Mercedes C220 CDI, ESP, problem

[pershore]

My 2001 Mercedes c220 has started to display a fault with the electronic stability program which appears on the dash display panel. When this happens the esp does not work!. I have tried disconnecting the battery and going through the recommended MB reset procedure to no avail I have also checked all the fuses which were ok but when I tried the car again after this the faul had cleared and everythin worked fine Until I turned the engine off and started it again! Problem back again I have managed to clear the fault 2 or 3 times but as soon as I turn the ignition off an restart the car the fault reappears. By the way the fuses and relays that I remove and reinsert are the ones in the boot but I have no way of I dentifying which ones do what. Any suggestions would be extremely helpfull.

Pershore

 

[wongl]

Have you tried replacing the brake switch?

 

[prc]

Sorry for not being helpful on the initial question of fuses and relays, but did have a similar problem with the exact same symptoms. Got worse with time until 1 day it became permanent. Needed to replace the steering column sensor (not sure of the technical name for the part).

 

[miro]

Ok lets look at where the wiring goes.

a) To each wheel.

b) Depending on your month it may or may NOT have a brake switch in the dashboard.

c) Steering wheel angle sensor

d) Yaw / Angle sensor (in rear of car)

e) ESP module itself

f) Hydraulic module attached to ESP module

h) 1 or 2 (depends) master cylinder sensors.

Having rewired my car for this purpose I am confident it is something simple as the last three items listed are RARE but not impossible. The first one depends on wiring damage in the area of the wheel.

The Yaw sensor, brake switch and steering angle are the most likely.

 

[pershore]

Hi All

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Since my original posting I got into my car yesterday morning and all was fine and the problem has not reappeared since !!! strange but true and hopefully it will not happen again. I am not holding my breath though

thanks
Pershore

 

[pershore]

Hi thanks for your help The problem seems to have cleared itself for now so it is going to be difficult to find out what is wrong until it goes pear shaped again, but I will bear your advice in mind should it do so.
Best regards
Pershore

 

[raymont]

Have an intermittent fault which causes 'ABS / ESP Fault' (or something very similar) to be displayed from time to time. Sometimes goes away after a restart, sometimes not. Sometimes fault appears while driving along, sometimes at engine start.

Took to dealer, STAR diagnosis is a wheel sensor which is being replaced on Friday.

Suggest you find somewhere capable of STAR diagnosis.

 

[pershore]

It looks like your problem is the same as the one I have got as my esp warning reappeared this morning an disapeared again after stopping the car and starting it again I will get the wheel sensor checked out

Thanks
Pershore

 

[pershore]

Some have mentioned the brake switch may be causing this problem! Is that the foot brake switch or the parking brake one ??
Regards
Pershore

 

[BlackC55]

Foot brake.

It needs the fault codes read really. I suspect its somthing simple. There are many specialist MB garages that have a Star.

 

[pershore]

Thanks for all your help
Wheel sensor sounds the favorite at the moment as I have renewed the lower suspension controll arms about 4 weeks ago and I think that may have disturbed one or both of the front wheel sensors. I am going to have the front wheels of an see if I can find anything wrong!!!! famous last words. Does anyone know where I might get hold of a star code reader?

Regards
Pershore

 

[Dieselman]

You just need to meter the resistance of the sensor leads, one will probably be open circuit.

 

[BlackC55]

Thanks for all your help
Wheel sensor sounds the favorite at the moment as I have renewed the lower suspension controll arms about 4 weeks ago and I think that may have disturbed one or both of the front wheel sensors. I am going to have the front wheels of an see if I can find anything wrong!!!! famous last words. Does anyone know where I might get hold of a star code reader?

Regards
Pershore

Where do you live?

 

[pershore]

Hi BlackC55 I live in Worcestershire.
the problem has not appear for the last 2 days

Regards
Pershore

 

[pershore]

Hi everyone
Once again thanks for all the advice I have now changed the foot brake switch at a cost of £13 and it would appear that the job is a goodun.

 

[Palmbay]

I had a similar problem with my ESP light illuminating on my C220 CDI. It was due to a series of events. Firstly I replaced my tyres with Pirelli P7 Mercedes Only (MO). They checked and adjusted the front tracking as it was out. A couple of months later, it failed the MOT due to a worn off side track rod end ball joint, which was replaced. After a few miles the ESP light flashed on intermittently, that lasted a few more miles until it lit permanently. I had the tracking rechecked due to the thought that the adjustment had been thrown out due to the track rod end adjustment on the tyre change. I had to get the full 4 wheel adjustment done before the steering wheel would run in a central position when on a level road. I then took it back to the garage to get the ESP steering sensor parameters realigned to true central and it hasn't given me a problem since. Hope this helps someone.

 

[Fires van Vuure]

My ESP is not working take it to dealer they said my EGR vavle have to be change can it effect the cars ESP?