Further Woe's

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neiledgar

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2014
Messages
49
Location
Lockerbie, Scotland
Car
Mercedes C320 Estate 2003
Ok Guys im really stumped now, i have all front suspension arms fitted to my car, two track rod ends and the drag links, the steering was all over the place so with advice from club members i had the car set up with the 4 wheel hunter system, the steering was still snatching on corners and wavering on straights, so one assumed that i had to have the steering angle sensor re-set to perfect alignment.
Duly done on a snap on machine, i think it was solus?? not sure of spelling but a professional machine anyway. The guy set everything up and went on road test as the system told us to,anyway, im left with the following, the steering it still bad, ive no ABS, the BAS light is on and the ESP light is on and working away under the bonnet, i have two codes as well, the first is C1410, says road test active, then the code C1600 it says on the machine, electronic stability program (ESP), speed sensetive power steering (SPS) and brake assist system (BAS) ECU- N47-5 coding is faulty, can anyone help me please, the car was running spot on before any works started, then the works above were done, and now the car is all over the place, im disabled and reply on the car, im lost without it im scared to use it as steering is wild, it keeps trying to grab it out of my hands on corners. Has anyone got any ideas, how i can rectify the problems?? Thanks Guys:
 
Got get the codes read properly on a STAR system, do you have a good local Merc Independant near you?
Those other "professional" readers don't work as well or read as many components values as STAR does.
 
Neil

As above. A session on a STAR machine with a decent Indie will highlight what errors are really there and what needs sorting in that department. If you post up your location, somebody will recommend you a decent Garage.

I am still concerned about the mechanics of your steering. For it to be as bad you say, that suggests that something is fundamentally wrong with how it is set up. Did you get a before and after print out from your Hunter Session? If yes can you scan or photograph and post it up here?

Have you checked the simple stuff. Make sure that all four tyres are on the car pointing in the correct direction. This is a fairy easy mistake when wheels and tyres are shifted around. If you have directional tyres then it will make a huge difference to handling if fitted wrongly.

Tyre pressures also will effect handling. Make sure that they are the same or as per the recommended pressures (usually inside the fuel flap)

Report back here please.
 
Thanks for your help

Sorry to say i dont have at hand, a print out of the Hunter sessions, they never gave me one? I will go back and see them on Monday.
To me this is a weird thing, last night when the computer was plug into the car, the garage guy run a scan of the car, calibrated the steering alignment sensor, and i took the car for a run to test it. The car was much better and steering was not too bad yet, not right. I think that all the mechanical work was dont ok and fairly certain that it is an electrical fault as, when the vehicle is stationary, and you get the steering wheel in your hand and turn it either left or right, nice and slowly, when you get to about a 45% level the steering wheel starts to "Kick Back"in your hand, even if you use one finger, it tries to push it back as if it were always trying to centre the steering.
After initial session on the scanner, and the steering kicking back when stationary, we connected the computer again and ran the scan, steering angle was 0.0, the computer asked for a road test, which we duly set out to do, and after that , this is when the C1410 and C1600 came up, together with the ABS, BSB and ESP lights on permanently, and the steering still funny. I must admit its great on a straight line, but you turn it into a corner, especially a long slow corner the steering goes mad. Its as if the cars system wont come out of the road test mode.
The hurtful thing is i was only trying to improve the car, when it only needed one lower arm (really badly worn) and thought it would be prudent to change everything as the car is in nearly mint condition and rarely gives any problems what so ever! so i thought i would treat the car to some love and attention and replace everything at once, quite a huge investment financially!! Since this work was done its just all gone wrong, im totally brokenhearted as this car is my legs, being disabled i depend on it totally, now im lost and quickly losing heart, i would take it to Mercedes but to be totally truthful, finances cant stretch to it, i was planning on having it serviced ive just bought all the gear for that, including the crazy expensive 12 spark plugs!! Im sure other people have had this fault before, and was hoping that someone could steer me through this as its getting to the stage where i feel like giving up on it and buying a 1970's escort or something, when no computers existed!! CAn you help me??
 
had a suggestion from member

If i disconnected the battery for a while and then reconnected it, would the system restart and reset itself to factory settings, and hopefully remove any trace of recent works, anyone any idea on that one
 
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If i disconnected the battery for a while and then reconnected it, would the system restart and reset itself to factory settings, and hopefully remove any trace of recent works, anyone any idea on that one

It may reset. But you will need to disconnect the battery for a few hours. Disconnect the negative terminal.

But you will also wipe off the error codes, which is helpful to know more about when connected to STAR machine.

As others advised, best get to a local reliable indie and get your car connected onto a STAR machine.
 
As others have said, getting it diagnosed with STAR is the best course of action.
Have you checked to see if you have directional tyres? Marked on the tyre wall with 'Rotation' and an arrow which should point in the direction of forward motion.

Just one thought, a wild stab in the dark, could it be a failing or bad steering angle sensor?
Have a read through this article... https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-steering-angle-sensor
 
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This sound suspiciously like an electrical fault where the various systems are receiving or sending erroneous signals-possibly via the can bus system. Because these are so complex they must be connected to a bona fide Mercedes Star system to do proper fault finding. Generic scanner equipment has only limited functionality in these circumstances or the technician operating it limited experience with your MB model. I would strongly advise going to an MB specialist with the right equipment. MERPARTS in Glasgow come highly recommended. http://www.merparts.com/
 
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Silly question time has your car got hydraulic power steering and if so have you checked it is topped up to the correct level ? If this was low it would give some strange feed back through the steering
 
As above get the car booked into Merparts asap, ask if they have a courtesy car (many Indys do) whilst they have your car and advise due to disability you need a vehicle....hopefully via STAR and suspension and tyre inspection they can define root cause and stop you wasting further time and money on the problem...let us know how you go:thumb:
 
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Thanks guys for all your advice, the problem i have is that the car is so dangerous to drive, and i really mean that, im no woose when it comes to driving, i used to rally and Audi Quattro back in the 80's and game for anything even at my old age and with my disabilities but the car is very jumpy on the steering and half way round a round about it flicked me to the left so badly that she nearly hit the pavement . I am 80 miles from the nearest Mercedes Indi, so no chance of making it there.
Also guys, due to pensions only, my means are limited these days, and i have already spent fortunes on the car getting the whole front end renewed suspension wise, then the Hunter check, im slowly losing faith. I use a Mercedes because, well you all know why, they are very reliable and simply dont break down on me, and i am so confused how, a simply job like changing the top and bottom arms, track rod ends, a tie bar links, has caused so much trouble, ive NEVER had this happen to any other vehicle EVER.
My tyres are directional but are fitted in the right way, the fluid levels are all ok, the tracking has been done.
But i was wondering, while doing all the works underneath the car, could the engineer have dislodged a cable, or with hammering out bolts or something like that, could the vibration have loosened a connection? Are there any sensors near or around the front suspension that would have anything to do with the steering electrical system? I know that the BAS ESP SAS etc all talk to each other, and receive messages from each other, and other sensors, and i wondered if there was anything in or around the area of works that could have been dislodged or hit, that may have some bearing on the problem.
It is so severe that something must be wrong somewhere, as the car ran perfect before the works began, and i mean perfect, she is a lovely car and in good running order, and always get what she wants when she needs it, but this time things have went awry.
I dont know if i mentioned before, when sitting stationary with the engine running, if you turn the steering to the left or right, slowly, even with one finger, you get to about 45% angle from centre and the steering starts to flick back to centre, very sharply and with a great load of strength, it really is a strong tugg, which suggests to me an electrical fault, as it happens without moving, and on the road on corners its worse hence the fear of driving anywhere. I'm lost guys and fear ive lost my beautiful car for good. Is the Icarsoft MBII system for Mercedes any good??
I appreciate all your help and advice guys...........................
 
Rather than spend the money on an MBII, take it to the indy recommended above.
They are very experienced in all the quirks of MB and will have Star.
This is a very powerful system and is designed to read everything properly on an MB.

Guessing and throwing money at a problem without proper diagnosis is just wasting your time and money.

You have asked for advice and it has been given. Sorry to sound so harsh but the advice given thus far is correct.

Tony
 
Rather than spend the money on an MBII, take it to the indy recommended above.
They are very experienced in all the quirks of MB and will have Star.
This is a very powerful system and is designed to read everything properly on an MB.

Guessing and throwing money at a problem without proper diagnosis is just wasting your time and money.

You have asked for advice and it has been given. Sorry to sound so harsh but the advice given thus far is correct.

Tony

Well yes, but the OP has just said it's too dangerous to drive the 80mls up to Port Glasgow. I'll email Steff this thread and see if he has any suggestions.
 
Yes AA or equivalent, or maybe the MB indy can recover the car for you...I think DRUK has sent them an email.:thumb:

If money is tight best to not waste any further on poor diagnosis...

Are you in the AA? They could recover it to the garage for you.
 
Dear Lyserman, your statement is not harsh, you are correct of course, and i apologise to the club for going on and continually asking for help!! so im really sorry. Its just that im disabled, and also just recovered from a heart attack, im desperate to get my car back on the road as it is my legs!! Im not thinking clear as i am still a bit ill, and annoyed as i cant work it out myself, and im only asking club members in the vain hope that someone has had a similar experience and can help me diagnose the fault. I understand what you say about the STAR system and i fully agree, but with nothing local and the car being far too dangerous to drive the car the 80 odd miles through a city as well, to get to the closest STAR system, is out of the question, hence another reason for contacting the club members.
I've spent a fortune on her for the mot, around £800 fitting all new Mercedes suspension parts and a full service kit, i know its expensive but this car rarely give me any problems, and really, the work done was so simply i just cant understand why the car should go from running perfect to this state it is in now, hence another reason for asking help and advice from club members.
Finally, if i had finances like you may have i would have the car removed to Glasgow by private transport company and have Mercedes sort it out for me, but i do not have this type of finances, so hence me asking for advice. I just an old, ill, disabled guy trying to keep his lovely Mercedes on the road, and i without reserve, apologise to those members to whom it annoys, but in the same breath i applaud all those kind members who have tried to help me and who's tips and ideas have been tried, without those members in this club it would be a boring sad place and pointless, but all you kind considerate people i thank you with all my heart.
I wont bother anyone again, and well, my car will or wont be fixed, Thanks Guys
 
You have nothing to apologise for and nor should you feel that you have to apologise for anything. This type of fault can eat money that you do not have, attempting to diagnose on a forum to save cost is what forums are here for.

In this instance is does seem that all the rudimentary checks have been done and you are now left with little choice but to get it on a STAR or risk further expense in eliminating parts by replacement and guesswork, that could prove more expensive to you, unless you get lucky (to date you have not been lucky).

I wish I could offer some more practical advice that meets your situation but, like you and many on here, I am not a mechanic just an enthusiast. I have also been down the route of throwing parts and money at cars only to eventually give up to have it "properly" diagnosed. Sometimes that can actually save money.

You have eliminated most of the obvious faults and in doing so have not wasted money as these are all items that would require maintenance/replacement at some point. You are now left with a small number of electronic components that "could" be causing your issue.

The question now for members on here is:

Could a steering angle sensor cause this type of fault?

If yes? Is that an adjustment or a replacement?

Could it have been left unplugged?

If yes? Is that easy to see and rectify?

Are there any more experienced members in the local area that could pop round and have a look?

Does anybody know of a car transport company that would carry the car to a local independent?

Good luck and do not be put off. Keep coming back. You will get this resolved and it will all be forgotten.
 
First thing to do is post your vehicle chassis number up. It will be in the vehicle registration document and the vehicle identification plate. This will permit folks to see the options your car is fitted with. What you are looking for is option 213 PARAMETER STEERING If it has then you may have electronic problems including the the steering angle sensor- this can only be investigated with star by an experienced professional familiar with W203 electronics. If it doesn't then it will still have a steering angle sensor but that will act on the cars stability control electronics and the car will have normal [ self governed internally] hydraulic steering which should remain uneffected by electronic gremlins. If this is the case then the problem is likely to be a mechanical one and suspicion must be directed towards those new suspension arms and steering linkages--- wouldnt be the first time the wrong parts were fitted/supplied to a car. If this is the case you need to pursue this further with the mechanics who fitted them. They have £800 of your money for something that patently doesn't work. they should be your first port of call.
 
To add to Grobers post (great advice). There is a very simple rule here.

The car now has a fault that it did not have before the garage carried out the work. So they can be seen to have been the likely cause of the fault?

It could simply be that they have left a sensor unplugged. Or as Grober says, fitted a wrong or duff part.

I would try giving them a call and explaining your plight "was working! now is not working" It would not cost them to have the car inspected again.
 

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