4ETS not working at all.

[george d]

Sunday I was on a short drive in my 2000 ML320. It was clear and dry. I was backing out of a level, well packed gravel driveway, and backed into a shallow grassy ditch running along the edge of the driveway.

The front left wheel stayed on the driveway. There was no part of the frame touching the ground anywhere. I tried to pull forward back onto the driveway, and the front left wheel just sat there spinning and smoking. I could not hear the system cycling, as I have heard before. I tried again in Low Range, with the same results. It took three people to push me back up on the driveway, with the front left tire spinning the entire time. The ML was absolutely helpless.

One time last year, I was offroad and ended up in a situation where the right rear wheel was several inches off the ground while I was backing a trailer on uneven hillside terrain. I unhitched the trailer, and with the right rear wheel still several inches up in the air, I was able to drive right out of the situation. I could hear the system working, and I was very impressed with how well it worked.

Is there something that could have totally disabled the system since then? I checked the fuse relating to the ABS, and it was fine.

Thanks for any advice you can give me, before I take it into the dealer. It is still under "extended warranty" but was wondering what to expect before I take it in.

Thanks again!
George