Fault codes
 

l've pulled fault codes 6 and 17 ...any techs care to comment on what these mean and what can possibly be wrong...the car runs perfectly but once in a while the ASR and or ASR/ABS lites come on.
thanks.

DTCs from your 500SEL. . . .
 

Those two codes are:

6 - Idle speed control faulty
17 - Data exchange fault between individual control module

I'd reset them and see what happens: use the procedure outlined in MENU #2 on my page.

The codes in MENU #5 (DM) should be the same for your car.

thanks Jim. l did reset so far only one flash, i.e. no fault in system.

By the way , l visited your page, its the best, has a lot of very useful info.
thanks.

since l reset the codes the recurring problem seems to have gone away....does this make any sense???

by the way JimF, l built the home brew scan device but the bananna pins are dont fit my sel500, any suggestions?anyone?

DTCs are mysterious. . .
 

the more you think you know about them, the less you seem to do! :(

But since they have not come back, just smile alot! :)

The banana plugs are good for cars that have the 8 and 16 pin Diag Connector but your 500SEL has the 38pin. Thus you need small pins that mate with the female pins in the connector. This is not news to you since you've already figured this out.

But BE CAREFUL, since you could do damage plugging into that connector by mis-plugging, shorting adjacent pins, etc..

The mushroom described on my page (menu#2) at the bottom, is the safest way to interface the 38pin diag connector but they cost about $200, so there goes the money savings! Difficult problem!