SLK230 K40 keeps melting down

Subscribe
Sep 12, 2021 | 12:56 PM
  #1  
Thanks in advance for all help here. I've read many forums before joining here and posting this. This problem seems common, but I have not been able to find a definitive answer as to why it is occurring. Many sites/videos will show you what is melted on K40 and how to solder it, but not why it is melting down. I've been dealing with this issue for almost a full year now. The supercharger fuse keeps blowing on the K40 in my 1999 slk230. When that happens the asr/esp light comes on the dash, as does check engine light. At one point it would only have the esp/asr light come on. I'd change fuse and be off and running again (for a while). As some point, it stopped working altogether. I discovered the k40 had a melted connection. So I soldered it up, and was off and running. Unfortunately, it would only last a few trips, or sometimes as little as 25 minutes. I got so good at fixing it I could do the solder repair in under 5 minutes. Finally, I gave up, and purchased a brand new k40, thinking it might be shorted out, but I was not entirely convinced this was going to solve my problem. . Sure enough, I got about a month out of the new k40, and now have the exact same problem again. It obviously is cause and effect. The K40 is melting down from something else on the circuit. Something is creating a huge current draw/short and melting the solder in the K40. ABS motor is showing .3 ohms draw, and Super charger clutch was around .4 ohms. I can't imagine a wheel sensor would create a large enough short to melt solder. What else in the system on this circuit would have a large current draw? What else is on this fuse's circuit? And where are these parts located?

Thanks again for any help. I don't want to keep throwing parts at it. I want to know what to test and what ohm readings I should be getting.
Reply 0
Sep 12, 2021 | 04:37 PM
  #2  
If its only the supercharger fuse blowing, why not take the fuse out of the system then replace it with a circuit breaker, that will reset itself.

I wouldn't go any larger than the size fuse used for it.

here is one at amazon its the same configuration that is in the K40 just plug it in when it blows it will reset.
Amazon Amazon

I hope this works out for you but I think you might have a wiring problem somewhere there is a wire that is touching metal.
Reply 0
Sep 18, 2021 | 08:12 AM
  #3  
Quote: If its only the supercharger fuse blowing, why not take the fuse out of the system then replace it with a circuit breaker, that will reset itself.

I wouldn't go any larger than the size fuse used for it.

here is one at amazon its the same configuration that is in the K40 just plug it in when it blows it will reset. https://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-CB19...1478865&sr=8-4

I hope this works out for you but I think you might have a wiring problem somewhere there is a wire that is touching metal.
The "supercharger" is not the problem. The ASV/BAS circuit has some sort of safety provision so that, when that fuse blows, it shuts down the supercharger. This way you don't keep driving around without the ASV/BAS which are both stability features. That much I do know. What I need to know, is what, and where are the components located on the ASV/BAS circuit. In addition, a circuit breaker would not help me. The K40 is melting down before the fuse blows. A breaker would do the same thing. Something is a high current draw on the ASV/BAS Circuit, enough to melt down solder.
Reply 0
Sep 18, 2021 | 08:46 PM
  #4  
Maybe this will help, you can looking at the wiring diagrams in these manuals .https://manuals.co/workshop/mercedes/slk-230

Years ago I bought online manual for my car for 15 bucks now I see you can view them for free.
Reply 0
Subscribe
Currently Active Users (1)
 
story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE