Problem With Low Range?
 

Guys,
Today while starting my 1999 ML430, I noticed the "low range" light flashing, maybe 6 or 7 times upon startup and then went out. Truck drives fine and I've owned the truck for a year and never once used or even touched the low range button. It doesn't come on while driving only upon startup and then it goes out after flashing a couple of times. To make sure the low range works I engaged it, putting the truck in netural hitting the button watching the light flash 3 times and then the light stayed on...like it should. Fully disengaged it, and drove the truck for around 5 mins. Shut it off and then started it up, now the low range light doesn't flash upon start up. I'm just wondering if something is in the process of going wrong, or it's just something weird. Any one experience this...sorry so long!

Very common on the 1998-99 Ml's. Read codes from the Transmission & Transfer-case computers. MOST common is the transfer case range motor OR the transfer case computer.

The transfer case computer is only $135. list price! MB nunber 163-545-79-32.

The driveability is fine, so is something wrong now or is something about to go wrong? So when it flashes like that it stores a code? Thanks for the help!!

Yes, there should be a stored code. I'd get it looked at, it can lead to problems.
There is a service campaign on the low range motor control unit, if it hasn't been done yet, it should be a free update, assuming your truck is part of the campaign.
The switch inside the motor unit (electric motor that switches the low range on and off) I'm afraid you'd have to pay for. It's a couple hundred buch part, easy to replace if you work on your own stuff.

Gilly

Gilly Thanks--
Can you explain to me what the service campagin is? I purchased the truck from it's original owner around a year ago with 35k on it, and i'm not sure if I belong to it. What type of problems could this lead to? The low range does work when I engaged it, responding correctly and engaging, when I turned it off it disengaged fine. My father is a mechanic so between the two of us we get things done. So far only replaced the harmonic balancer. Thanks again for all of the help.

The service campaign is for a problem with specific part-numbered low range control units. The dealer can run a VMI on the truck and see if the campaign is outstanding on your truck or not. The type of fault, as far as i can remember, associated with the "bad" control unit is (surprise!) sporadically the low range light coming on. I believe the problem is more frequent in cold weather.
Just call and ask the dealer (have your VIN ready) to run a VMI on it and see if the truck needs the campaign done for the low range control unit, anyone that's been with MB for over 5 years will know about it.

Gilly

I'll be sure and contact MB and see if it needs to be done. It's funny that you mention the cold weather, for the last two days it's been around 15 degrees in New York! Yesterday the light blinked, today it's fine...I'll just contact MB and see what and or if anything needs to be done under the campagin. Seriously, thanks again...

That's just what I was thinking too, in regards to cold weather possibly affecting the light. I am pretty sure that cold weather was mentioned in the campaign.

Gilly

I'll be sure and re-post with further details

Thanks!