W210 Display Message
 

My wife came home with our 1999 E300 with a display where the mileage is at that read BAS. In addition, there was an idiot light on the left side that was lit which read ASR. After shutting off the car I pressed the “R” button on the dash and the display and lamp cleared. My wife went on another 22-mile trip and nothing happened. Any ideas???

Brake light switch at the brake pedal. Worked for me about three years ago with mine.

I think it's @$20?

Thanks, for the help, but I am not sure I under stand.

Did you put the new tires on that you mentioned in your Diesel forum thread?

Mismatched rubber could be the cause.

Not yet, I am waiting for snow in the forecast and I have been working on a friends W124 tonight. The way the weather has been here I need a boat.

Even if the tires end up trash I am so pleased with the price for the wheels. They are very nice.

Is your spouse a two foot driver? The early 210 cars had a feature/bug where depressing both the throttle and brake pedal simultaneously triggered a fault and lit the BAS idiot light. I recall reading about the problem in The Star back when I was an MBCA member. Also experienced it firsthand on my 1998 E300 after loaning it to my father-in-law (who of course claims he never rests his foot on the brake...). MB had a fix, either a new electronic module or a software update, forget which. Also, while this problem applied to my early 1998 car, it may not be present on your 1999 version.

- JimY

No, she is pretty much a one foot driver on the right pedal.

I drove the car tonoght. As soon as I started in the BAS display came back. When I arrived home I was able to cancel it with the R button on the dash. Sounds like I need to replace the brake light swith. By far this is the worst car I have ever owned or known anyone else to have.

Next time if it happens, try turning the steering all the way to left and hold it for a few seconds and then to the right and hold it for a few seconds. Repeat a couple times. The procedure is in your owner's manual. It sometimes happens to me during the cold morning when the engine takes a little longer to start. How old is your battery? It might be time for a new one.

Car Nut

When you press the R button, you are just getting the display "out of your face", you arent clearing it. I believe if press the R button again it will go back to the BAS display, will toggle back and forth. If there is more than one error it will page through all of them. Sounds like probably brake light switch, MAKE SURE the brake lights are WORKING! Should have error codes read unless you want to gamble that it's the brake switch.
Gilly

Really--all it takes is for a $20 switch to fail?

Have LOTS of fun with your Camry.

I tried pressing the'R' button a few times today, but no display. The brake lights are working. I willsee how it works the next few days. If it comes back I will take it to the dealership.

This car has had more repairs per mile than anything else I have had.

I don't have a Camry.:confused: