W211 Gear Selector Module SBC Fault

[adewatson]

Guys

Car is UK E270CDI Auto (September 2004)

Bit of a long shot but wonder if anyone else has experienced same.

My SBC hold function had become intermittent in it's availability and has now stopped working completely. I get a dashboard message saying "SBC Hold Unavailable etc" and it won't engage.

Took it to main dealer who has diagnosed a fault with the gear selector communicating with the SBC ECU. Suggested repair is to replace the whole gear selector unit as the module is not available separately.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and perhaps knows any way of testing the selector module.

Haven't had a price yet, but assume it aint going to be cheap.

In every other way the system is faultless and the gear selector definately interacting with main ecu as the dash shows which gear is selected etc.

Many thanks in advance.

Adrian

 

[Dieselman]

As the gear selector is working as far as selecting and displaying the correct gears I would have thought the fault lies with the SBC side of things. It would be worth checking the conenctor onto the SBC pump unit as they had a problem with working loose when the W211 was first released.
There isn't much in the selector unit but it could have a bad connection I suppose, but not very likely.

 

[Ali_H]

Hi. Yes I've had this exact same problem with my 04 320 CDi , fortunately it was fixed under warranty, but the dealer did say that it could be adjusted but that failed so the whole unit was replaced. I was told that it was a micro switch in the Drive position that was not making contact, which seamed believable as if I pulled the gear selector hard into Drive SBC Hold worked! I would guess any half-decent mechanic should be able to "repair" the selector mechanism.

 

[adewatson]

Thanks for the replies, I shall thoroughly check the connections and see if there's any change!

 

[Ali_H]

I don't believe it will be a bad connection but more likely that there is wear in the operating mechanism where the gear leaver touches the micro switch when Drive is selected. SBC Hold only works in Drive.

 

[prprandall51]

Hello, are there any updates on this problem? My car has suffered from this issue on and off (mostly off) for quite a few months now but the dealer doesn't have a resolution currently.

By the way, on my car SBC Hold works in Drive and Reverse (when it works at all), it's a late '04 S211. This would point away from a micro-switch on "D-Drive" position since it works neither in Drive or Reverse.

Thanks
Philip

 

[corned]

My SBC works in neutral as well...

 

[glojo]

I have just been having a chat with prprandall51 and can confirm that some of us might no longer have any SBC options. This only applies to pre facelift vehicles and not all of them

I am told this is an old service bulletin that should have been carried out well over 12 months ago and only effects a number of vehicles.

Guess what?

I'm alright Jack.

Even though our car was serviced in February this year we still have both SBC Hold and SBC Stop.

I am trying to locate the TSB to see what it is all about.

Regards
John

 

[fuzzer]

I have just been having a chat with prprandall51 and can confirm that some of us might no longer have any SBC options. This only applies to pre facelift vehicles and not all of them

I am told this is an old service bulletin that should have been carried out well over 12 months ago and only effects a number of vehicles.

Guess what?

I'm alright Jack.

Even though our car was serviced in February this year we still have both SBC Hold and SBC Stop.

I am trying to locate the TSB to see what it is all about.

Regards
John

I would be interested in your findings john

 

[glojo]

I would be interested in your findings john

The problem is that because it is a European issue they are not so free and easy with the information.

I have been told by a reliable source that a TSB was issued sometime last year regarding customers that complained of problems with SBC and an upgrade was issued and as a side effect this has disabled SBC Hold on certain models of the 211. I have NO idea regarding other models that have this option as I was talking specifically about the E-class. The person I spoke to knew that I would post any information I was given and so they were not to specific. I got the impression the switching off of SBC Hold was a side effect of the software upgrade and not to eradicate any known issue.

I asked if the system could be re-activated and was told it might be complicated but there was no harm in asking.

John

 

[prprandall51]

An update: my SBC Hold problem was also fixed by a replacement gear selector module.

Philip

 

[AntJC]

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but I had the same issues on my 2004 W211 that I recently purchased.

MB Chichester diagnosed it as an issue with the gearbox ESM not communicating with the SBC module to acknowledge that the car was in Drive.

So one new ESM module later (Part Number MA211 267 58 24) and the car now has SBC Hold.

I did contact the previous owner to see when hold stopped working, and he admitted that he did not know that the car had that feature.

Bill picked up by the warranty company which was the icing on the cake.

Regards
Antony

 

[hi_flyer437]

Guys

Car is UK E270CDI Auto (September 2004)

Bit of a long shot but wonder if anyone else has experienced same.

My SBC hold function had become intermittent in it's availability and has now stopped working completely. I get a dashboard message saying "SBC Hold Unavailable etc" and it won't engage.

Took it to main dealer who has diagnosed a fault with the gear selector communicating with the SBC ECU. Suggested repair is to replace the whole gear selector unit as the module is not available separately.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and perhaps knows any way of testing the selector module.

Haven't had a price yet, but assume it aint going to be cheap.

In every other way the system is faultless and the gear selector definately interacting with main ecu as the dash shows which gear is selected etc.

Many thanks in advance.

Adrian

Resurrecting this thread, I noticed that mine is also doing this. I have to say I've never felt the need to use it in the 3 years I've owned the car but was just having a play. Is it a big issue if the selector module microswitch has failed? Having just spent the thick end of £1500, I'm loathe to throw any non-essential money at it at the moment!!

 

[corned]

I think you can chalk me up as the latest victim on this problem.

Erratic SBC Hold, and nothing to do with the actual brakes themselves, as they were serviced in between occurrences.

The 211 is really losing its shine now. And there was me thinking that Mercedes-Benz stood for quality.

 

[alibally]

I have done a couple of gearshifts for that fault. Everything appears to work fine except the SBC hold function. Its an internal fault within the gearshift module.

 

[toucan]

Reference the problem with SBC Hold warning I have the same error message on an 05 W211 E220, I have been told the Gear Selector Module needs to be replaced, it will cost £330 for the Module and £190 to fit, all this is subject to VAT.

 

[mr. shr]

Yep, my 211 has the same issue. And I've also been told the ESM needs changing.
It's a pricey part to change for only a small gain IMO so I've just decided to live with it.

I do believe some time ago, Corned said he was going to open up his unit to try to fix it.
So come on, chop chop. Let's be 'avin your results!!

 

[samali]

Hello,

I have this problem of SBC Hold unavailable occuring from time time but in the past 3 days I get it 2 times.
Some body over there said I live it as it is and he can live with it! the problem is when it hapens to me, I have the impression that the gear hangs on the first, the second or any gear, and no way change it until I stop the engin completely and restart it.
Yes for sure I can live with that but I am afreid to break the gearbox and then it will be another big story.
Any advice?
Thanks

 

[samali]

Hello,

I have this problem of SBC Hold unavailable occuring from time time but in the past 3 days I get it 2 times.
Some body over there said I live it as it is and he can live with it! the problem is when it hapens to me, I have the impression that the gear hangs on the first, the second or any gear, and no way change it until I stop the engin completely and restart it.
Yes for sure I can live with that but I am afreid to break the gearbox and then it will be another big story.
Any advice?
Thanks

Update:
Yesterday evening on my way back home I got the Turbo alarm. I went this morning to Mercedes dealer (Paris) to check but they are too busy so they gave me un appointment next week.
While driving after to my work, suddenly the car shacked once and the speed locked on the 1st gear. I tried as I did usually to turn off the engine and back on, but this time the gear stayed on the 1st. I had to continue my way (6 km) at 10-20km/h.
Thanks for your advices.... if any

 

[Ian B Walker]

Guys

Car is UK E270CDI Auto (September 2004)

Bit of a long shot but wonder if anyone else has experienced same.

My SBC hold function had become intermittent in it's availability and has now stopped working completely. I get a dashboard message saying "SBC Hold Unavailable etc" and it won't engage.

Took it to main dealer who has diagnosed a fault with the gear selector communicating with the SBC ECU. Suggested repair is to replace the whole gear selector unit as the module is not available separately.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and perhaps knows any way of testing the selector module.

Haven't had a price yet, but assume it aint going to be cheap.

In every other way the system is faultless and the gear selector definately interacting with main ecu as the dash shows which gear is selected etc.

Many thanks in advance.

Adrian

Just done one exactly as described. Yes it is the gear selector. Cost £350.