Random Errors

[design guru]

I have an S320cdi on a 2001 plate(51)

The car runs fine and all the electrics work fine, but on the odd occasion it will play up and not just one problem, its all of them!

On the odd occasion the ESP, BAS, ABS lights will flag an error and advise me on the computer it needs workshop attention and the cruise control will fail to work, but this happens once in a while. Usually when I turn the key to position 2 before starting the engine and the glow plug light does not go off.

I do need to change the glow plugs anyway but the light usually goes off and then comes on again after a few minutes of the engine running.

During all the warnings the car will still drive as normal but keep in the memory that there are faults that need attention.

It sounds like the star machine would be the obvious diagnostic route to find the problem but has anyone experienced a similar issue?

Often shutting the car down and restarting resolved the problem on one occasion.

 

[pos.k]

I had something similar on my old W203 (2004) - turned out to be the coil/spring connector thingy in the steering column.

hope this helps!

 

[Tinkerer]

Sounds like the battery may be getting ready to go South, they do not like low voltages, I would check the alternator output at the same time just incase it is a contributing factor.

 

[Dieselman]

Either battery or brake light switch, would be my guess.

 

[design guru]

Thanks for the advice. I did have an issue a few months back when the battery kept draining, but that stopped when I reset the electronics after a battery change, but the battery is a 4 year + old battery from my CLK which I have sorn.

 

[stevieb15]

Thanks for the advice. I did have an issue a few months back when the battery kept draining, but that stopped when I reset the electronics after a battery change, but the battery is a 4 year + old battery from my CLK which I have sorn.

The CLK battery's output is probably 25% less than is recommended for your S class, it's where I would start.