W204 ESL issues

[Broosta]

I've had issues with the ESL for a while (didn't know about the ESL issue then though) - car sometimes won't recognise the key in the ignition, with only some dash lights on and no starting. This has been a thing for a few years but recently been worse.
I thought it was battery related but after changing the battery and testing voltages and things which were good the problem did not go away.

The problem so far has only meant the car won't start for a few mins and then it will, but now that is happening more often.

After a bit more googling I'm 99% sure it's the ESL, and my car is not stuck locked or anything.
Several options:-
1) go to main dealer who can fix for about £1kish.
2) go to indy who can do it a bit cheaper.
3) or I fix it by,
i) replacing the tiny little motor which cost about £15 (might still go wrong again),
ii) replacing with an emulator for a few £hundred? (not sure how to do this - needs coding to key or something?).

Of the above options 2, 3i), and 3ii), which have people found the best?
Or are there other options people have tried?

 

[SpikyMikey]

I've had issues with the ESL for a while (didn't know about the ESL issue then though) - car sometimes won't recognise the key in the ignition, with only some dash lights on and no starting. This has been a thing for a few years but recently been worse.
I thought it was battery related but after changing the battery and testing voltages and things which were good the problem did not go away.

The problem so far has only meant the car won't start for a few mins and then it will, but now that is happening more often.

After a bit more googling I'm 99% sure it's the ESL, and my car is not stuck locked or anything.
Several options:-
1) go to main dealer who can fix for about £1kish.
2) go to indy who can do it a bit cheaper.
3) or I fix it by,
i) replacing the tiny little motor which cost about £15 (might still go wrong again),
ii) replacing with an emulator for a few £hundred? (not sure how to do this - needs coding to key or something?).

Of the above options 2, 3i), and 3ii), which have people found the best?
Or are there other options people have tried?

If you can live without the car for a few days and can do the spannering there are several specialists who can rebuild your ESL: you post it off, then give it and post it back.
Sooner rather than later, as if it fails in the locked state then they are a royal PITA to fix.

 

[SpikyMikey]

If you can live without the car for a few days and can do the spannering there are several specialists who can rebuild your ESL: you post it off, then give it and post it back.
Sooner rather than later, as if it fails in the locked state then they are a royal PITA to fix.

Edit "you post it off, they fix it....."
Stupid predictive text

 

[Jobsworth]

At the very least get it unbolted from the column before it packs up completely. Removing a completely failed unit is a royal pain in the bum

 

[Broosta]

Well I rang my normal indy garage and they don't want to know. I was surprised as usually they're pretty good with everything else I've thrown at them, but also a bit concernaed as this was going to be my safety net option!

I called another place quite near me (Norwich) who can re-program keys to match an ESL emulator. Problem is they need the parts off my car for a few days so my car will be out of action for about 4 days and I need it for work so not ideal.

In the end I just ordered a replacment motor off amazon for £7. This is not the perfect solution but my easiest option for now. I have 3 days off coming up on monday so will attempt the replacemnt then. The Norwich guy reckons it takes about 1 hr to take the ESL off so I suppose half a day should easily do for the whole job.

I have heard other people who had replaced their ESL motor say they now need to do it much more often, but I suspect something I read on an amazon review on an ESL motor might explain that particular problem - when you replace the motor it needs to be in exactly the same position or it wears out much quicker.

Car just needs to hang in there for 2 more days!

 

[markjay]

Are you sure it's the ESL? Have you had the fault codes read with STAR?

 

[Broosta]

Not had fault codes read but I'm 99% sure its the ESL. The car is 9 years old and the ESL is the original one so it needs doing anyway really.
On monday I can replace the motor and I'll know if it fixes the problem on monday as I'm experiencing the problems every day now. And it will have cost me £7.
If the fault persists afterwards then I suppose I'll take it to mercedes to have the fault codes checked.
The reason i'm not doing that first is the cost, the hassle of booking and waiting for the appoinment, the 25 mile each way journey to the dealership with probably having to arrange a lift from and to it when they do the work - VS £7 and a bit of a tinker for half a day in my driveway.

 

[alexanderfoti]

As above, get the unlocked unit off first. We charge £490 ish to fit an emulator on a car that is unlocked, but a few 100 more to remove the column from the car, drill the rod, re-install etc.

 

[Jobsworth]

Not had fault codes read but I'm 99% sure its the ESL. The car is 9 years old and the ESL is the original one so it needs doing anyway really.
On monday I can replace the motor and I'll know if it fixes the problem on monday as I'm experiencing the problems every day now. And it will have cost me £7.
If the fault persists afterwards then I suppose I'll take it to mercedes to have the fault codes checked.
The reason i'm not doing that first is the cost, the hassle of booking and waiting for the appoinment, the 25 mile each way journey to the dealership with probably having to arrange a lift from and to it when they do the work - VS £7 and a bit of a tinker for half a day in my driveway.

If you are going to open it up and fit a new motor I wouldn’t bolt it back into place until you are sure it is operating reliably. You can tie it up out the way and it will snick in and out exactly as it would if bolted to the column. The advantage is, if it goes fubar you can simply unplug it, rather than four hours of faff to get the steering unlocked.

 

[Broosta]

Well just finished and it all works.

Absolute nightmare.
Took me about a day and a half to get the ESL module out, partly because a lot all the stuff online is for the pre facelift model W204 which is loads easier to do. Also as when you're told to take stuff off you don't know to what degree so a lot of the time you may not need to totally remove a bit and just losening would be fine.
Also I was having to come back into the house every 10 mins to refer to the net which was not massively efficient, and when I finally replaced the motor and put the module back the rest took just over an hour.

Things I did not do properly - didn't put locktight on the steering wheel nut, and just used the orignal nut again. I'll probably order a new nut and do it properly later though.

Things that broke - nothing!

Things that went wrong - a little bit of black plastic that helps secure the electric connector to the steering wheel seemed quite loose when I put it in (after having to take the steering wheel off again when I forgot to install it initially), and then when I was tidying up I found the damn thing on the carpet under the steering wheel! Well it's staying off for now and I will replace it when I do the wheel nut.

Overall it was a fiddly job. Not super difficult but takes time especially when you're not sure if you will actually be able to complete it all and I was forever reluctant to remove bits as I thought I may not have been able to replace them.

Bits left to do - finish putting the final bit of trim back, which is the centre vent part above the stereo. It doesn't want to go back in easily and I want to take my time to not brake anything. Was a bitch to get off too.

So... it seems like the new motor may well need replacing in 12-18 months but I thing I'll send it away to have an emulator coded next time. And I'll do it as soon as I get the symptoms now I know what they are, and I think now I know how to get the module out I could do it in a couple of hours.

 

[sgarre13]

Hi all, first post here and a question I've not seen asked before. Has anyone left the ESL unit in place in the unlocked condition?
Mine hasn't failed yet, but just wondering is it worthwhile simply unlocking the steering, with the key, disconnect the battery, unplug the ESL and connect in a coded emulator?
It leaves the option to reconnect the ESL for MOT test to avoid a minor for non functioning steering lock.
I could make up a patch lead to make reconnection easier.
I guess because the ESL is bistable, it stays safely unlocked without any power to it.