrow for 10 days).

 

Wanted to post an update on the pre-safe issue. Took the car in today and they diagnosed it as a failed wheel speed sensor. Two and a half hours later the car is fixed and I picked it up. Tech also checked the battery and said it still had a lot of life left in it. All in all, not too bad.

 

Very good to know. I recently have had what sounds like happened with you. The car goings into what seems to be semi-limp mode with delayed accelerator response. Interesting about the wheel speed sensor. Was there a code? I scanned my car and found about 17 modules with faults. Turning off and then on corrected the temporary limp mode problem, but the faults remained stored. I since have been able to clear them all. One of the faults was a short-to-ground in the accelerator pedal, but that could be one of those ghost faults. It's happened twice and I'm waiting to see if it happens again. I need to check the trunk battery. I am taking the car in for a leaking (kinked and split) trunk lift hydraulic line on Monday and may have the dealer check the batteries while there.

 

Had a front left wheel sensor replaced on my ‘19 SL550 for the same reason.

 

I don’t have a scan tool and the indy repair shop did not share his scan with me. My Pre-safe warning appeared in yellow, not red and the car retained most functionality (i.e, not in limp mode). Quite frankly I extremely happy with the results and the bill. The sensor was < $50 and the labor about $300. All things considered, not too bad.

 

Interesting. Mine was also front left. My car only has 21k on it and is driven year round in only nice weather.

 

Every Benz owner should have at least something like the iCarsoft MB V3.0 (don't waste your money on the iCarsoft MBII)! If you come to this site for info, then you know enough how to use the tool. Less than $200 on Amazon, they are priceless when you need to know what is going on.

There will be folks here that will say you NEED to get an SDS/Xentry clone from China, but while I have that, it's a lot more cumbersome to set up and use. The iCarsoft tool fits nicely in the storage behind the driver's seat along with the owners manual, so you always have it with you. For more functionality, I have an Autel MaxiDAS DS808K, though it's more pricey than even an SDS clone.

EDIT: While I remain convinced every Benz owner needs to have in the car a Benz-specific scan tool (not a generic OBD reader), I have changed my opinion of also having XENTRY with the C4 multiplexer IF you need to actually repair and reset an electronic fault or event.

 

My warning lights were all yellow too. Traction control and something else staying lit. By limp mode, I meant the car was slow to respond to accelerator input. It was not limited in speed, just slow to accelerate.

 

I didn’t experience that, driving was as normal.

 

I think there's some sage advice there. Everyone should have the best code reader they can get or feel comfortable using.
And if you have multiple cars, it may be a good fit to get a "jack of all trades - master of none solution". Also if on a budget and working on your $120k car, that may be a good solution too.
Can you point me to the thread HERE in the R231 board, where someone suggested getting a Chinese Clone version of XENTRY off Aliexpess? Just so I can help straighten them out. I know you mentioned thats where you got yours, but I would not have suggested that. There are many ways to get a properly working WIS, EPC and XENTRY system. And many variations/grades of hardware/software. If you are having issues with your Chinese clone version from Aliexpress, it may be related to the quality of your unit. First red flag is if it's on virtual machine. If thats the case, I suggest you either do some research, as Genuine Mercedes Multiplexers DO come up for sale as well as genuine HHT's and cables. Or reach out to the some of the site sponsors who have extensive experience in setting up the software, sourcing proper hardware, and know how to assemble a reliable and high quality package.

Your software may be incomplete as I know you had a hard time finding the parts you needed for your trunk lid hydraulics. It took about 5 minutes to find it in my version of the EPC.
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...ine-leaks.html
You just have to do your due diligence like everything else in life. I think Ringo Star once said " It Don't Come Easy "
Here's a couple HHT's that recently came up:

Mercedes GENUINE HHT #1

Mercedes GENUINE HHT #2

You mean the Chinese clone version right?

Can you elaborate what is "more cumbersome to set up and use"?
Here's the procedure for scanning your car in XENTRY
1) Hook up your OBD-II cable to your OBD-II port
2) Switch to ignition position 2
3) Click on diagnostics icon
4 ) Enter your VIN (skip step 5 if you previously checked "automatically start quick test on completion of VIN")
5) Click on continue
Test runs
Gives results

Now you can dig down and it will give you much more data than you can get in any other third party solution. Including part numbers of the defective items as well even a software revision/firmware of electronic parts. There's a reason why dealers and competent independents (with PassThru ) use this software day in day out. Because READING codes is half the battle. TESTING components is the other half. That's where ALL third party solutions fall short.

If you have multiple Mercedes vehicles, especially vehicles that used HHT. Setting things like ride height in ADS and ADSII you will be SOL. Sure you might read the codes but can't do anything to correct your issues. Rodeo functions on ABC are also a no go. There are SO many things you CAN'T do as a tech, that it makes no sense to invest in anything else, Especially if you specialize in MBZ cars or maintain a fleet.

Maybe your version has issues or is incomplete as I mentioned above. There are many different grades of clone cables or maybe your multiplexer has issues, I'm not sure but like any other tool, the more you use it the more proficient you become with that tool. Since it seems you prefer to use your iCarsoft, maybe your comfortable with it. And that's OK. But the more you use it the less cumbersome it will become. The reason it may feel cumbersome to you is it's VERY DETAILED.
I'm very comfortable with XENTRY because I use it exclusively for Mercedes vehicles.

Also sage advice if you need to keep a scanner in your car. Hopefully it's reliable enough that you won't need to do that but...

I think that depends on the "clone". The old adage "you get what you pay for" comes to mind.

I completely agree that one must get the best tool they are comfortable with, but believe you're underestimating the mechanical aptitude of many of the posters here. I know several are mechanical engineers, highly experienced mechanics, and others, masters of their craft in different industries. So if they do want a complete solution and only work on Mercedes cars, it may be a good fit for them. To call the system "cumbersome to set up and use" is selling those people short and giving them false hope that they will be able to carry out diagnostics AND TESTING in anything other than the factory solution of XENTRY. If they want to read codes and then bring it to the dealer for repairs, that's an entirely different user....

I've included some pictures below just to help folks understand the difference in details available between other systems and XENTRY. This is just in "quick testing".
Each one of those sections (with the + box) you can dig down to get hardware version, firmware version, part numbers, time of and frequency of faults and cross reference many other data fields.

I'm happy to report my car has no codes stored!


Hope that clarifies some confusion.
Cheers.

 

Ha! Didn't mean to push any buttons, and I exaggerated a bit the Xentry being cumbersome. The version I have with the C4 multiplexer works well with the Dell laptop that came in the kit. It's just that lugging a laptop, multiplexer, and cables around is cumbersome in comparison to a handheld device that fits in the storage compartment behind the driver. The iCarsoft MB V3.0 will at least show what codes are thrown, allowing people to get more directed help here. I'm not arguing that it's better than an SDS/Xentry setup, because it's not. But it is better than nothing at all.

The problem I had with finding the part I needed was that I was looking in the wrong place. I was looking at trunk lid parts instead of roof parts. Whoda thought to look in the roof group when the problem was with the trunk hydraulics? 🤪

 

I think you may be reading things wrong. “no buttons being pushed”.
I try to approach things from a very objective viewpoint. These are complex cars, hence It’s important to try to stay as technically correct as possible. I also feel It’s important for people reading these posts now and even in the future to understand the difference in the scanning software available to them. But it has to be presented as unbiased as possible. Which is my point in that post. XENTRY IS the factory software made to communicate with our cars. There is no substitute. Pretty simple. It’s not complicated to use, but requires familiarity like any other tool. That tool is comprised of several key components which must meet some strict standards so it can be assembled properly and used reliably.
As I said above, it’s important to stay as objective as possible when describing tools others may need to fix and test their cars properly. Especially if they own cars that use HHT or need diagnostic as well as code reading functionality. But in the end it’s THEIR choice and that’s OK. But you can’t present something as a substitute, when it’s not. That being said, there is validity in the fact that it is an inexpensive, easy to carry scanner. It fits a nice niche just to scan for codes and is much better than a generic code reader or “winging it”. I absolutely would recommend it to someone who needs that function.

Absolutely, though mobile, the STAR Diagnostic system is designed for a workshop environment.

Nobody should be “arguing” anything. It’s just a presentation of accurate facts that will enable people who may be interested or need to use these tools to make a decision of what is best for their particular needs.

Cheers.

 

My tune has changed concerning XENTRY (see my edit above). I am a true believer that a quality C4 clone (or used genuine C4) is a MUST if you are going to do any real problem solving on a Mercedes.

Thanks @crconsulting for taking the time to post your thoughtful responses.

 

On Thanksgivings weekend I thank smart people for sharing views from their vantage point ✌️

To that effect I recently found out how to get more of what we like:

subscribe to select members!

Once you have the right way to understand things its becomes fun to learn more, nice & easy
- Thank you!

 

Kinda feels like stalking, though.

 

yes true, everything can be abused these days...
but if you like reading good contributions that's an easy way to gain insight
✌️