Urgent 'Warning light' help needed please !

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Ron

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
44
Location
Southport
Car
E 300 TD Estate
I'm currntly on my hols in the Lake District and a warning light has just come on in my '98 W210 3.0TD.

It is the ASR warning light and "BAS" has come up on lhe dash.

How serious is this? Can I get home? nothing seems wrong !
Is it a 'stealership' re-set ?

Your expertise, as ever, would be appreciated.
 
BAS / ASR warning light usually comes on when the switch breaks. Mine did that a year or so ago, just had the switch replaced and all was well, about £10 for the switch and it's about one hour labour, but I had it done during a service and they swallowed the labour.

While the light is on you won't have brake assist or ASR, you rarely need either during summer months (different story in winter!).
 
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Originally posted by Ron
I'm currntly on my hols in the Lake District and a warning light has just come on in my '98 W210 3.0TD.

It is the ASR warning light and "BAS" has come up on lhe dash.

How serious is this? Can I get home? nothing seems wrong !
Is it a 'stealership' re-set ?

Your expertise, as ever, would be appreciated.

Had this on my last E280 in Switzerland. Any brake fault can bring up this failure, from brake light switch failure to something more sinister.

My MB dealer told me that it is OK to drive if it is Intermittent. If it comes up every time you press the brake pedal it is likely to be the brake switch. No problem therefor keep driving, press reset and all is OK for a while. If the fault is serious then you will notice that the brakes are not so good. Then you need to take it easy on the way home M8.

Hope this helps.
 
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As Shude has said the most common cause for the ASR/BAS warning light to come on is a faulty brake switch. The manual also states that the engine mangement system will also turn off these systems if there is drop in battery feed voltage, I'm not sure of the thresh-hold figure, around 10v I think.

Having said that it's most likely to be a dodgy brake light switch. Again as Shude has said above whilst you're driving you won't be causing any further damage, the lights on the dash are just warning you that the brake assist and traction control safety aids are inoperative.

S.
 
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Thanks to everyone who replied. Very re-assuring.

I've noticed that the dash shows "ACR" first, then you press the re-set, then it is "BAS". press again for the re-set. I hope this is the norm for a faulty switch and nothing more sinister !
 
If all else fails there's a Mercedes dealer in Ulverston - can't remember the name, I seem to remember it's left at the second traffic lights after the roundabout going towards Barrow.

HTH

R
 
If all else fails there's a Mercedes dealer in Ulverston - can't remember the name, I seem to remember it's left at the second traffic lights after the roundabout going towards Barrow
If It is a brake switch,sounds like it is, Road Range Liverpool charged me £54 inclusive to replace it.The job only took just over a hour while i waited for the car.
The dealer mentioned in Ulverston will probably do it while you wait if you phone first

Mercedes-Benz of South Lakes
Princes Street
Ulverston
Cumbria
LA12 7NQ

Tel: 01229 581681
 
Originally posted by Aletank
If It is a brake switch,sounds like it is, Road Range Liverpool charged me £54 inclusive to replace it.The job only took just over a hour while i waited for the car.


Not too bad I suppose given that the switch is £7 and it clips into place. Removing the trim panel under the dash is the longest part of the job.
 
I have my receipt here From Road Range Liverpool - 11/10/02

Fit OSF Brake Sensor

Total Labour £46.50

Part Number A 126 540 20 17 - Sender Unit - £1.32

Total VAT £8.37

Total Value £56.19

Due To Your Vehicle Being Over 3 Years Old You Are Now Given 25% Off Labour And 10% Off Parts
 
My A160 is coming up with ASR/BAS lights and got it checked out. Apparently, the master control box (?) has gone and needs replacing for a cost of £700! That was with a Merc Specialist on the not the stealer!!!!

Thank heaven for Warranties! :D
 
That was with a Merc Specialist on the not the stealer!!!!
AS you can see from my above posting my job cost £56 from the main dealer.
The first "specialist" I contacted wanted £120 telling me the part is £70ish, The second ""specialist" wanted £100
Always worth checking the main dealer for prices first.
 
Does this switch effect the cruise control as well. Because that has just gone tits up. I hope it's all the same problem.

Surely I'm not that unlucky !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Originally posted by Ron
Does this switch effect the cruise control as well. Because that has just gone tits up. I hope it's all the same problem.
I didn't get my BAS/ASR brake switch replaced for about 3 months, and all that time had to use the speed limiter rather than the cruise control for long journeys. Boy did I appreciate the cruise after I got the switch replaced ;)
 
All fixed now !

Took it to a Mercedes specialist, S&R motor engineers (Mercedes doctor) in Formby, Merseyside, as recommended by other members.

15 minutes later, fixed and only £20.

How's that for service ?
 
what was the problem?
 
It was the switch after all.

So, new switch fitted and, the old one given to me to do what I like with !
 
pics please
Yep pics :D If my BAS/ASR light ever comes on again, I think I'll buy 4 new brake sensors for £1.50ish each and have ago at replacing them all myself.
 

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