[come__close]

Greetings,

I did buy a used mercedes 2006 C230 sport car and when i turn the ignion on i receive a message telling: ESP malfunction visit workshop, and some time it says: ESP unavailable visit workshop. and when I try to fix the speed by Cruise control another message comes for Speedometer malfunction.

I went to workshop, and after a computer check they found that Steering angle sensor needs to be replaced.

and as far as i know that I cannot replace this part so i need to replace the all column.

my question is: does the steering angle sensor make ESP malfunction and if yes does anyone have a picture where it is located??

note: ESP message comes only without a light, and after I did reset the memory (turn left and turn right) I can control the ESP I mean when I am on road when I press ESP button the yellow right is on, and if i am driving on smooth road and if i increased the fuel the car does not move (but the yellow light is flashing).


Thank you.. and I really need your reply ...

Best Regards.

 

[2002c230]

It's possible that the sensor isn't at fault. There's several things you should check first. Mainly that sensor is very sensitive to low voltage. Check to ensure the battery voltage is within an acceptable range. Also, check the ESP module ground point to make sure it is in good contact with the chassis. Sometimes the heat shrink wrap on the ground is up too far towards the contact, and that will cause bad grounding.

 

[zeet]

Even if the sensor is at fault, it is a separate part replaceable without replacing the column. It is a small black part behind the airbag and steering wheel.

 

[pdorion1986]

hi guys! im getting a similar problem. just with the ESP though. just my observation! when i start the car at around 55 degrees to 60 and drive a few miles the ESP visit workshop pops up, sometimes ESP not Available. and then for the first time earlier today when i was approaching a stop light i pressed on the brakes lightly and then steering wheel and brake pedal vibrated three times. this is not the first time, the first time the car just started to control itself with the steering wheel and pedal vibrating(scariest moment in my whole driving experience). that happend maybe 8 months ago.

All i did recently was replace SparkPlugs, Clean MAF, Custom Exhaust and 10mm Spacers Front and Rear.

When i replaced plugs and cleaned maf i took of the battery and i made sure i set the windows sunroof and ESP properly, so i dont think its not calibrated.

Also when i have driven alot already and kill the car eat out or something when i get back to the car it is A O K. but happens again on cold start. what is this???

BAD alternator???(hope not) BAD ESP???(REALLY PRAY ITS NOT THAT!) BAD battery???(I hope its just the battery) OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE???

 

[pdorion1986]

ok. i just read a thres in MBWORLD saying the steering sensor may not be calibrated, he said move steer the wheel lock to lock 5 times. is that the correct way?

this is how i did it:
start car
steer to extreme left
then steer to extreme right
then steer strait.

right or wrong?
CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG PLEASE.

 

[come__close]

Maybe you are right!!! because when I am driving on road I feel that car goes to the right, it does not follow a straight line, so I went to a workshop to balance the wheels they said that there is a small difference and they fixed it. but i still feel that car goes Slightly to the right.

should this problem cause ESP to malfunction???

I searched a lot on net about this problem, some people say that it might be the car (wheels) balance, others say that it might be Steering sensor, the others say the it might be ground line, and others say that it might be the main ESP electronic device which is under the hood.

I am afraid that if I replaced the steering sensor ( which cost about 500$ from MB) then after I will see the ESP message again.

what to do?

another question: is this is the steering angel sensor??? (attached)

Thank you,

 

[pdorion1986]

Hey! im not sure about your pull to the right. might be just a alignment and balancing thing. mines is scary, the car steers on its own the first time the malfunction showed up i tried my best to keep it strait and also slammed on the brakes. steering went wherever it wanted and brakes where braking on its own, i mean i stepped on it but the brakes just when on and off rapidly, 100% sure its not ABS. car was like possessed or something.. never hapend to me on high speeds though but i dont wanna wait for that to happen.

i want to start off by asking "How exactly do you reset the ESP when you remove battery?" in detail please. then if the problem persists its time to test the battery and alternator. if still the problem persists most probably ESP system. if this is the case
me = for sale car = get an E-class = less problems...

 

[zeet]

You have done the ESP reset, it's just steering angle.

I'd be looking to the wheel speed sensors. If one of those is messed up, the whole thing will go awry. They are easy to damage when you have the wheels off.

If you're thinking fewer problems, don't think W211 E-class ... they have electronic braking that was very problematic in the early ones.

 

[come__close]

... no body told me if this is the steering angel sensor or not!!!

 

[zeet]

You said you have been told it is the steering angle sensor; we don't know if that is the part you need, but it is the one that is circled in the above picture. You are right there. The new one is a little tricky to install but only takes a few minutes.

 

[pdorion1986]

hey zeet thanks for the info! another ignorant question though, we know the speed sensor is by the tire. but which one exactly. do you have a pic for reference?

 

[pdorion1986]

hey! dammit... it did it again just now. i started the car "ESP not available" turned the steering lock to lock and still the same. so i dint mind it anymore since im just driving 14miles. once i got on the main road the 1 malfunction went away right away. so i was happy happy. comfy trusty ride. comes 4 miles i reach a stop light. STOP. Green once i started to accelerate some kind of grinding noise starts and ESP warning thing is flashing. stops after 3-4 times i pull over check if theres anything being dragged under nothing. drove to my destination dint even turn off the car, i drove back home it dint occur again. but still i have ESP malfunction. what the heck is this???

 

[pdorion1986]

just updating. drove to the carwash now did the esp malfunction again. nothing on the steering and brakes this time.

Any one reading this who had the same problem and has resolved this please advice. i havent seen a single thread about this issue resolved. No i dont have an OBD scanner.

 

[cuyo2005]

i don't hink that's your problem, my car pulls to the right too, i mean considerably, and it does not show any ESP messages

 

[zeet]

You will probably need SDS to get what code is happening. The grinding sound is probably brake modulation by the ESP system.

Check the speed sensors - they are behind the brake discs. You might have obviously damaged one.

 

[2002c230]

Until you get this figured out I would recommend disabling the ESP. What you're describing sounds like it could be very dangerous...

 

[pdorion1986]

yep! it is! im not driving the car till i get it fixed. i just came from san manuel.. almost died.. driving home at the 210 freeway was running at granny speed 70mph car started to fishtail and brake for no reason. its a good thing the 210 is empty. this car is possessed. im having the car towed to the stealership in the AM.. i cant trust driving it even just to the dealership.. NEVER EVER HAPPEND TO ME WITH A BENZ BEFORE. THEY SHOULD HAVE A REALLY GOOD REASON FOR THIS. and judging by the number of people who are having similar problems MB should have a TSB on this...

ill let you guys know what the stealership and i decide on.. sad to say... i never sold any of my MB's before.. and this might be the first one..

 

[zeet]

Pull the fuse for the ESP before you drive! Or put it into dyno mode!

This will be solvable. It's probably something simple, you just need SDS to get the codes.

 

[pdorion1986]

just got the car back.dealer said they found nothing wrong in my car. esp seems to be fine for now. no malfunction. warranty covered diagnosis. they said all they did was reset the computer bla bla.. means my power chip is reset now.. A**holes! ill keep driving the car for now. we'll see if the problem comes back..

 

[pdorion1986]

just drove 70 miles. nothing wrong with the car. just slower since my power chip is reset...