W124: '95 E320 Wagon - ASR & Start Issues
 

I have two issues that may be related so that is why I am mentioning both in the same thread.

It all started after I took my wagon in to the shop(former dealership Mercedes mechanic) to install new accumulators. After the installation, noticed that the ASR malfunction light lit up and then went away during the drive home. When it lit, the transmission did not go into ASR mode. It later went out. Now, when I start the car and after a few minutes, it will go on and stay on. What could be causing this that maybe is related to replacement of the accumulators?


Besides the ASR light issue, I am now experiencing the car not reliably starting from Park position. I turn the ignition key and all the lights in the instrument cluster turns on, but starter does not engage. I press on the brake to put the transmission to Neutral to see if it starts, and it won't go in! I press harder on the brake pedal and then, it shifts to Neutral. Car then starts. I try again later and the car does start in Park with brake pedal depressed. Can it be a failing Neutral Safety Switch? Seems there is another switch for the brake pedal that appears faulty? [I just ordered shift link bushings and a new NSS]


Thanks for your advice!

Update: After work at the preschool for pick-up, car would not start in Park or Neutral. Will go back later and see after the tranny cools down if it will start and move it back home for easier tow to my mechanic. Ugh!

might be failing ovp relay

Hi, I change that with a new replacement recently for no particular reason than for reliability. Would that relate to the ASR or the starting issue? I have the old one, which seems to be perfectly fine, and stick that in just to see what-if. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm pretty sure those cars have a neutral safety switch. That would prevent starting in P/N if it failed.

if he's an ex-dealer mechanic, he would be aware of the harness issues that were prevalent in 92-95 cars. 1 harness goes to the nss, starter and a couple of switches. the asr could be the harness that's part of the throttle body. maybe, maybe not. good luck, chuck.

I have changed the main harness. And no, I have not changed the ETB and its harness yet. I need to since I have no cruise control since I purchase it as such, plus the starter cabling(lower harness) as well. Provided nothing changed, the ASR light is a new thing.

Yesterday, the NSS was replaced and that cured that annoying problem!

Today, I was surprised that the ASR light did not turn on, and so far, so good! I hate those magical cures.

So I have been lucky, I will work to get the ETB harness replaced and the lower harness as well, to rid the bio-wiring.

Thanks all!

my nss started failing first slowly once and a while it would only start in neutral until later down the road it wouldnt start in any position ...easy cheap fix though....as for the asr i wouldnt think its related to the NSS .

I would imagine that the NSS cured it. If the contact mechanism is sending the wrong gear data, the light might go on. Who knows what evil lurks in the firmware...