CLK W208 2002 electrical problems

[Adeinfrance]

HI. I have just bought a CLK 230K which a few days after getting it developed some weird electrical problems. From time to time the drivers seat won't move, the drivers door mirror won't adjust and the drivers window won't work. On one occasion my wife locked the car with the fob at night but in the morning it didn't work so she used the thin key and the alarm went off. Having spoken to a friend who is a Mercedes mechanic I was informed to clean the contacts on the SAM unit with electrical cleaner which I did and everything worked for 2 days. I spoke again to my friend who said to buy another SAM unit which I sourced from Dronsfields. The car was all working when I changed the unit over so I assumed all was good until 2 days later when all the above stopped working plus the horn, wiper and indicators! I fiddled about and put my old SAM unit back with no effect at all, then 15 minutes later tried the car and everything worked as it should. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be the problem please?

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
From the symptoms you describe I reckon the door control module is gone quite a common fault due to dampness in the door where it is fitted. Not sure what you call a SAM as I did,nt think the 208 had one as such.
But I think I would put it on STAR first to ensure you don,t have to keep throwing things at it.

 

[Pendragon]

As stated above, get a good diagnostics performed on your car rather than throw money at it.
Wish I had taken my own advice a few weeks back as I shelled out £600.00 when in the end the fix was free..... a blocked breather pipe !

Keith

 

[Adeinfrance]

Hi and thanks for the advice. The SAM unit is behind the fuse box under the bonnet. For a Star test do I have to go to Mercedes or can any garage do it? Will the test pick up on the fault even if it's all working? I live in France and the garages charge a fortune here. The car only seems to go wrong overnight or when it's been parked a while, it never plays up whilst driving. The guy I bought it off said he had never had a problem but am beginning to doubt him now! It does seem to correct itself sometimes if I open and close the passenger door and boot a couple of times, which is what it did yesterday. Worst thing is the seat cos my wife has the seat right forward and me right back due to height differences and the other other night I looked like Bowser from Mariokart driving it home with the steering wheel under my armpits!

 

[DSM10000]

STAR is the Mercedes designed diagnostic system, you either need to go to a dealer or MB specialist as they can then test all the electrical modules and also run a shortcircuit test.

 

[Adeinfrance]

Hi again.
I got a local French Renault garage to have a look and after cleaning the door module got it all working except that the drivers window dropped lower on opening the door and never went back up again, but this could be done from either inside with the switch or outside with the fob. However, 1 week on, it's starting playing up again, so I'm guessing it's the door module? I have sourced my part number and found a second hand one on Ebay with matching numbers, 208 820 32 26, except mine says Q2 and the Ebay one Q1. Does anybody know if it's compatible or not? I've also discovered that I can adjust the seat electrically with the handle which releases the backrest so at least I can get in it!