Disaster, please help

[drmacf]

Hi Guys

Sorry if I am in the wrong forum. In deep trouble, with the car refusing to start, after a 12 hr shift at work

It’s a MB 2008 Kompressor C180

Yesterday night I drove 100 miles in heavy rains. Noticed several vehicles stranded but carried on. After a while notice that my own high beam and side indicator wouldn’t work.
Just before parking it showed up as ‘check brake pad’ despite the brakes working fine

Has happened once before, when the vipers refused to work.

This time just carried on reached work site, parked and hope all would be well the next day

Tonight tried to switch the engine on and three warnings flash up ending with ‘malfunction workshop’
The three are
cruise control inoperative
abs and eps inoperative
run flat indicator inoperative

I’m not an expert but looks like water has seeped in and caused some electrical issues??
Took some pics of the front engine, enclosed within. Any advise, please help !!
The closest MB is S&P garages Lincoln at less than 1 mile . Will need to recover the car there , have breakdown cover but not sure if towing is included.
Please do advise

Mel

 

[fabes]

It'll need it's codes read.

MB STAR system is the most thorough, but if you've moisture inside the fuse box, it might just be fuses and not the actual equipment....?

Good luck

 

[drmacf]

It'll need it's codes read.

MB STAR system is the most thorough, but if you've moisture inside the fuse box, it might just be fuses and not the actual equipment....?

Good luck

Thanks, Fabes
Is this the fuse box? if yes, there was water leaking through for some time. From the windshield viper
Have to tow it to the garage though, to get the codes read
Fingers crossed

 

[jasonh]

It looks like you are missing the cover for the fuse box. Moisture in there will cause havoc. Long term moisture in there will cause corrosion on the connectors and be even worse.

What I think you need is someone - not necessarily a garage - to disconnect the battery then one by one pull each fuse and relay and clean the contacts with WD40 or similar. There will also be connectors underneath that need a similar treatment but that is likely to be a bit more challenging to do.

Then you must get a replacement fusebox lid, either from the dealer if not too expensive, or secondhand from ebay. Or you might find the original cover is in the engine bay somewhere!

Once cleaned and dried it may well all be OK.

 

[badgx]

^^^X2

 

[markjay]

A long shot - If the car had a dealer service in the past 12 months (not common on a 15 years old car, I am aware...) then it will covered by Mobilo roadside assistance which includes recovery to an MB dealer.

 

[m80]

Is the SAM located within the fuse box?
If moisture has got to that then that is the most likely cause. SAM's and moisture don't go well together.
But a damp SAM will often cause many unrelated and strange issues

On a 2008 it's very possible that a 2nd hand SAM will plug and play, I've changed a few on 639's but not this model.

 

[colinallcars]

Does the car start? Sounds like a wheel sensor to me. A garage with a code reader should be able to confirm which one. The part is not expensive.

 

[SL63Mark]

Water in the fuse box is not good.

 

[drmacf]

Thanks everyone, sorry was sorting out issues with not having a car and even going to Tesco is a pain
Update: The garage called up saying that the SAM of the car needs replacing.. total costs including VAT is 960 quid
He was not sure what cause it , may be moisture or a surge
I don’t have any choice, will pay up

Mel

ps -Collincars- the car wouldn’t start
Had to get it into neutral and get it towed away

jason- I had removed the cover of the fuse box, in order to take this pic. In doing so, the straps to the box fell off!! So will need a new lid I guess

M80 - I honestly don’t know where this SAM lives . Not great with cars, good with human bodies !! I presume it’s in the fuse box somewhere, looking at youtube videos

Didn’t have an option of a second hand sam
Don’t know where to get one and don’t know how long it would work
So said yes to a new one, something like 500+ quid

sigh

 

[drmacf]

Just a long shot
in the past the undercarriage shaft had rotted away. Replaced it at 4.5k
Was told that one of the reason was salt griding in winter. So would pressure wash the car at tesco as well as wash the undercarriage
Do you think that might have affected the sam?

 

[Smiley]

Just a long shot
in the past the undercarriage shaft had rotted away. Replaced it at 4.5k
Was told that one of the reason was salt griding in winter. So would pressure wash the car at tesco as well as wash the undercarriage
Do you think that might have affected the sam?

Yes. Pressure washing a car, and especially anywhere near the engine bay or electronics, is a pretty daft thing to do.

 

[m80]

Is this pressure washing inside the bonnet? That isn't good.
But pressure washing any part of the exterior isn't a problem, there's 70mph+ water hitting it in normal use.

 

[drmacf]

No, deffo not inside the bonnet. Just the exterior and then bend down and wash the undercarriage. The last time it had rotted away and was told one of the causes is salt spread during winter. So a little pressure washing there would help.
Pic enclosed

What I did notice that near the wipers there was water dripping down into the engine
Not a lot, but mainly when it rained heavily
So think that could have caused it over a period of time

 

[drmacf]

Just got an update
The garage cannot source the SAM unit as mercedes don’t make it anymore
Advised me to get on online
PLEASE ANY ADVISE ON WHERE I COUKD SOURCE ONE ASAP

 

[m80]

Check the under bonnet drains haven't been mis fitted.
I had them folded by a windscreen fitter.

 

[drmacf]

control unit A2049005401. I

 

[NJSS]

I suggest Googling "A2049005401 Mercedes-benz C Class (w204)"

This reveals a number available on eBay - most I fear from the USA.

 

[drmacf]

Mercedes C class 204 Front SAM fuse box central ele. distributor A2045454501​

• norskmencarparts

Is this compatible? he numbers don’t match and it’s a diesel car

 

[SL03WLY]

Check on ilcat (Каталоги автозапчастей) with your VIN. My understanding is the part numbers are broken up usually. So
A
204 (Chasis Number)
54 (Category Number)
54
501



Then for my model its in the APPARATUS CASE AND CONTROL UNITS sub-category