ESP & ABS Visit Workshop

[MIKENWATSON]

HI Guys,

I have read a few threads on this but haven't found one that quite fits my exact problem.

I hit a pothole and blewout a tire so my CL500 has been sitting on the drive for a week or so as i haven't had time to take it for repair. When I eventually got around to it I had to jump the car from a power pack as the battery was dead which is normal for my car if it is left for a week. This time it was completely dead though as even the electronic boot release didnt work. When i got it started and drove off the two warning lights appeared and stayed on and is still on even though there appears to be no fault.

Anyone else had this problem? I suspect I should take it to PCS and have the codes read?

Thanks in advance

 

[brucemillar]

You need to ensure you have a good battery. Then try turning the steering lock to lock four times.

 

[MIKENWATSON]

Thanks Brice I'll give it a try and get back to you. Im pretty sure mechanically everything is fine. Bloody gremlins with these cars. Still love it though

 

[Dash1]

HI Guys,

I have read a few threads on this but haven't found one that quite fits my exact problem.

I hit a pothole and blewout a tire so my CL500 has been sitting on the drive for a week or so as i haven't had time to take it for repair. When I eventually got around to it I had to jump the car from a power pack as the battery was dead which is normal for my car if it is left for a week. This time it was completely dead though as even the electronic boot release didnt work. When i got it started and drove off the two warning lights appeared and stayed on and is still on even though there appears to be no fault.

Anyone else had this problem? I suspect I should take it to PCS and have the codes read?

Thanks in advance

Hi MIKENWATSON,

As brucemillar has already pointed out, you do need to have a good voltage supply to service all of these systems, failing this, then you really are wasting your time in assuming or even looking for any faults - they may not even exist, also known as “phantom” faults - typical symptoms with all modern cars with discharged batteries.

How old is the battery and what “state-of-charge” is it in? If the battery is discharging within a week, and as you described as being “normal” for your car, then there is something seriously wrong with the car - 95Ah batteries don’t discharge within a week unless something is wrong.

If the battery is found to be OK (have ittested first to confirm this)then have a quiescent/parasitic drain test carried out on the car to confirm “maximum” current draw. The maximum permissible parasitic drain on your CL should not be any more than 0.048 amps, or 48 milliamps. My own CL500 is a very high specification vehicle and has a much lower figure than this (0.042 amps) with the vehicle locked, alarmed and all the modules shut down and in “sleep” mode.

After testing and if you do decide on replacing the battery, then upgrade it from its 95Ah standard fitment to a 100Ah Bosch S4, S5, S6 or even a Varta/Exide equivalent. Euro Car Parts on here will give you a decent discount for being a forum member anyway. Here’s the part number for a Bosch S5 if you do need it - 444770198 Bosch S5 Battery Type 019


To be perfectly honest with you Mike, there is no point whatsoever in doing anything until the vehicle has a stable voltage source - identify this first. Voltage fluctuations and instability can and indeed does affect the vehicles electronic systems. One step at a time, once you fit a new battery, then reset the windows, sunroof and the ESP, lock-to-lock movement as brucemillar stated several times and then centralise the steering wheel. This information is also in your owner’s handbook anyway.


Regards,

Dash1

 

[Tinkerer]

Might have damaged the ABS wheel sensor when hitting the pothole?

 

[spike60]

My CLK brings the same warnings up if the battery has been low or disconnected then settles down with a bit of use.

 

[MIKENWATSON]

Excellent advice thank you everyone. I had to call the AA a while ago as I left the car in the long term car park while on business. Of course I came back and it was dead. The AA did some tests and something was drawing a lot of power.

Anyway, update: I drove the car about 20 miles yesterday and the warning lights have gone.

Thank you Dash I will get this looked at and keep you updated.