CLS63 SB - A Real WTF Moment.

[E55BOF]

Time to put the iCarsoft on the CLS63, I thought, so plugged it in and turned the ignition on. Ready to start the scan, so I then started the engine...

WTF! All the dash lights on, the front and rear parking sensor displays flashing on and off, the rev counter and temperature gauge (and speedo when I later set off) needles jumping up and down in time with them, lots of spurious warning messages, starting with a red 'DO NOT CHANGE GEAR CONTACT SERVICE' or words to that effect. Park Assist. ESP, ABS, Brake Hold, Power Steering; all, plus others I can't recall, were generating warnings. The jumping needles were jumping up towards their correct positions, then dropping back to zero. The fuel gauge needle worked normally, but nothing else did. The engine was running fine.

Switched off, back on again; no change. Third time lucky? Yes, all OK.

I did the iCarsoft scan on automatic; the scanner went right through everything, but no results, just back to the automatic/manual option screen. So I went through on manual scan, and there were scores of fault codes, all bar one stored only, mostly relating to communication loss between the instrument cluster and either the CANBUS or the front SAM. I cleared them all, except the RH mirror heater, which was current and stored, then switched off the engine and put the iCarsoft away.

Left it a couple of hours, then started the engine again. Full WTF mode again! The engine seemed fine, so I thought I might as well try driving. Instruments still in WTF mode, but that apart, it drove perfectly normally. I switched it off and on a couple of times (while stationary, silly), and everything returned to normal, though the amber EML was on.

This morning I ran a scan and cleared all the codes without starting the engine, and everything was normal; no EML, and the only current fault code is the mirror heater.

Note to self: Do NOT start the engine with the iCarsoft connected. - on this car, it looks as though it doesn't like it.

I've just been out for a run, stopping and starting the engine four times, and everything was normal, so it looks as though it's OK now; the glitch, if glitch it was, is gone.

If it happens again, I'm minded to try forcing an ECU reboot by disconnecting both batteries for ten minutes. Can anybody with a W218 or a W212 tell me what settings I will lose if I do have to do that?

 

[350cls]

On previous not AMG CLS 350, I seem to remember I lost the window one press open and close feature. I'm sure I had to re set all 4 windows for this.

On the W212, I think you lose the personal settings, like light delayed off function, auto close wing mirrors, time, date. Doesn't it do a accelerator reset also. Nothing to serious.

 

[StMarks]

Did you watch "Capture", the series that culminated this evening.?

 

[E55BOF]

I didn't; do tell.

 

[clk320x]

Just out of interest, why scan with iCarSoft if there was no apparent problem/issue?

 

[W1ghty]

Just out of interest, why scan with iCarSoft if there was no apparent problem/issue?

Quite a few fault codes can be logged without a dash EML being shown . It gives you a head start in getting them sorted .
Also I think the op only bought the car last week ?

 

[E55BOF]

^^ That's why. I like to know what if anything I'm dealing with. As it turned out, after the initial fright, nothing much.

 

[StMarks]

I didn't; do tell.

Sorry, probably just my perverse "sense of humour"

It was a mini-series based around the concept of computer created false information messing with peoples minds...

More political than automotive, can't see why I should bother you with further irrelevant thread distraction..

 

[Petrol Pete]

Where did you get the scanner from , have you had it long ? There are fake ones around , very good copies.

 

[E55BOF]

It's an MB II, and I bought it from a forum member several years ago. I have a nasty suspicious mind (goes with my job), so just in case, the first thing I did was update it on the iCarsoft website. No problems there, so I'd say it's genuine.

That said, on one of my Mercedes it threw up a spurious red SBC failure warning on the dash when first plugged in, and I've seen a couple of comments elsewhere that iCarsoft scanners occasionally give unexpected transient effects, so it may be that either some have the odd glitch, or the cars in question also had glitches in the ECUs. Either way, I'm happy with it; it's an excellent bit of kit.

 

[E55BOF]

Sorry, probably just my perverse "sense of humour"

It was a mini-series based around the concept of computer created false information messing with peoples minds...

More political than automotive, can't see why I should bother you with further irrelevant thread distraction..

False information certainly messed with my mind on this occasion.

 

[Jobsworth]

Did you start the car keylessly or with the key in the dock? Some really don’t like it without the key in the hole. I’ve had them not turn off too. Don’t panic, it’s just a glitch. No lasting damage done.

 

[E55BOF]

It doesn't have Keyless Go, nor would I want that, though it wouldn't put me off the right car if it had it.

 

[E55BOF]

It's not a glitch; it's happened again, twice, in close succession. It's not related to the iCarsoft; that was in the house.

I plugged it in again, and I'm getting codes related to communication with the Central Gateway. It's going in to Terry Gates tomorrow, so I'll get him to put it on STAR and see what he comes up with.

 

[poormansporsche]

Fingers crossed, bloody modern tech blah blah

 

[E55BOF]

I should have thought of this before. When Mercedes (and quite probably other brands) have bizarre electrical problems, the usual first suspect is a failing battery. I had to put a new one in the 350 CLS last summer, at eight years old, and a couple of months ago in the SLK, at nearly ten years old, and the one in the 63 CLS is now nine years old... Thank goodness Varta stamp the date of manufacture on the batteries they supply to Mercedes.

The car had an 80-mile run yesterday, then only a couple of miles today, and five minutes after switching off the battery voltage was down to 12.25v. It should be more than that, so the Ctek is doing its stuff right now; I'll see how it is in the morning.

 

[E55BOF]

It's not the battery; it's the Central Gateway module. £800 + VAT from MB. Bugger...

There's a used one on eBay from a 2017, facelift, CLS63, from the States for about one-ninth of that all-in, but I don't suppose it will fit the pre-facelift car, and I'm sure no dealer will tell me the correct part number for mine. Bugger bugger...

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Where did you get the scanner from , have you had it long ? There are fake ones around , very good copies.

Check my sticky threads with reviews & discount codes from a main supplier

 

[Flash]

Have you checked to see if there is any specialist company that can repair/refurbish the module like they can with a defective ecu?

 

[E55BOF]

I have, and I haven't found one.

It tuns out a new (well, MB-refurbished) SAM is only £274, so I've had one fitted. What the parts guy who quoted me £800+ was looking at I have no idea...

Much to my surprise, despite the fault codes it wasn't the SAM. It was....a faulty reversing camera!

Collapse of stout party... Impossible, you say? You'd think so, wouldn't you, and so would I, but it was. It's disconnected now, and everything else is back to normal.

...bloody modern tech blah blah

+1; no, +100...