W204 Steering lock mechanical fault diagnosed

[tifomb]

Corrupt chip i'm told, needs reprogramming. This is why i had to replace the original ESL but this time they say it can be reprogrammed. But it will go corrupt again, they have a habit of doing it once reprogrammed. The chip on the ESL isn't that good.

I'm told they can put a new chip in but this will be next week as it takes a while to program.

So told them to reprogram mine and send it back, will replace the motor as well. If it fails again, another warranty repair.

 

[tifomb]

Parts came back, ESL chip replaced and reprogrammed.

Connected EIS and ESL, put key in .... ESL unlocks but nothing on dash, no ignition lights, can't start .... take key out ESL locks.

The repairer is stumped, was tested as working when they sent it back to me. They'll send another key to me but not sure what the problem is. Said they've done all they can.

Any ideas?

 

[MancMike]

Then the motor is physically unlocking and locking the ESL, but that signal that it's been done isn't getting back to the EIS.

Unless the EIS gets the signal (from the wire that goes from the EIS to the ESL, that the steering has been unlocked (when the pin retracts, it presses a button, it's a separate circuit), the car will do nothing.

Yours is still broken like mine was, the difference is my motor wasn't moving the pin, and your motor is, but the pin isn't hitting the button or that circuit is damaged or disconnected.

It seems you need to take it somewhere more familiar with this system.

 

[tifomb]

The replacement key didn't work, once initialised by the EIS its same as my keys, i.e. unlock/close doors and ESL unlocks/closes but nothing else.

The only time i'd get ignition lights is if the key is in and the EIS 10 pin cable is taken out/in, but nothing more, everything else that works with ignition does, like the middle screen, windows etc. They said it's getting confused because the key is in and lock open.

I've sent the parts back to the repairer, they're a professional outfit that does 'in circuit repairs'.

 

[tifomb]

Update:

The ESL etc came back some days after above (July) and it worked as normal. Second time around they reprogrammed the chip 'the old way' ...

It started intermittently giving the starting problem again a few times in August. Nothing first time, take key out put in again and it would start. It did this 2 times in a month.

Gave up on the part and repairs (even though repair would be done for free under warranty as long as I had car) so sold the car for £2,000 purely because I couldn't have it not starting on me again. I think that's way below it's market price for an 08 CDi 220 elegance with many extras, full service history and in good condition. A big loss only because of the ESL.

£2,000 was the scrap price because I got offered this from a few places. And same price in June when car was non runner with no ESL, EIS and keys ... they said will collect. Looking back, should've scrapped it then rather than sell it private later for same price.

 

[RWAC220]

Just been reading through all the problems that fellow Mercedes owners have had with their steering locks etc. Mainly seem to be older vehicles but keep recurring much to peoples annoyance. Now in 2020 my 2015 C220 has succumbed to the same problem and the car has not even done 40,000 miles so this does not say a lot about the build quality improvements to known problems. When I put the key in the ignition I got a beep and a message that said ''steering malfunction - see owners manual''. My local dealer said they would send the RAC out. The mechanic arrived and after 50mins gave up trying to start the vehicle. This was despite speaking to Mercedes for help. So a recovery truck has now taken it to the local dealer and they say it needs a new steering lock that has to come from Germany as it has to be coded and I will have to prove who I am when I go and collect the vehicle. Cost will be just under £1,000. I do not drive the car hard so I was also surprised when the brake discs needed replacing after 30,000 miles. When I bought the car the salesman kept telling me how aspirational it was. He did mention the high maintenance costs.

 

[optimusprime]

Yes but they are fantastic cars .....

 

[markjay]

Just to say that the mileage can be misleading.

A steering wheel lock will likely be affected by the number of times you use it, not the mileage the car covered.

The same applies to many other components, e.g. starter motor, door locks, etc.

In the extreme, a car that is used daily for short trips e.g. school run, the shops, the gym, etc, might have low mileage but excessive wear on some items (and that may include brakes and dampers, by the way), compared to an airport shuttle taxi that does mega miles on long motorway runs.

As for engines... or agricultural, construction, marine and aviation engines, usage is measured by working hours, not mileage.

 

[190]

A steering wheel lock will likely be affected by the number of times you use it, not the mileage the car covered.

It's madness that I have to do it but my car is sat in the garage with the key in position as always. That saves 4 steering lock operations every time I take the car out.

I have to resort to this unsafe practice because MB used a cheap Chinese motor and then designed the software to imobilise the car when the cheap motor inevitably fails. I don't even understand why a modern car needs a steering lock and would remove it if that was possible. In the mean time I listen every time the lock is operated for signs of it slowing down. It's not a quality experience.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Measuring in hours is a good thing. My KTM off road (road legal) Enduro bike does both hours and distance. Hours are more important in this application as the mileage is measured from the front wheel which is often not even touching the ground and the rear wheel is spinning on loose surfaces = no way of getting an accurate measurement of distance covered, it also travels sideways a lot and can sometimes be found upside down in a ditch with me lying underneath it .

Somewhere on Legitstreecars.com Alex buys a used Cop car that had relatively low mileage but over 8300 hours of engine idle time......that's a whole YEAR of idling !

 

[RWAC220]

Hi Markjay

Fully agree with the point you make about usage against mileage. I believe the car has probably only been started 4 or 6 times a day on average so the usage has not been excessive. When these components are tested it should be expected to operate more than 10,000 times

 

[Blue30]

There are ESL emulators on eBay now that’s probably the way I’d go if mine went again. Anyone tried one?

 

[londontx1]

Being quite disappointed with my MB 2008 38K on the clock and does not respond to my keys. Can turn but nothing happens - steering lock still locked.
STAR mobilo diagnosed "Steering lock mechanical fault" and removed the car by special truck taken to MB local dealer.
No news from them to date but few questions:
1 Is it something that they can repair or new parts will be needed?
2. In case that new parts are required - apart from steering lock what else they may need to replace?
3 Any idea about the costs? AQs they got me now they may charge whatever they want...

Done some research - looks like it's a common problem
There shall be really a recall for that I think!

Anybody here with similar problems? What did they charge you?

My sister had a similar problem on a 2008 also,it turned out to be some gadget that is situated somewhere behind the ignition lock that is some kind of reader from the key fob,from what I recall it cost her £800+ and took almost 2 weeks for the part to arrive from Germany.

 

[markjay]

There are ESL emulators on eBay now that’s probably the way I’d go if mine went again. Anyone tried one?

Given the repair cost, I can see why it's tempting to use this sort of device when the ESL failed on an older car.

My concerns would be:

- Safety - I would probably be worried that the steering wheel might lock on me while driving...

- I'll need to report to my insurer that I have deliberately disabled a manufacturer-fitted anti-theft device on my car.

- Would I eventually sell-on the car to an unsuspecting buyer with the ESL emulator still fitted? (granted, and old car might eventually get scrapped, rather than sold)

But to your question, no I don't know anyone who fitted one.

 

[Blue30]

Don’t agree on safety issue as you would physically remove the lock from the column so there’s no possibility of that happening.

Stealing / insurance, can’t see anyone stealing a modern merc without keys really, especially not an old 220cdi grandad mobile like mine lol

Fair play on the next owner though I rekon most people would be put off by this kind of mod, it does reek of bodge.

 

[Blue30]

I actually noticed the last week or two that my ESL is sounding ‘slow’ again. It was replaced by MB in 2016 ish already. Looking at the emulators for W204 they’re not plug and play they need programming so might as well get it sorted properly, new motor again maybe.