W211 red warning brake problem

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Adw1970

New Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2020
Messages
7
Location
Shropshire
Car
W211
Hi all.
my 2004 w211 has the following problem.
it started with just a white message saying service brake visit workshop. This then went on to a red warning saying reduced brakes visit workshop.
this has now gone to the same red message but now it displays abs and esp lights then won’t change from 1st gear, has NO brakes and once the shifter if put into park it won’t re-release ?!?!
I have noticed that just before it goes into the 3rd process there is a whirring sort of noise of a pump or similar under the bonnet.
please help!!
 
SBC pump has reached the end of service life.
STAR required to diagnose if it can be extended or if already done once it will need replacing.
 
Hi and thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
What is a star machine? Also what is the process to re activate the pump?
 
STAR is the Mercedes diagnostics system needed to interrogate the car's systems.
As the SBC is a safety critical system I wouldn't trust any other (generic) diagnostics.
The SBC pump has a finite number of brake applications that may be extended once to prolong service life.
Get the car to an independent Merc specialist with STAR experience to check the system over.
 
Mercedes diagnostic and reset system at main dealers and some indies I think, New pump fitted was about £1100 at my Indie when I had it done on my SL at the beginning of the year. I seem to remember on here that there is also someone who rebuilds them.
 
Hi
As others have said, SBC Unit is faulty.
To ascertain whether it can be re-activated depends on the fault code as this is a MB specific system only better quality diagnostic machines will be able to read it, and only STAR with developer mode can clear and update programming.
If the noise from the pump is loud then the chances it will need replacing, or at least stripping and refurbishing.
There is a DIY tool available from the likes of Amazon that will clear the fault code for resetting the brake applications but if that isnt the fault code then it wont reset.
Price for an SBC pump will depend on specific pt no as there are quite a few different versions, but is approx. £900-1000 from MB and is based on exchanging you're faulty unit.
Second hand might be false economy but can be had for approx. £200-400, and will have to be the exactly the same pt no as the one fitted to you're car.
You could get a re-furbed unit with 12 months guarantee for about £500-600.
Though physical replacement of the SBC Pump is straight forward to bleed it involves using a pressure bleeder and following specific instructions on STAR which in turn will activate/de-activate the pump.
 
This guy may be able to help if you have the SBC pump diagnosed as faulty.

As an aside, I also had this warning on my previous E55, along with no indicators, ASP/ABS warnings, heavy steering and little braking.
It turned out the alternator needed replacing and the main and aux batteries were dead.
 
Ok. I have changed the main battery (the one that was on the car was an incorrect one!) I did this because convince settings were displayed on startup.
 
^ Have you checked the voltage on the aux battery under the pollen filter?
Should be reading 12.6v fully charged. If its over 4 years old, you might want to change it.
Around £40 from Tayna

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I’ve read somewhere that the maximum use of sbc pump is nowhere near when they actually stop working, they just reset the counter, and they didn’t use STAR either , infact it was a video, and I beleive they also proved why it was not a bad idea. Try YouTube you might find video
 
I’ve read somewhere that the maximum use of sbc pump is nowhere near when they actually stop working, they just reset the counter, and they didn’t use STAR either , infact it was a video, and I beleive they also proved why it was not a bad idea. Try YouTube you might find video
Hi
Agreed I mentioned this in my earlier post and will only reset a specific Fault code (brake applications) the O/P doesn't know which fault code he has.
I bought one recently to try to reset my white warning message, it didn't work.
Mine required a full reset of the programming of the SBC Unit.
My understanding is resetting on STAR developer mode will reset all parameters, brake applications etc. extinguish warning lights etc. some codes cannot be cleared and these are down to the mechanical condition, such as motor faults etc, which can only be cleared once the mechanical fault has been resolved, eg removed, part replaced or refurbished.
 
This guy may be able to help if you have the SBC pump diagnosed as faulty.

As an aside, I also had this warning on my previous E55, along with no indicators, ASP/ABS warnings, heavy steering and little braking.
It turned out the alternator needed replacing and the main and aux batteries were dead.
Had this on the SL as well. Batteries not dead but regulator needed replacing. Touch unnerving when the dash lights up red though.
 
I also bought one of the ebay gadgets supposed to reset the pedal count upwards. It cleared the fault code for about an hour then back to white warning (which arrives long before the red warning if its a counter issue) so didnt work for me either. Obviously the red comes on immediately if the pump nactually fails.
 
Hi all.
have just done a test on the auxiliary battery and it’s reading very very low. Could this be my problem?
 
Hi all.
have just done a test on the auxiliary battery and it’s reading very very low. Could this be my problem?
Yes, low voltage on the aux battery will throw up error messages. If its over 4 years old, change it and see if the messages disappear.
I'd get the main battery in the boot fully charged too.
Have you checked the alternator is charging the main battery as it should? 13.4v+ with engine running
I'm not convinced, without Star diagnosis, that the SBC pump has timed out.
 
Thanks very much. Will test the alternator tomorrow and see what it’s putting thru. Your help is very much appreciated.
 
Happy new year.
Today’s update.
Started the car this morning to take my wife to work,
It started fine but I noticed that there was a constant pump sort of noise from under the bonnet. This went on for about 1 mile whilst taking the road down the hill from where we live (was using the brakes for most of that mile). Once on the main road the pump noise eventually stopped but shortly after it ceased the dashboard flashed up red even though I hadn’t touched the brakes, then it flashed the abs and went into limp/lock mode. I still hadn’t touched the brakes at this point.
I then parked up and disconnected the main battery and left it off for the suggested 15 mins (was more like 25mins). After re-connecting the display was still in red lock mode so I disconnected both batteries and left for 30 mins. Re connected and it started again but within 1/2 mile it went back into red but not red/lock mode. Am flummoxed!?!?!
 
Happy new year.
Today’s update.
Started the car this morning to take my wife to work,
It started fine but I noticed that there was a constant pump sort of noise from under the bonnet. This went on for about 1 mile whilst taking the road down the hill from where we live (was using the brakes for most of that mile). Once on the main road the pump noise eventually stopped but shortly after it ceased the dashboard flashed up red even though I hadn’t touched the brakes, then it flashed the abs and went into limp/lock mode. I still hadn’t touched the brakes at this point.
I then parked up and disconnected the main battery and left it off for the suggested 15 mins (was more like 25mins). After re-connecting the display was still in red lock mode so I disconnected both batteries and left for 30 mins. Re connected and it started again but within 1/2 mile it went back into red but not red/lock mode. Am flummoxed!?!?!
This happened with my w211 and it was the end for my SBC pump. Had it removed by an indie and drove it up to John the guy mentioned by AM Geed. Took him just over 1 hr to overhaul and reset. Refitted and like driving with a whole new braking system. Would recommend .
 

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