Help! Wierd Electrical Gremlin (SL320-'99)
 

I drive a ’99 SL320 (UK/R.H.Drive) and have recently been plagued with a strange electrical gremlin.

On starting, although the motor runs normally, the car occasionally “loses” various ancillary electrical functions (namely: wipers, screen wash, radio, mirror adjust, headlight flash, seat heat..). More worryingly, it also develops a fault in the indicators where a right-turn on the “stalk” results in the left-side indicators flashing.

Brake lights, reverse lights, side and headlight, and hazard (4 way) flashers are not affected.

I have tried a restart and an alarm system reset to no avail. Usually, after about ten minutes of (very careful) driving with hand-signals only, the system recovers and everything functions normally.

Of course, this fault will not manifest itself when the vehicle is taken to the dealership!

Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Steve / MBZSRG

relays
 

It seems to me like the problem could be related to relays. All those things are controled by a relay of some sort, the multirelay will control most of those operations, flashers are seperate. I would see if there is a loose connection on one of the relays, clean all the pins jiggle some wires and see if that makes any difference.

xp

sounds like its dumping 15R on the ignition switch to me. Wiggle the key next time it acts up.



Joe