electrical malfunction

[shu11173]

Hi all.
Need some serious help guys.
i recently bought a c class estate (2005/55). A few days ago whilst driving, the dash board and electrics went haywire. i had four malfunction messages - "display faulty - visit workshop", "Brake fluid- visit workshop", SRS Restraint System Malfunction - visit workshop" and something else i forget. In addition, the indicators, wipers, electric windows all stopped working as well as all the stereo controls and heating controls, hazard warning button leds etc etc. The headlights stayed on, the speedo and rev counter worked but the petrol needle dropped to zero instantly. The engine warning lights, blue high beam indicator etc, would come on as well. this would happen intermittently whilst driving.
the following day the car would not central lock and then eventually not start at all.
Mercedes Main Dealer received the car on the 30th Dec 10, and only did a check today. They said the car started straight away and found no fault. however the malfunction messages "were found and cleared". I thought ok....but they then went on to state that if this happens again it is "probably the instrument cluster which will need replacing and will cost around £1500!!!!

I am now very worried. Has this happened to anyone else?? is there a recall with regards to this? i have read some similar recalls where SCN was reprogrammed or SAM replaced etc etc...i only just bought the car a few weeks ago.

sorry for the long post guys. i thought the more detailed the more it would help.

thanks

 

[steve333]

Hi all.
Need some serious help guys.
i recently bought a c class estate (2005/55). A few days ago whilst driving, the dash board and electrics went haywire. i had four malfunction messages - "display faulty - visit workshop", "Brake fluid- visit workshop", SRS Restraint System Malfunction - visit workshop" and something else i forget. In addition, the indicators, wipers, electric windows all stopped working as well as all the stereo controls and heating controls, hazard warning button leds etc etc. The headlights stayed on, the speedo and rev counter worked but the petrol needle dropped to zero instantly. The engine warning lights, blue high beam indicator etc, would come on as well. this would happen intermittently whilst driving.
the following day the car would not central lock and then eventually not start at all.
Mercedes Main Dealer received the car on the 30th Dec 10, and only did a check today. They said the car started straight away and found no fault. however the malfunction messages "were found and cleared". I thought ok....but they then went on to state that if this happens again it is "probably the instrument cluster which will need replacing and will cost around £1500!!!!

I am now very worried. Has this happened to anyone else?? is there a recall with regards to this? i have read some similar recalls where SCN was reprogrammed or SAM replaced etc etc...i only just bought the car a few weeks ago.

sorry for the long post guys. i thought the more detailed the more it would help.

thanks

Did the mb dealer connect the car to star diagnostics to see what fault codes were showing before telling you that you might need a new cluster?

 

[dog68]

Check your battery, a low charge can cause some weird electrical faults.

 

[x332race]

If it is the Cluster, there are companies who will refurbish it for a fraction of the price you have been quoted for a replacement.

 

[Diesel Benz]

All those faults cannot be from the cluster. You would need the fault codes or preferably have the car diagnosed by someone who knows how to do it properly instead of just clearing codes. Most often it is not the official workshop, unfortunately (exceptions exist).

 

[nigel cross]

Sounds like a battery or associated issues,ie alternator, but proberly battery.
Check the connectiona are tight is it the original one?

 

[Stan the Man]

+1 for the battery. Batteries don't like cold weather. If your battery is original fit it may well be approaching 'sell by date'

 

[shu11173]

All those faults cannot be from the cluster. You would need the fault codes or preferably have the car diagnosed by someone who knows how to do it properly instead of just clearing codes. Most often it is not the official workshop, unfortunately (exceptions exist).

Hi,
Thank you fo your answer.
Firstly, not sure about the battery and will check it.
Secondly the fault codes that are "stored" are as follows:
9076 CAM Communication is faulty
B1009 Componenet E2e2 (right ow beam) is faulty
9136 The preglow lamp is faulty
9134 The brake level fluid is not ok.
B1071 left license plate lamp

And there are numerous "event stored" faults approx 70 No.all relate to CAN communication with control unit A1 (instrument cluster) and many to control module.

I list them as follows:
9020, 9021, 9024, 9026, 9027,9136, 9134, 9110, 9111, 112, 9113, 9114, 9115, 911B, 9346, 9345, 9347, 9350, 9355, 9354, C1073, 9075, 906B, B1031, B1030, B1029, B1028, B1026, B1040, B1071, B1094, B1093, B10A1, B1096, B1095, B1090, B1088, B1089, B10D6, B10D5, B10D1, B10DF, D150, D146, D147, D149, B1610, B1620, B1622, B1630, B1640, B1650, B1651, B1652, B1653, B1690.

These is fom the mercedes diagnostics.

any ideas??

Thank you

 

[steve333]

Hi,
Thank you for your answer.
Firstly, not sure about the battery and will check it.
Secondly the fault codes that are "stored" are as follows:
9076 CAM Communication is faulty
B1009 Componenet E2e2 (right ow beam) is faulty
9136 The preglow lamp is faulty
9134 The brake level fluid is not ok.
B1071 left license plate lamp

And there are numerous "event stored" faults approx 70 No.all relate to CAN communication with control unit A1 (instrument cluster) and many to control module.

I list them as follows:
9020, 9021, 9024, 9026, 9027,9136, 9134, 9110, 9111, 112, 9113, 9114, 9115, 911B, 9346, 9345, 9347, 9350, 9355, 9354, C1073, 9075, 906B, B1031, B1030, B1029, B1028, B1026, B1040, B1071, B1094, B1093, B10A1, B1096, B1095, B1090, B1088, B1089, B10D6, B10D5, B10D1, B10DF, D150, D146, D147, D149, B1610, B1620, B1622, B1630, B1640, B1650, B1651, B1652, B1653, B1690.

These is fom the mercedes diagnostics.

any ideas??

Thank you

After getting the fault codes read(including the stored ones)did they clear all the faults before re connecting the car to star to find out which(if any) faults reappeared?

 

[shu11173]

After getting the fault codes read(including the stored ones)did they clear all the faults before re connecting the car to star to find out which(if any) faults reappeared?

Unfortunately not. The car was given back to me and i was advised that i would probably need to change the instrument cluster.
there is only 1 fault on the cluster display which is the license plate lamp bulb replacement. this is valid tho as it has gone.

if i get the star diagnostics done again and all is clear apart from 1 above shall i be relieved???

thanks

 

[steve333]

By clearing the old/stored fault codes then switching off & reconnecting star any codes that then show up will be current(real)faults as far afaik.

 

[Brian WH]

Reminds me of all the faults and flashing dashboard lights I had when my CLS was Flooded.
However I also think the battery could be low and worth checking.

 

[Gutul]

Reminds me of all the faults and flashing dashboard lights I had when my CLS was Flooded.
However I also think the battery could be low and worth checking.

Hi, Brian how did you sort out your problem. As my car got water inside and now I have random error lights on my dash. Thanks