Need help, Traction control

[Amw86]

hey, I'm posting for a friend, he owns a 1993 MB 400E

He cant disable his TCS by pushing the button? and its not working at all in the snow it just grunts and doesn't move haha, anyway we're about to get pounded tomorrow and he needs the TCS disabled.

since the buttons not working, is there a way we can just disable the TCS system? unplug it or something?

details details please! need it done before morning, Thanks!

[chinny4290]

W124s never ever ever came with an ASR Defeat switch. Period. It's on and he's going to have to try and drive another car and there's no way of disabling it without making the car go into Limp-Home mode.

So I don't know what button you're pushing.

There is however a little loophole to get around it by pushing "a button."

Look for the following button circled in red.




That's the "Snow Chain Mode" button which is designed for the car to accept snow chains on the drive tires.

That said, this allows the ASR to be more lenient and allow more slippage at the drive wheels at lowers speeds and lower gears...however this does not defeat ASR entirely.

Another loophole is to find your X11/4 Diagnostic plug and jumper sockets 6 and 1 which will put ABS AND ASR on diagnostic mode, essentially disabling the system (or so Bentley's Owner's Bible) says. I do not know if you car has the X11 plug though.

[Amw86]

hahaha, there has to be a way?

i dont know what button i guess it was the snow chain one but Yeah..that doesnt do anything for the problem.

I guess maybe there is something wrong the system, he'll have to get fixed or find some miracle way.

I cant imagine theres no way to disable it...somehow.

But if he has the plug...does it disable the abs as well? thats a big no ha.

[chinny4290]

Originally Posted by Amw86

hahaha, there has to be a way?

i dont know what button i guess it was the snow chain one but Yeah..that doesnt do anything for the problem.

I guess maybe there is something wrong the system, he'll have to get fixed or find some miracle way.

I cant imagine theres no way to disable it...somehow.

But if he has the plug...does it disable the abs as well? thats a big no ha.

W124s equipped with ASR just never had a defeat switch. Not being able to turn it off doesn't mean there's something wrong with the system.

It's an unfortunate trait that us ASR-equipped W124 owners have to live with without modification.

There should be a red LED that illuminates when you hit the button inside the button.

Also, to make sure it's working...here's a little test you can do that involves some whipping and tire smoke that I like to use

Find an open, big parking lot. Shift to the lowest gear and without hitting the button, do a full lock of the wheel and floor it.

Then repeat the process, but with the Snow Chain Mode on and observe the differences in the way the ASR "kicks in."

[Amw86]

2 inches of snow..car does not move.. either MB blows or its not working correctly.

[chinny4290]

Originally Posted by Amw86

2 inches of snow..car does not move.. either MB blows or its not working correctly.

These cars weren't meant for the snow and aren't good at it at all..unless you have a nice pair of Blizzaks.

What's making you think that your ASR isn't working correctly? It's only meant to keep you in a straight line, mostly in acceleration.

[Amw86]

it probably is working it just sucks, lol, I've seen mustangs perform better.

he's going to garage his car and drive his truck haha

[deanyel]

When this happens to me I make a mental note to sell the car with ASR and buy a car without ASR.