SRS warning light issue on 1995 E200-124

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01-18-2004, 07:36 AM

tempest

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: United Kingdom

Posts: 8

SRS warning light issue on 1995 E200-124

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I should like to hear from anyone who has suffered from this problem.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

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Firstly, note this sequence of events.<o

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1. The SRS warning light appears.<o

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2. The specialist servicing company I normally use cannot diagnose the fault.<o

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3. MB dealer cannot diagnose the fault.<o

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4. Specialist servicing company tries numerous manual checks over a 4-day period, including air bag test, seat belt checks and changing over the control unit. They are reluctantly forced to admit defeat.<o

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By now, I have discovered that my SRS problem is not uncommon. Similar reports about ABS warning lights have also emerged, but are supposedly easier to remedy.<o

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I telephoned MB Customer Services Complaints (Europe) to ask how they can allow such a ‘known problem’ to exist and what can be done about it. Their reply was astounding.<o

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Basically, they refused to accept any liability for the fact that the software in the car will not ‘speak’ to the diagnostic program. I explained to them that this must be a software design flaw. They flatly denied my claim.<o

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Regarding the SRS fault, they advised me to take it back to the MB dealer. I explained that the MB dealer cannot provide me with an estimate of the cost involved and that I am not prepared to write the dealer a blank cheque for a 9-year old car. MB then offered to consider a ‘goodwill application’ from the dealer.<o

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I, therefore, went back to the MB dealer, whose Service Manager I know quite well. (I should explain that I used to have my car serviced by them until their labour rate hit UKP 77.00 per hour + 17.5% Value Added Tax).<o

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The Service Manager warned me that MB hasn’t the slightest intention of accepting a goodwill application (i.e. a partial or complete refund of the costs involved) on a 9-year old car. Regrettably, he still cannot price the work involved, because he has no idea how long it will take to find the fault (neither have MB Technical Services, Europe).<o

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><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">If this matter remains unresolved, I shall be left with a permanently lit SRS light. Although this won’t affect the drivability of the car, the air bag will remain deactivated and this fact will automatically reduce the residual value of the vehicle.</DIV>