You should be able to answer this question yourself by attempting to activate the cruise control. Personally I don't think it will work.

 

I guess I should have been clearer...yes, I can certainly see by activating the cruise control that it does not work. A message telling me Distronics Plus is Unavailable comes up. My question ... is there a way to disable the distronics and just use a standard cruise control. I suspect the answer is no, but I'm deferring to those with more experience.
Thanks,
Jeff

 

I would suggest trying to find out what the problem is with Distronic Plus, meaning why isn't it working. This can be determined using Star diagnostics which by the way is what you would need to modify the coding of the car to remove Distronic Plus.

 

Get those codes; it's quite possible Distronic isn't working because it may actually be something directly related to the cruise control that's at fault.

We won't know for sure until you can get us some codes.

As Phil mentioned, with Star Diagnostics you could likely bypass Distronic (assuming the cruise control system itself isn't the issue), but that will require some programming/coding knowledge.

Invest in a decent reader (or purchase a StarDAS system for $$$) or go to a reputable indie mechanic who will pull codes for free.

Good luck!

 

Thanks...I have an OBD2 reader, (certainly not a Star Diagnostics) but it showed no faults. I guess the next step is take it to take it in.
Jeff

 

my distronic was not working because someone had disconnected the front bumper sensors (hidden behind the bumper)

With the scanner, it will tell you what is causing it. If one of the sensors is not working (4 behind front bumper, 2 behind the rear bumper) or the Distronic sensor behind the grill, then you will not get cruise control to work at all - It will not engage.

A good indication that is the sensors, it is if your park lights are still working/showing. If they are showing then it might not be the sensors but possibly a steering angle sensor, brake sensor to self brake or something related to the speed/abs sensor on the wheel (but then again you should get an error on your dash)

Can you activate the collision assist on the settings - it should display a lil car icon on the left side of the speedo when activated

 

Thanks for the information...very honestly, I'm waiting for the owner to send me a lien release so I can get the car tagged, so I haven't been able to even drive it that much yet.The park lights seem to be fine. As far as the "collision assist", I have no idea how to turn that on yet. I do have an icon showing the rear of one car and the hood of another behind it with an exclamation point between them showing just above the outside temp reading.
Additionally, prior to today, whenever I would try to activate the distronics, a message would come up in orange saying "distronics not available see your owners manual". Today, for the first time, that message did not come up, but in white letters it showed distronics with the front of a car and 00MPH. However, it would not engage the cruise control.
Thanks again for all the input.
Jeff

 

While it is possible that you have an equipment malfunction, in reading this over it occurs to me that you may not be activating Distronic Plus properly. In particular, the symbol with two cars and the vertical line between them means that your distance warning feature is activated. Of course, that is related to your Distronic Plus function. It might pay to be SURE everything has been done properly to set up use of Distronic Plusbefore having diagnostics performed.

First, be sure your car's "Radar" is activated in the "Settings" menu (p. 254). If you are getting the blind side warnings, it is activated; if not, check page 252 of your owner manual for activating/deactivating other driver assistance features.

With radar features activated, you should be able to set Distronic Plus, using the instructions beginning on p. 387 (and especially pp 387-388) of your owner manual. One thing the manual does not really make clear is that if you try to activate Distronic with your car too close to an object - such as stationary in the garage, inches from a wall, or stationary and close to another vehicle that is moving at all - it will not activate. You would likely get indications such as when you got the message in white with a car in front and 00 mph.

Once those things are set up, you should be able to activate and deactivate Distronic Plus with the stalk, per pp. 387-388 (and of course, deactivate with the brake as well). If you cannot, then it pretty well confirms an equipment malfunction, and investing in diagnosis as recommended above is the only way to go.


In the chance that you do not have a printed set of your manuals, you can download them at https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/service_and_parts/owners_manuals (Frankly, I find the electronic versions easier to use than the printed ones, since they are searchable).

 

It's likely you're in the same boat I am with my '07 S600. Mine has the original radar up front, which is very open to getting spoofed with all the newer technology out on the roads today. Mine works great if I'm off the interstate and away from any cars or big rigs....at least any newer cars. It works great then....but then I get the same message you get whenever other technology shoes up. I've also deduced those transponder interrogators on the interstate (that talk to the big rigs) will knock mine offline. I did some part number checking at the dealer....there's been no less than 5 new part numbers since my original. I can pick one up through one of the MB online parts stores for about $2K, or $2.7K at the dealer, but I'm sure the dealer will have to update the software as well.
Welcome to my world.

 

Have you guys looked into the update for the early cars? Konigstiger has graciously provided it here under another thread.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w22...21-s-class/2669298-distronic-plus-inoperative-battery-related.html#post14719321

 

2007 S550 What does it mean when I get an alarm and warning on my dash saying "Park Assist Currently Unavailable, see owners manual"

 

Welcome to the forum, miamiandy!

It means check your owner's manual, pp. 407-409 in your case, to see why you may have gotten that warning. If the manual's discussion does not set things right, I believe dlafever and konigstiger's posts, immediately above, say what to do.

If you do not have your owners manuals, see post 3 at https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w221-s-class/1565895-owners-manuals-pdf.html to get a downloadable copy.

PS - your question, while valid, really has nothing to do with the rest of the thread. It is best to start a new thread when your question has little to do with what went before. Still, I hope we have given you what you needed.