W219 CLS 320 CDI Problems / Warnings

[jamiem87]

Hi guys recently bought a faulty w219 that wouldnt start. Diagnosed it as the crank sensor, popped the new one in and it fired straight up.

The car hadnt been driven for months before I bought it, todays the first day i got chance to take it on a quick test drive.

After the first couple of minutes I noticed a string of warning messages, in no particular order I saw the following:

Run flat indicator inoperative
ESP Warning/Malfunction
ABS Malfunction visit workshop
Dipped beam bulb (no biggie)
Active light system fail (probs related to the above)

Its the first 3 that worry me - also at slow speeds the steering goes really heavy, as if the power steering isnt working, but it works fine at normal speeds, you can feel the assistance.

Finally (probably all related) the gear selector wont shift to reverse after its been in drive, you have to turn the engine off so the selector moves freely, then start it in reverse - it then moves into drive fine after reversing, its almost like the gear selector gets locked. I’m pretty sure this could be related to the ESP daft errors but please help with common faults etc!

PS. the car shifts out of park fine, drives fine and the gear changes are nice and smooth.

Many thanks in advance.


The car is a 2005 CLS 320 CDI

 

[Smart320]

Probably a battery that is failing, or at least only partly charged. Would be the first thing I checked, put it on an intelligent charger, like CTEK , overnight., or go and have the battery checked.

 

[jamiem87]

Hi bud thanks for the very quick reply. I’ve had it on a smart charger for weeks, the battery capacity is showing at 95% and has a strong voltage on it so i’m discounting the battery.

Ii also has a sticker date of 01/18 so it’s fairly new and tidy.

Many thanks again

 

[Smart320]

Then you need to get it on Star at a dealers or a MB Indi. A failed ABS wheel sensor throws up lots of faults , ABS, ESP ETC..

 

[jamiem87]

I’m on the look out for a local indi (Sheffield based) that can do me a
scan, don’t want to spend too much on this - a friend suggested it could be the brake light switch and is very cheap to try at approx £10, I may try this first and report back.

Thank you

 

[OneForTheRoad]

if your keeping this car, buy an icarsoft mb2 or i980 so you can scan it yourself. my guess is one of the abs/ speed sensors is duff , they all relate to no power steering at +10 mph , esp lights , abs etc etc . the run flat indicator can be reset using the steering wheel controls ( you tube it ) .

 

[jamiem87]

Brilliant that explains the power steering, I was worried it may be steering rack etc.

To be honest I don’t plan to keep the car for long, I have a family member interested as long as I can sort all of its faults, does anyone in the sheffield area have a scanner they’d plug in for me for a few ££’s?

Thanks

 

[jamiem87]

if your keeping this car, buy an icarsoft mb2 or i980 so you can scan it yourself. my guess is one of the abs/ speed sensors is duff , they all relate to no power steering at +10 mph , esp lights , abs etc etc . the run flat indicator can be reset using the steering wheel controls ( you tube it ) .

Just thinking what you said there also makes sense for the gear selector not shifting until the ignition is off, if it cant detect the speed it could disable the shifter to protect itself? I guess it could also be the brake switch as someone suggested.

Will look at getting it properly diagnosed first and report back.

Thanks to all again

 

[OneForTheRoad]

has it got sbc brakes ?

 

[jamiem87]

has it got sbc brakes ?

I’m fairly sure it doesn’t have SBC brakes, after reading about SBC it should come with an auxillary battery? which I don’t have - I also dont see any sbc hold options on the car, but being a 55 plate it should in theory have it according to what i’ve read.

is there an easy way to check?

 

[OneForTheRoad]

yeah lift the bonnet . sbc pump will be on your left at the front. its got sbc stamped on it

 

[jamiem87]

Thanks I will check later on today - would an SBC failure cause the heavy steering and ESP warnings though?

I thougt sbc was normally a red STOP message

 

[whitenemesis]

What year is your 219?

 

[jamiem87]

Is a 55 plate, so either 2005 or early 2016.

 

[whitenemesis]

So, it will have SBC IIRC
But I don't think that will have anything to do with your errors, I'd say it's a wheel sensor but best get codes read non STAR

 

[DSM10000]

Run flat indicator inoperative
ESP Warning/Malfunction
ABS Malfunction visit workshop
Dipped beam bulb (no biggie)
Active light system fail (probs related to the above)


Finally (probably all related) the gear selector wont shift to reverse after its been in drive, you have to turn the engine off so the selector moves freely, then start it in reverse -

You should not be able to start the car in Reverse, only in Park or Neutral, if you can then the inhibitor switch is faulty.

In terms of the other faults; as stated an ABS sensor could be at fault as could Steering wheel angle sensor (try turning the steering from lock to lock a few times with the engine running to see if the ESP error clears.

Do not discount the new battery, if left discharged for a period they can be damaged, you mentioned it only reached 95% capacity.

There are a number of possibilities as outlined by others, get a reliable scan otherwise you will just throw parts at it and spend far more than needed.

 

[ExMercTech]

Are the tyre pressures correct
With a gauge not with the dash display.

 

[jamiem87]

Sound advice from all, interesting comment re. the inhibitor switch, the car will start in reverse and neutral. you just cant shift to reverse from drive wirhout switching off and restarting.

I still feel all the errors are related.

Any recommendations for a star/carsoff diagnosis near sheffield
?

Thank you

 

[DSM10000]

Sound advice from all, interesting comment re. the inhibitor switch, the car will start in reverse and neutral. you just cant shift to reverse from drive wirhout switching off and restarting.

I still feel all the errors are related.

Any recommendations for a star/carsoff diagnosis near sheffield
?

Thank you

That is certainly an error, starting in any gear position that engages drive is incorrect. Presumably it starts in Park?

When trying to go from R to D do you have your foot on the brake?

 

[jamiem87]

Guys made a mistake here, just been to try it - Absolutely got foot on the brake pedal, it starts fine in P. Will shift down to reverse, reverse engages fine but once you move down the selector (to neutral or drive), it wont move back up without shutting off the engine, moving back up to park as its “floppy” then restarting, and then going to whatever you want again. It wont start in drive or reverse. Hope this makes sense.

I’m thinking it is a faulty speed sensor, presumably the box wouldnt allow you to shift to reverse if its thinking the cars moving?