Fault: "Front right malfunction - Consult workshop"

[LGGVW]

So here it is:



This afternoon, completely out of the blue, the above "pearl" pops into my dashboard odometer.

I have dug around for info and it appears it could be the wiring, the seatbelt socket, the driver's seat wiring loom under the seat, the fuse, electrical connectors, and whatever else, including the airbag, presumably. Mercedes has a problem with airbag technology. On my previous C-Class Estate (2013), there was a recall for the passenger side airbag, now this.

Thinking of taking it to an MB specialist around Durham, if there is one capable of dealing with this.

 

[LGGVW]

I haven't heard from the garage yet, and tomorrow is Monday Bank Holiday, so I am not sure if the garage is open.

I will publish here on the progress, it may be useful to other MB owners in the future.

Regards

 

[LGGVW]

UPDATE TUE 29/08/2023

As promised, here I am with an update on progress... First things first... I am sharing the detail of today's events because it matters if you don't mind

The first port-of-call -as it were- was at WMB Wearside MB Specialists. Well, that was interesting... Not! Went into the reception, was greeted by a girl as pleasant as a smacked ass (sorry for being blunt), and explained the issue. "I can book you in for the 12th of September," she said. I asked why I would need to wait until the 12th of September to get the Diagnostics tool hooked to the car, and get the fault code and description, all of which takes literally 5 minutes. Off she went to the back, to consult, then back to the reception, to confirm the 12th of September. So I said the issue being an airbag, I need to know if I can drive safely. Off she went to the back, then back to the Reception with the manager. I explained again... Nope!... Computer says NO and I am short-staffed, can't do it now. Short-staffed, may I insist, to hook up a Diagnostic tool to the car port and get the code out, which I know for a fact, takes 5 minutes from start to finish! Thanks ever so much for all your kind assistance I said and left.
My verdict: One out of 5.

Next, Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland. Yes, they can have a look, Wednesday 30th if needs be. Price of hooking up the Diagnostic tool to the car port and extract the fault code and description: £174.00 + VAT. Upon my surprise, the lady politely clarified the price reflects the cost of diagnosing the fault which takes one hour. That's an outright lie, I know for a fact it takes 5 minutes, so this amounts to despicable consumer exploitation.
My verdict: One out of 5.

So, with the above in mind, I went to my village's local independent garage, Browns Auto Services. The owner who I know well, Gareth, is on holiday, but yes they do have the modern Diagnostic tool required to read Mercedes-Benz codes. How long would that take?... Oh, inside 5 minutes, I can do it right now for you, Sir and it will be £45.00 inc. VAT.
My verdict: 5 out of 5.
​

---

DIAGNOSTIC:



The "Squib" is actually the low-resistance wire that is coated with explosive matter and carries the function of detonating the explosive charge which in turn ultimately deploys the airbag.

This is the reason why an airbag warning must always be decoded immediately, in my opinion. But I must stress I know just the basics and I am not anywhere nearly as car technology savvy as many other club members here. But being an MB Club member to me means sharing with my fellow MB owners information they might find useful, especially if it carries a safety risk. I have been advised not to drive the vehicle on more than just the odd local, definitely not on motorways or main roads. The potential for the steering wheel airbag to deploy accidentally and cause an accident is a possible outcome, even if remote, it is not worth risking.

I hope this information proves useful.

Kind regards​

 

[ALFAitalia]

I don't think it can....more likely the other way....it wont deploy even in the event of a prang. Airbag fault SHOULD disable the affected bag completely......

 

[SpikyMikey]

You mention the passenger airbag recall - is your E Class not also subject to the driver airbag recall?

 

[LGGVW]

I don't think it can....more likely the other way....it wont deploy even in the event of a prang. Airbag fault SHOULD disable the affected bag completely......

It doesn't, it would appear. This “squib” thing is a funny name for what is commonly known as Steering Clock Spring or also Airbag Spiral Cable.

My car was built after 2011 and before 2017 (Manufacturing Date/Year 2013). It should be in scope for the Recall issued by Mercedes-Benz, precisely to replace this part, as it has a manufacturing fault.

In the UK alone, there are 400,000 MB vehicles affected by this issue. This includes A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class and, CLA, GLA and GLC models built between November 2011 and July 2017. It is a major manufacturing fault.

But Mercedes-Benz of Sunderland did not tell me that on the phone when they quoted me One hour £174.00 + VAT just to run a diagnostic worth 5 minutes. It could be an oversight, or it could be plainly dishonest.​

 

[SpikyMikey]

Have you checked your VIN here?
Current recalls | Mercedes-Benz
My 2013 S204 was recalled on two occasions for both passenger and driver airbag.

 

[LGGVW]

You mention the passenger airbag recall - is your E Class not also subject to the driver airbag recall?

I think I mentioned the driver airbag, not the passenger.

 

[LGGVW]

Have you checked your VIN here?
Current recalls | Mercedes-Benz
My 2013 S204 was recalled on two occasions for both passenger and driver airbag.

I did. I think it is for when not all vehicles in a range are affected, maybe?

According to AutoExpress, the driver airbag steering wheel squib recall affects all named classes of vehicles built between 2011 and 2017. In other words, not just some. For example, a previous 2013 C-Class Estate I had before appears listed on the MB checker because it was fitted with a Takata passenger airbag, but not all C-Class estates from 2012-2015 or something like that, were fitted with the same Takata airbag. So it makes sense to list it on the MB online checker.

 

[ALFAitalia]

It affected my wifes A Class....that's 2006! Took ages for the parts to come.

 

[Paintboy]

So here it is:

View attachment 145767

This afternoon, completely out of the blue, the above "pearl" pops into my dashboard odometer.

I have dug around for info and it appears it could be the wiring, the seatbelt socket, the driver's seat wiring loom under the seat, the fuse, electrical connectors, and whatever else, including the airbag, presumably. Mercedes has a problem with airbag technology. On my previous C-Class Estate (2013), there was a recall for the passenger side airbag, now this.

Thinking of taking it to an MB specialist around Durham, if there is one capable of dealing with this.

I get that message with pre safe afterwards. Mines still not fixed after 18 months, pops up randomly