I have a 2001 ML320 with a shorted lateral acceleration sensor code. (C1142)

It is forever stuck in "Limp Home Mode" and nothing I do seems to correct it.

My question is, will this particular fault cause a limp mode condition like the one I am seeing? I've searched far and wide and can't find a clear answer. Thank you.

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Also, before you say "replace it and find out" I should say that I'm trying to keep costs down on this one just in case it isn't fixable. Or will cost more than the car's worth to fix.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

the lateral sensor is used by the ESP system mostly.

Does the TCU communicate with your scan tool? - a hard fault in the system will cause the shifting program to shut down and default to 2nd gear at maximum line pressure.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

It SHOULD be communicating with my scan tool. I am using an iCarsoft scanner specifically for MB. When clearing the codes, the Lateral Sensor code does not go away, the rest of the mysterious codes (with no description) get deleted and nothing changes.

When I try to access the transmission specifically, it says communication error. The scan tool doesn't even see the module as being present when I tell it to search for available modules!

It is definitely stuck in limp mode. Or the default 2nd gear at max line pressure (HARD into gear)

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles