My 1999 ML 430, with 60,000 miles on it, is running with the BAS & the ESP lamp staying ON. Any ideas as to how to get them to stay off? Also, do I have a major service at 50-60K? my FSS service indicator says I should go in for service. is this recommending an oil change, or a major tune up? Any way to see whay my check engine light comes on, sometimes? tanks in advance for any ideas you may have. Mike Maeser 602 616 2974

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mmaeser

do a search on this site with - scottieML320 - as the post initiator, not a difficult issue to fix. dealer ( or AUTOZONE store can pull codes for free ) can pull codes.

at this point your vehicle shoiuld have fuel filter changed, plus all the filters.

transmission fluid should be replaced along with brake and radiator fluid - depending on when they had last been changed

serpentine belt should be inspected.

your cars manuals may have information on both your issues

I never liked going to the dealer with a list of six things to do and actually expecting all the work to be completed, whether by fraud or error.

If your capable, do as many of the 60K mile service items yourself, or appointment for a job or two at a time and ask for parts or fluids ( samples for analysis - dealer wonlt know if you actually have them tested or not ) back.

Thanks so much for the hot tip! much thanks, mike

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mmaeser

The simplest and most common reason for the BAS/ESP lights to come on is a battery voltage failure. This causes the steering angle sensor to get viewed without it being properly adapted. Because that happened the instant the car was turned on with a unadapted sensor the fault is set. the first time the steering wheel goes lock to lock the steering angle gets adapted but the code that was set stays, unless you disconnect the battery. But of course if you disconnect the battery you start the process over.

I'm not sure why sometimes you can disconnect the battery without this problem but it is real common to set the code just changing the battery.

Lots of other posibilities, and AZ ain't gonna have a clue about any MB codes they can't set with a generic OBDII scanner, which won't touch anything but the motor. There are atleast 7 other controllers on an ML that AZ can't do squat about. You might want to try a real technician, but if you have no better attitude than Ethan you are likely to get screwed.

I sure have no interest in dealing with anyone that don't trust me. They can get THEIR car worked on somewhere else. Ya see I can spot jerks just as easily as he finds crooked technicians. Just why would I fix a jerks car, when there are real customers to deal with. Real technicians don't go begging for work, mind ya.

I'd go somewhere free and see if they can help you with Ethan's attitude. AZ is a good place to start.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Thanks Steve for your reply. Most useful! thx, mike

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mmaeser

a weak link in that system is the stop lamp switch, so i wouldn't be suprised if it was that.

for the service:it depends if it is a A or B service. At 60K it is time for air/fuel filter replaced. Plugs are every 100k/4 years. Have you had your fuel pump replaced recently, if you have they probably installed the new design fuel filter so you might not have to replace it. As far as your tranny fluid, it is "life long fluid" and doesn't need to be changed being a 722.6 tranny. ( most likely you have had leaks repaired, so the fluid was changed then if they dropped the pan).Brake flushes are every 2 years and coolant flushes are every 3 years.

Do a search on this topic. You'll see that there is some common thinking that you should replace the 722.6 tranny fluid and filter every 60K-miles or so...

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

I concur that you should check the stop lamp switch. I have a 2000 ML320 with 44,000 miles and about 2,000 miles ago the BAS/ESP lights came on. Took it to Mercedes who diagnosed the problem as a failed stop lamp switch and replaced it under warranty. The way they talked this is a common problem.

Regarding the .6 trans fluid: I agree with you that it probably should be changed every so often, but I was just going by what MB suggests not what the common thinking was. Like i stated before, you probably have had a trans leak repaired in the past. If they dropped the pan to perform the repair, you most likely had a new filter installed and fresh fluid (about 4 out of the 8qts). Trans fluid for the 722.6 isn't cheap, so look to see if you have had repairs in the past. Just my $.02.

Do you know where the stop lamp switch is located? sounds like I should give it a try! thx, mike

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mmaeser

Yes, i'd love to know how to replace the "stop lamp switch" as well. Will somebody be kind enough to show us laymen the proper way to eradicate this little problem?

Much obliged!

Btw, i have a 1998 e320 with the same BAS light on problem.

Tia!!

I CHANGE FOUR A WEEK OVER HERE IN THE UK. STOP LAMP SWITCHES ARE A REGULAR PROBLEM ON MERCEDES. HAD A CONTROL UNIT GO DOWN ON A E-CLASS ONCE THO (SS MOTORS 01932 821555 UK)

hmm.... I just opened up the dash cover on my e320. didn't see any brake switch behind the brake pad. does anyone know where exactly it is?

Also, I've found that if i press down on the brake and then start up the car, the BAS light will go away. But as soon as i let go the brake, the BAS light pops right back.

I've managed to connect a diagnostic tool to read out the codes. But the tool just said: "All pass, no code readout".

Any ideas?

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCG IS SITUATED JUST IN FRONT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE DASH UNDER TRAY TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE UNIT ITSELF. UNPLUG IT AND TURN IT ANTI CLOCK WISE. GET THE NEW SWITCH AND PULL THE WHITE BIT OUT(CLICKIN WILL BE HEARD) DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH YOUR LEFT AND FIT WITH THE RIGHT HAND. AS YOU LET THE PEDAL UP IT ADJUSTS ITSELF. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Here's a step by step instruction http://forums.mbnz.org/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1166641&posts=14&hl=brake+switch with photos on how to replace your brake switch. Nice easy job and you save yourself a couple hundred bucks.