I have almost 70K on the ML 320 and have had very few problems and none of them electrical. I was thinking it may be something with the starter also but it s now been working fine. It was checked twice by a reputable MB dealer with no luck. I guess the problem can t be found now if it isn t happening. Thanks Guys.
PS I ll keep you posted for your information.

More Info..... It has been starting but while driving today ,with no input from the driver, the door locks went up and down, the high beams on and off and the radio on and off.. This is probably part of the orig problem. Anymore ideas.

Maybe some techs can help with the question of the AAM? Does it control those functions?

UPDATE: It has been starting but wierd electrical things are happening. Locks went up and down, radio off and on while driving. BAS light sometimes comes on when you switch heat on. Any ideas??:confused:

I am sure the AAM controls many of those things. Does anyone know the specifics of the AAM system?

Mark
Your signature states that you have a 98 ML430, the 430 wasn't out until the 99 model year.

This is I believe an accurate list for the functions controlled by the AAM:

Crash evaluation
central locking
keyless entry
flashing lights
exterior lighting
fog lamp
wipers
wiper/washer, rear
power windows
AC compressor
Fan control (aux fan)
CAN data bus
Buzzer for instrument cluster
ATA (anti-theft alarm)
trip computer (if equipped)
trailer recognition



Gilly

Thanks Dan!

Hhhmm. That's quite a long list, but not inclusive of the stuff that's gone haywire.

Oh, well.

Possibly the fuse and relay panel. This is what all the fuses and relays plug in to. The AAM is NOT the same as the fuse and relay panel. The AAM also plugs into the fuse and relay panel on the under-side.

Gilly

It s the 99 ML 320 as listed in the signature. The problem is it s not always malfunctioning and the dealer looked at it but can t find anything wrong whenever it s there. Anything else I can do from home?

OK, I was reading it as a 98 ML430 (sport), sorry.

Are you sure it's a lack of voltage that causing the problem?

Dan

I m not sure where to begin. If you read back all the posts it hard to pin point the problem. I can understand the dealer not wanting to spend lots of time looking for something with this many symptoms. I just hate the idea that now we have less confidence in this vehicle. The vehicle has been starting but I m sure it s a matter of time before it doesn t start again as that problem was never addressed.:confused:

It wouldn't be the first one that's needed a starter or an ignition switch, Mark. Don't know what else to tell you. They need to be able to catch it in the act to diagnose it. Either that or rig up a test harness so that you can aid in diagnosing it. You say the lights go dim, which seems to indicate that the battery is going dead, either that or something is restricting the power available and that the battery is actually OK. You can invest in a cheapy Voltmeter at Sears or something and when the lights are dim, put the voltmeter on the battery and see what the battery voltage actually is. If the voltage is fine, say 13 volts or so, and the lights are dim and the truck won't start, then the "truck" is the problem, not the battery, possibly a bad battery cable or clamp.
If the voltage is low, then I'd also state that you wouldn't be the first to be sold a bad battery. The shop could, just as a hunch, test the specific gravity of the individual cells.

Gilly

battery show 10.94 volts. a computor diagnosis shows AAM codes b1040,b1858. also showing BAS c1207 (stoplamp switch), ESP c1024,c1032,c1140. No problems with the starting and electrical found. Although it s possibly the AAM module????