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  #1  
Old 01-11-2002, 10:36 AM
Mark Stetson's Avatar
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1992 500E "ASR/limp home mode" problem continued

This thread is a continuation of a discussion in the thread titled "1994 E500 ASR problem" Since my car is a '92 500E, and the thread diverged from the original problem symptoms, I thought I'd start a new one, relevant to my specific symptoms, which are:

Intermittently, and with increasing frequency, the ASR light goes on during moderate accelleration or while cruising. Simultaneously, the car goes into "limp home" mode (reduced throttle response and performance, delayed shifts, no cruise control). On two occasions, the Check Engine light has come on as well as the ASR light. The symptoms are cleared when the car is shut off and restarted. Diagnostic Fault Codes are numerous: 17, 6, 2, 7, 96, 224.

The car has 109K miles.

Well, my "ASR/limp home mode" problems still persist. I've now had the upper wiring harness replaced, the idle speed switch replaced, and finally the throttle actuator replaced. Those are all the items that were covered in the prior thread, and I expected that the problem would be solved. Driving home from the shop with the new throttle actuator, however, the car's symptoms returned.

The technician that installed the new throttle actuator noted another possible step in the puzzle. There was a recall (MBNA 30/4) on the Electronic Accelerator Control Module. On a 500E, the version number of the EACM should be K10 or greater. Mine is K9. So, back to the dealer this morning. I'm looking forward to confidently mashing the fast pedal again!

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1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi
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  #2  
Old 01-11-2002, 10:58 AM
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Greetings Mark- and thanks for sharing the updates- unfortunately can't help with info on this, but am hoping you get your pristine '92 back fixed soon!


-fad
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  #3  
Old 01-11-2002, 01:39 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Rocklin CA
Posts: 65
ASR light

I have a 96 S500 so I don't know if it helps but here goes.
If my car sat overnight, when I started it both the EPC and ASR lights came on on the dashboard and the car was in limp home mode. If I restarted it again and again(up to 30 times) eventually, the light went out and I was off and running.

Diagnostic showed code 1580 EA/CC/ISC actuator.

They replaced the "slide actuator" and I've since been trouble free.

It sounds like you may have been down this path already, but I hope this might be someplace else to look if you don't get better advice somewhere else.

KG
96 S500
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  #4  
Old 01-11-2002, 03:07 PM
roas
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Hi Mark,

Is the EACM the black box located by the accelerator pedal?

Hope your car is fixed soon.
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  #5  
Old 01-12-2002, 11:44 AM
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roas, on the 500E, the EACM is one of the electronics modules that are in the weather-tight box that is located where the battery is on a "normal" W124 chassis - in the corner near the firewall on the passenger side of the engine compartment. It is something like a $2,200 part, from what I've read so far. I'll return to my dealer on Monday with supporting material to determine if there was in fact a recall on that part. So far, they say "no."
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1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi
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  #6  
Old 01-14-2002, 10:21 AM
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Mark,

I'm not sure what you mean by upper engine harness but I had my harness replaced (the one that connects to the blue and black temp sensors) and my car's (93 500E, 40K mi) been trouble free since. It was exhibiting the same symptoms as yours and was even sputtering in some cases, exhibiting a sort of overheat situation which was always fixed by unplugging the wire to the blue temp sensor (which then left the aux fax working always).

Sure hope your car's starmarked!

Cheers!
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93 500E, 43k mi, Pics of upgrade parts
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94 Facelift
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  #7  
Old 01-14-2002, 10:29 AM
roas
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Oach, lets hope it's not the EACM! My "indy"(independant) tech in his quest to sort out my ASR Light on determined that a black box under the Drivers carpet was the culpret, it wasn't. I'm not sure how he came up with this conclusion as I was not present at the time, I believe it was connected with the brake system.
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  #8  
Old 01-18-2002, 11:05 AM
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Still no joy

Well, my dealer determined that my car didn't qualify for the recall. The chassis number was within range, but the engine number wasn't. I'll appeal to MBUSA.

Ross, my symptoms include the "limp home" event triggering a lot of false diagnostic error codes, with the idle speed switch being commonly triggered. I had mine replaced too, with no joy. Seems common to others on this site with the same problem.

Ricky, the upper engine harness is the same one you had replaced. Apparently there is a lower harness that is part of the car's main harness (I think) and it is much more expensive to replace.

If MBUSA doesn't accept my appeal, I'm not sure what to do next. I could either buy-and-try the EACM, or try for a fresh diagnosis at the dealer or an indy. I'm a little worried about the wiring in the car, even with the engine harness replaced. Although it is happening almost every day now, it seems a sure way to trigger the event is to wash the car. It seems that a few miles after every wash, the car goes "limp". Co-inky-dink or a short somewhere?
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1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi
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  #9  
Old 01-18-2002, 11:28 AM
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Boy, what a pain...but I guess you already know that.

I'd try pulling apart every connector I could (without chance of destroying brittle connections) and re-connecting with electrolytic, or conductive, grease. Prevents any corrosion, and ensures optimal connections.

Just a thought in the hope that it helps
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  #10  
Old 01-18-2002, 06:58 PM
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Mark,
My sympathies on your problem! I would have sworn, from everything I've read here and on the Easley list, it was the throttle actuator --

I like the above suggestion re: cleaning all connectors. The other thing I'd try is to replace all the fuses. Folks on the "other" list say to replace all fuses at 10-year intervals, and yours is officially 10 years old. Sometimes fuses look just fine but have little cracks and cause weird intermittant problems which defy diagnosis.

At any rate, it's a cheap thing to do.

Good luck to you!
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  #11  
Old 01-18-2002, 07:16 PM
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ASR

Mark what was the engine # limit for recall?
It seems to me there are enough of these problems that we could start a small class action or get dot to do a safety recall.
Any (shudder ) Attorneys out there?
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  #12  
Old 01-18-2002, 09:34 PM
roas
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Mark, maybe some fellow LA members can help by donating "swapable" known good parts for a limited time. Just to take the guess work out of the picture?
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  #13  
Old 01-18-2002, 09:45 PM
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Mark,

The upper engine harness is the most susceptible to disintegration due to its proximity to the hottest parts of the engine. I've been told many times not to worry about the lower one (and yes, it is a LOT more expensive...)

Now that you mention problems occurring after washing the car, I do recall that something similar happens to me, although it hasn't been too much of a problem for me to tackle it with the same gusto. Everytime it rains, or when the car is washed, (1) the antenna refuses to retract and (2) the passenger side fog lamp dies, triggering the dashlight telling me of a burnt out bulb.

Then there's also this weird problem of some (not all) of the dash and switch lights coming on (a/c vents adjuster, gear selector, rear sun screen, seat heaters etc). It goes away after driving for a while (I could almost swear it goes out after mashing the go pedal in gear but I'm not sure). It only happens when you don't use the vehicle for days. What worries me though is that the lights are on when I get in the car so it can potentially drain the battery.

I know that's not quite helpful but in situations like this, seemingly unrelated symptoms might point to the solution.

Best of luck.
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93 500E, 43k mi, Pics of upgrade parts
Evo II Wheels on Dunlop FM901 235/45x17s
94 Facelift
RennTech CF Airbox
RennTech ASR Defeat
RennTech Chip
1st Gear Start
97 Range Rover 4.6 HSE Vitesse, Yellow, "Tonka" (sold)
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  #14  
Old 01-19-2002, 09:18 AM
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NOT A RECALL

Ricky, it sounds like your car is haunted and it misses you if you don't drive it every day! Just kidding.

I spoke to MBUSA customer assistance last night, after hours. I was told that the document I was referring to (MBNA 30/4) was NOT a recall, but a Technical Service Bulletin. So even if my car fell within the range of engine numbers, MBUSA would not be responsible, because my car is out of warranty. After I understand this issue a little better, I'll still appeal that position. Meanwhile, I'll call the customer assistance line on Tuesday during business hours to speak to a technical rep.

My question now is: My car's chassis number is within the range of the TSB, but the engine number is 79 numbers higher than the range. Which is the correct version number EACM for my engine? The version K9 that is installed, or the (later) version K10 that is specified for the (earlier) engines in the TSB? I would assume that K10 is correct, and according to the symptoms that are addressed by the TSB, it appears that swapping to a K10 should solve the problem. Anyone have any knowledge of this?

Meanwhile, I'm heading to the Kragen store for some electrolytic grease and fuses.
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1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi
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  #15  
Old 01-20-2002, 08:08 PM
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I swapped out all the fuses in the fuse block with new ones, and went through some of the connections in the engine compartment with dielectric grease. Then I opened up the CAN box to have a look at my EACM again, because my dealer tried to tell me that it was a Bosch part, not a VDO part. Here's a picture of my EACM, VDO origin, version K9, manufacture date 10th week of 1991. I'm going for a drive tonight. Let's see if the gremlins are still on board!
Attached Thumbnails
1992 500E "ASR/limp home mode" problem continued-eacm-k9-10_91.jpg  

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2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi
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