2004 W203 Issues after replacing combination switch (amateur hour)

[Bradlexxx]

A bit of background.... I took my car in for an MOT a few weeks backs (w203 - 2004 plate), knowing that the wiper switches on the stalk had broken and that it would need a replacement stalk, the workshop suggested given that it's done 160k to test it to fail and fix what fails, miraculously the wiper issue wasn't picked up in the MOT and all that needed changing was a new brake pipe.

They weren't keen on changing the combination stalk not being a Mercedes specialist etc..

When I picked the car up, late a night after the workshop had long closed the battery was dead. Queue a jump start to get home and a 30 min drive to get some charge into it. Next day dead again...

Anyway, I decided to buy a new combination switch from the local Mercedes dealer and fit it myself.

Disconnected the battery, followed the steps detailed in Online instructions.

Two things I didn't do, use the steering lock (I was worried about breaking it with the enormous amount of torque needed to get the bolt to move)

Second I used the red pin to lock the angle sensor, but it wasn't particularly useful and fell out a couple of times. In hindsight I would have used tape.

All seemed to go well except for the following on reassembly the wheel seems much less aligned /not straight than if was - it was already out a little (before the job - but it's well out now) and secondly an ESP go to workshop alert came on after 10 miles or so.

Other than the above everything else seems to be fine (airbag, Indicators, cruise control, wipers, steering wheel controls, drives as before etc...) I'd like to resolve the two issues above but to be honest I can probably live with it unless it gets any worse.

Question is do I take the wheel off again and try and better align the angle sensor etc... or do I just live with it given the age and mileage etc... ?

Or is this actually a big deal and I need to swallow some pride and take it to a specialist...

 

[whitenemesis]

When replacing the steering wheel did you align the markings on the boss and splines?

ESP can sometimes be reset by turning the steering wheel lock to lock 3 or 4 times, IGN on engine running.

 

[Bradlexxx]

Not 100% sure what the boss and spline are... There were two markings on the thread and I aligned to those, but it didn't feel quite right at the time thinking about it.

 

[whitenemesis]

Could it be the steering geometry has been set with the wheel slightly 'off' centre?

Either way if it bothers you enough get the tracking checked and set up straight.

 

[markjay]

When replacing the steering wheel did you align the markings on the boss and splines?

ESP can sometimes be reset by turning the steering wheel lock to lock 3 or 4 times, IGN on engine running.

As above.

ESP fault will come up if the Steering Wheel Angle Sensor is faulty, misaligned, or the electrical connector at the base not properly inserted into the socket.

Either way first try reading then erasing the ESP fault codes using STAR or other suitable fault reader (Autel / Carsoft / Carly etc) and see if it comes back. If it does, then you'll know what flagged it up, and can deal with it.

 

[Bradlexxx]

Thanks for the replies - sounds like getting the codes is the best option for the ESP Warning.

The esp fault doesn't really bother me as long as it doesn't put the car into limp mode etc.. I can live with that.

The steering wheel alignment is a bit annoying compared to before changing the switch.

 

[markjay]

Thanks for the replies - sounds like getting the codes is the best option for the ESP Warning.

The esp fault doesn't really bother me as long as it doesn't put the car into limp mode etc.. I can live with that.

The steering wheel alignment is a bit annoying compared to before changing the switch.

I think the ESP warning might be an MOT failure (though you have another year before you have to worry about that).

Also this will mean the ESP is inoperative, but possibly also the ABS? The two are linked.

 

[richard]

The ESP fault should really bother you.

ESP is a massive driver safety aid and prevents many an accident, preventing cars going off the road on slippery corners by braking single wheels to keep you on the road.

Its so important it has been mandatory on new cars since 1st November 2011.

You also can't pass a MOT with the ESP light on.

So you are endangering yourself, your passengers and other road users :-(

Go get it fixed.

Richard

ps, when you remove the steering wheel bolt you will see markings on the steering wheel and on the steering column (at the 6 o'clock position) so you can put the steering wheel back in the exact same position - which may well not be the centered position (advice for others, take a picture with your phone once you remove the bolt). You also should have torqued up that bolt to 80NM (most Mercs). Just sounds like you need to unbolt it and move it round slightly (as you noticed it has splines, so you pull it off, rotate it, put it back on and put the bolt back. If the bolt head is damaged, replace it)

Richard

 

[whitenemesis]

As Richard says, ESP is very important. I had SAS fail on my 219 ESP inoperative, the car was very, erm, exciting to drive in the wet.....

Get it fixed ASAP

 

[Bradlexxx]

Thanks for the advice, that does not sound good and agree it needs sorting, safety being paramount.

Assume the best way to diagnose is pull the codes, clear and watch for them to reappear.

If so is there any guidance on the cheapest appropriate scanner to get?

 

[MrZane]

Check when you replaced the steering wheel that the double spline was located in the correct position as I had this prob on mine . Also make sure your steering sensor is not out by 360 degrees as I had this problem with mine , when I drove off my dash lit up like a Christmas tree . I found the problem when I plugged my reader in and the steering angle sensor reading said my wheels were turned yet they were straight. Once you have done that you will need to full lock left and full lock right a couple of times while the car is running to reset it. Don't be alarmed if it doesn't all go off as you will need to drive the car I think just over 15mph before the ecu recognises all is good and switch the Christmas tree off. Hope that helps