My ABS warning lights on

[Simon]

My ABS warning light came on today and will not go out. I have tested the ABS on a grass verge and it doesn’t work any more. The light came on while I was queuing in traffic for about 40 minutes if that makes any difference. The car is a 1997 C180, 73000 miles.

Have any of you had a similar problem?

I am a competent DIY enthusiast, but need to know the most likely place to start looking.

Naturally I want to avoid taking it to the stealership as suggested in the handbook.

Cheers.

 

[BaldGuy]

I've had this problem twice recently but then it seems to go out it also lights the ASR light....Whats causing it is a faulty brake light switch, apparently its a common problem so the stealership tells me....

Mines going to be done on warranty at the next service as the computer will store all errrors so they will see what its been doing when they plug their box of tricks into it!!!!

As to how much this part is,I dont know sorry....

 

[Koolvin]

apparently the part is about a 5er or summin and the fitting charge is like 200 squid!!!

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Koolvin @ Aug. 11 2002,19:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">apparently the part is about a 5er or summin and the fitting charge is like 200 squid!!!</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
It does it on mine sometimes too (today...), to temp. fix it you should turn off the engine and start it again...the Micro$oft fix sorts it out more often than not. &nbsp;Long term you should get the sensor replaced, the sensor is about £9 and it's about £90 (two hours or something?) in labour.

 

[Koolvin]

90 for 2 hours work? in london it's 80-90 an hour!

 

[fuzzer]

I must admit , its about 75 an hour in glasgow too ....

 

[V12]

I can change one myself in 15mins...

I would charge someone £25 to change one.

shame i dont do fitting most of the time tho'

Mercedes make most of there profit in labour costs...

The actual technicians get paid a very small percentage of what they charge people. I know, I have worked at a dealership for a while as a technician... <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Simon]

I've just taken my brake light switch out, taken it apart, and found a small contact broken off inside. You could hear it rattle when you shake the switch.

There appears to be two set's of contacts in there, a large pair and a small pair. No doubt the large one is for the brake lights high power consumption, and hopefully the smaller broken one relates to the ABS electronics.

Anyway, now I need a new switch, probably from stealership tomorrow. Then I can let you know what happens. &nbsp;

Wish me luck <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

 

[GrahamC230K]

Good Luck.


The brake light switch went on my old BMW 318iS, at about 100,000 miles

I too took the switch out and stripped it down. It was a sealed plastic unit which I had to prise apart. The inside was intricate and fidley. Anyhow, it was just a minute spring in the switch that had popped out. With tweasers I replaced it, rebuilt switch and put back. The next day, I went to the dealership to buy a new one, to be on the safe side. When I showed the parts guy the old one, all taped together, he looked at me in disbelief that I had actually repaired it.

How can manufacturers make a safety critical part, that moves all day long, that is as simple as a switch so poorly? Surley with todays automated testing, these could be made indestructable.

££££ I suppose.

 

[BaldGuy]

Had mine replaced at the Stealership on Friday under warranty, alls ok now and where they reset and cancelled out all the errors in the computer, it really is a different car now....

 

[Simon]

Glad to hear all's well Wheelie, just hope in my case no resetting of computers necessary to get that ABS light to go out <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> Watch this space.

 

[Simon]

Oh bother, I've fitted the new switch (£11) and the lights still on <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>

I've got the battery disconnected at the moment in a vague hope that the ECU will forget the light was ever on <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

It's not looking too promising is it <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Shude]

My ASR/BAS warning light is on permanently now.

I will get it fixed with the service next month some time. &nbsp;While the &quot;bonnet's up&quot; I will have the autobox cooling pipes replaced (corroded) and all the belts swapped (they're apparently worn). &nbsp;This isn't going to be cheap...

 

[Simon]

That was scary, while I had the battery disconected I shut the boot lid. It took about an hour to get it open again due to a seized up lock <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> I usually open it with the remote.

Anyway that lights still on, so stealer here we come <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

 

[Koolvin]

Moving to the (new) electronics forum!

 

[Steve_Perry]

Black,

Good luck with the warning light erasure and congrats on Modship <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> Rather than get fleeced by a stealer are you too far from Birmingham?

Shude,

If you're getting auto box cooling pipes replaced I presume ur getting a total change of auto gearbox oil?

S.

 

[Simon]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Steve_Perry @ Sep. 02 2002,22:46)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Rather than get fleeced by a stealer are you too far from Birmingham?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
No, Birminghams not out of the question, what do you have in mind?

 

[Steve_Perry]

An independent MB mechanic called Andy Gayle. I haven't been to him myself but I did meet him at the April GTG and he has a good reputation. He has a web site... http://www.mercedesservicing.com

He usually frequents the MBOA forum. He'll certainly look after your car for alot less than a stealership would want.

S.

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Black180 @ Sep. 02 2002,19:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">That was scary, while I had the battery disconected I shut the boot lid. It took about an hour to get it open again due to a seized up lock <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> I usually open it with the remote.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I am getting the bootlock removed from my car soon, it doesn't work at all. &nbsp;Gonna get it welded up/painted over like my wing repeaters. &nbsp;I will *never* be able to get into the boot if the battery goes flat or something...

 

[Mark300SL]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Shude @ Sep. 03 2002,12:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I am getting the bootlock removed from my car soon, it doesn't work at all.  Gonna get it welded up/painted over like my wing repeaters.  I will *never* be able to get into the boot if the battery goes flat or something...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I WONT be doing that !

My battery is in the boot - and there is no other way in !

Mark