Weird ASR problem!!
 

1996 SL500 Iam getting a very weird ASR problem. Sometimes, and it seems to be associated more with after I turn, the ASR on my car starts blinking and I get the throttle reduction. As long as I keep my foot on the gas, accelerate or not, the ASR light keeps blinking and the throttle stays down. I'm not sure if its when I take my foot off the gas, or if its when I put it on the brake, but then it stops blinking and mycar goes back to normal. It is very sporadic, maybe 1-2 times per week, so I dont think I want to spend the money at the mechanic until I can pin it down a bit more.

Keep in mind that the ASR light is not going on completely as in the "limp home" mode. It is blinking like the tires are slipping, but it keeps blinking and engaging while I have the gas pressed. I am most definitely not slipping as this has happened with me going at very very low speeds. I have held this blinking pattern by keeping my foot on the gas for a good 2-3 minutes.

Help!!

Update: Just happened to me this morning, I just let go of the accelerator and the ASR shut off, I did NOT press the brake. So as long as the accelerator was pressed, a little or a lot it did not matter, the ASR kept flashing and the throttle was restricted.

Are there any techs here that can point me in the right direction??

an easy test to isolate:

>put on old wheels/tires and see if the problem persists

if so- this will point you in the ASR/ mechanical direction to continue research

if not- the issue points to source: wheels/tires...offset/width

best regards
-fad

fad: I had the same exact problem before I changed the wheels.

By the way, to clarify, the ASR light itself NEVER goes on, just the exclamation point light in the dash. It's like the ASR function gets "stuck" on, but no fault codes are generated.

Sounds like either a yaw sensor or a wheel speed sensor crawling out of range, informing the ASR control module that the car is a "slip" mode.

Time for a HHT to read actual values.


Joe

Also check for uniform air pressure , tire sizing.....

Could it be because I have a staggered setup on wheels? I have 18.5 wheels in the front with 245/40/R18 tires. I also have 19.5 wheels in the back with 275/35/R18 tires. They are factory, OEM AMG's with Michellin Pilot's on them. They are all performance ones except the front right one, which is an all season, but still a Michellin Pilot.

Thanx much guys, just want to narrow it down to avoid a troubleshooting nightmare at the dealer.

It may not even be your ASR (or maybe it is) How does your alt and voltage reg. look?

I had intermittent flashes similar to yours and it turned out to be the alt/internal volt. regulator was going bad. Just a thought.

Hey Doc...is it the red car you are selling?

From one doc to another! Take time to check the circumference of all 4 tires. IF the front tires are larger the the rear ones, then THAT will cause your problem.