[JackMott]

Puzzled!


No headlights
No radio
No brake lights
No OBD power to read codes
No start


2011 Mercedes E350 base model

I was cleaning air filters and went to put everything back together… a ratchet extension fell briefly against the battery terminal and arced.

Now the car is giving the “service required-don’t shift gears” message and won’t start.
After navigating through the menu, it says that the tail lights, brake lights and side marker lights are all burned out. It also says the car is not in park.


This also locked me out of the trunk because the fob or the button wouldn’t work. I was able to get into the trunk with the key and all the fuses checked OK including fuse 73 for OBD.

I pulled the rear light assemblies and you’re not even able to replace bulbs in them. It’s one big unit with everything in it. So I’m assuming if they are all burnt out that I have to buy the entire assembly.

I checked all the fuses in the engine compartment and tested both the auxiliary battery under the dash and the main battery. Both tested good with battery tester.

I read through all the forums, and everyone was pointing towards batteries or the brake light switch because it was locally available. I did replace the brake light switch, but it didn’t do anything.

Some of the forums said that it could be the TCM or ICM module or the things I’ve listed. I can’t imagine that a small arc from the battery terminal to the frame could’ve caused all this damage…


Of course, Mercedes won’t tell me anything and just told me I needed to tow it in. I have a Bosch diagnostic tool and because everything’s dead I can’t even read the codes.


Is there a way to get temporary power to the OBD so I can read the codes? Has anyone ever experienced this? A workaround? Bypass?


Afer a process of elimination, I have determined it must be the fuse, relay power distribution box next to the battery. A2125406250??? The dealership couldn’t tell me what this does but it’s listed as a fuse block, a power distribution center a relay center…. I was also wondering if this was just may be a software problem? Maybe I scrambled the computer when the short circuit happened?


I despise taking it to the dealership where I’ve had bad service from all three of the the ones in my area and I refuse to pay their ridiculous f’n prices!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[peterjmdr]

Puzzled!


No headlights
No radio
No brake lights
No OBD power to read codes
No start


2011 Mercedes E350 base model

I was cleaning air filters and went to put everything back together… a ratchet extension fell briefly against the battery terminal and arced.

Now the car is giving the “service required-don’t shift gears” message and won’t start.
After navigating through the menu, it says that the tail lights, brake lights and side marker lights are all burned out. It also says the car is not in park.


This also locked me out of the trunk because the fob or the button wouldn’t work. I was able to get into the trunk with the key and all the fuses checked OK including fuse 73 for OBD.

I pulled the rear light assemblies and you’re not even able to replace bulbs in them. It’s one big unit with everything in it. So I’m assuming if they are all burnt out that I have to buy the entire assembly.

I checked all the fuses in the engine compartment and tested both the auxiliary battery under the dash and the main battery. Both tested good with battery tester.

I read through all the forums, and everyone was pointing towards batteries or the brake light switch because it was locally available. I did replace the brake light switch, but it didn’t do anything.

Some of the forums said that it could be the TCM or ICM module or the things I’ve listed. I can’t imagine that a small arc from the battery terminal to the frame could’ve caused all this damage…


Of course, Mercedes won’t tell me anything and just told me I needed to tow it in. I have a Bosch diagnostic tool and because everything’s dead I can’t even read the codes.


Is there a way to get temporary power to the OBD so I can read the codes? Has anyone ever experienced this? A workaround? Bypass?


Afer a process of elimination, I have determined it must be the fuse, relay power distribution box next to the battery. A2125406250??? The dealership couldn’t tell me what this does but it’s listed as a fuse block, a power distribution center a relay center…. I was also wondering if this was just may be a software problem? Maybe I scrambled the computer when the short circuit happened?


I despise taking it to the dealership where I’ve had bad service from all three of the the ones in my area and I refuse to pay their ridiculous f’n prices!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

The rear SAM controls all the tail lights. The tail lights are sold as a taillight assembly. If you have a Power Probe or 12v supply, you can unplug the light assembly and test with power and ground to establish if the light assemblies are good. If so, then some of the issue seems to point to your rear SAM. However, with the other problems on your list, it seems more than just this module.

 

[peterjmdr]

Puzzled!


No headlights
No radio
No brake lights
No OBD power to read codes
No start


2011 Mercedes E350 base model

I was cleaning air filters and went to put everything back together… a ratchet extension fell briefly against the battery terminal and arced.

Now the car is giving the “service required-don’t shift gears” message and won’t start.
After navigating through the menu, it says that the tail lights, brake lights and side marker lights are all burned out. It also says the car is not in park.


This also locked me out of the trunk because the fob or the button wouldn’t work. I was able to get into the trunk with the key and all the fuses checked OK including fuse 73 for OBD.

I pulled the rear light assemblies and you’re not even able to replace bulbs in them. It’s one big unit with everything in it. So I’m assuming if they are all burnt out that I have to buy the entire assembly.

I checked all the fuses in the engine compartment and tested both the auxiliary battery under the dash and the main battery. Both tested good with battery tester.

I read through all the forums, and everyone was pointing towards batteries or the brake light switch because it was locally available. I did replace the brake light switch, but it didn’t do anything.

Some of the forums said that it could be the TCM or ICM module or the things I’ve listed. I can’t imagine that a small arc from the battery terminal to the frame could’ve caused all this damage…


Of course, Mercedes won’t tell me anything and just told me I needed to tow it in. I have a Bosch diagnostic tool and because everything’s dead I can’t even read the codes.


Is there a way to get temporary power to the OBD so I can read the codes? Has anyone ever experienced this? A workaround? Bypass?


Afer a process of elimination, I have determined it must be the fuse, relay power distribution box next to the battery. A2125406250??? The dealership couldn’t tell me what this does but it’s listed as a fuse block, a power distribution center a relay center…. I was also wondering if this was just may be a software problem? Maybe I scrambled the computer when the short circuit happened?


I despise taking it to the dealership where I’ve had bad service from all three of the the ones in my area and I refuse to pay their ridiculous f’n prices!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Noodles]

Moved to the W212 section.

 

[schatzy62]

Well with all those problems there could be many modules damaged.

I am no MB expert (own my first one now) but electronics in many car have similar properties.

These would be my steps at tring to figure it out from 30+ years of working on BMW's

1. Disconnect battery (both terminals) for 24 hours. Then reconnect battery.
If everything works that is great. If nothing changes then the on to the next thing to check.

2. Disconnect battery and check "every" fuse by removing them one at a time and checking them with a multimeter. The disdtribution box should be able to be opened and probably has some large fuses (60 or more amp) fuses that bolt in place or have very heavy snap in connections.
Replace any that you find bad.
If everything works that is great. If not then next steps

3. Take it to someone who has a lot more knowledge about this stuff. You probably have many bad modules.

 

[Witek_M]


Afer a process of elimination, I have determined it must be the fuse, relay power distribution box next to the battery. A2125406250??? The dealership couldn’t tell me what this does but it’s listed as a fuse block, a power distribution center a relay center….

Here is fuse assignment of front prefuse box F32.

 

[konigstiger]

I agree, pull & thoroughly check front prefuse box.

 

[tony1963tony]

Check the SAM modules for the large fuses. To protect the system, you likely popped one of the main fuses when the wrench touched the positive terminal. That transfers one hell of a load to the ground so check there first.

Get the battery COMPLETELY out of the vehicle and on the bench to test for a blown fuse. That way you aren't moving cables around and touching things with electrical power.