ML500 Locked in park

[benml500]

I have a 04 ml 500 locked in park. While highway driving lossed speedo then it returned and lossed again. & bas/esp est abs and brake pad light come on as well as red brake light. Almost like a signal was lossed. Brake light Yellow for low pad came on while braking as well. When I arrived home I parked this buggy and it will not release out of park. I understand from other posts that some ML's have brake pedal switch very easy to replace. I believe this unit does not have one. As I checked on the pedal and only the cast hole is present with no switch or wire. So knowing that brakes are one of the problems I changed 4 rotors pads & ebrakes. ( oem) Also changed battery as it would not hold charge. Replaced with new oem. Put this buggy back together and still have "stuck in park" as well as the following lights on in dash BAS/ESP ETS ABS Brake pad as well as Red brake light. When first started it runs it's computer check then these light come on. I also understand that I can unlock the tranny with a bypass leaver inserted below the shifter. I can do this. When I bypass this way the tranny will not shift out of 1 or second gear. The speedo does not work, nor does the ets or low range feature. Does anybody have any clues? I have to get this rig back on the road. Oh it currenty has 97 000 KMS around 58-60k miles She has been one pampered pet time to make her earn her keep. lol Any suggestion would help. Anyone let me know your thoughts please Thanks

Register today for free or log in if already registered to remove this ad!

[swanee59]

Best visit an indie and get a Star readout.

[mbenz80]

All these BAS ESP ETS ABS modules are low voltage sensitive, they could come on with low voltage on bad battery. After replacing your old battery, did you reset steering angle sensor by turning your steering wheel lock to lock to reset the module? Every car have brake pedal switch somewhere, otherwise your brake lamps will not work. Also I would check connection on all four wheel speed sensors. Low range future will not work with bad brake pedal switch (BAS/ESP and ETS lights on), as I just replaced my bad switch 3 days ago.
I just checked my W163 Star manual for 1998-2005, you have same brake pedal switch as the rest of us, same mounting and shape, only revised connector, part # 001 545 64 09 for 2004 ML500.

[benml500]

MEBNZ80 thank you

I did not know to reset the wheels or even how?
( car running? side to side?)

The brake light switch 001 545 64 09 is the switch the dealer sold me.

I have one in hand lol.

However when I look under the Drivers side follow the brake pedal up.

There is a hole to fit this part. However the old unit is not there..
It also looks like there never was one on there. There is no wiring harness sitting around waiting for this switch. I do understand that all
brake light would have to work off the brake pedal.

This has to be the problem as I do not have brake lights at all.

So I guess the question is where does the switch go? As well as what the heck happened to the wire? Or is it possible that the switch is mounted on the engine side of the brake booster?

This suv has always been seen by the dealer since we purchased it new.

Kinda got me wondering?


Thanking you again for you help
benml500

[mbenz80]

The switch is there but on the schematic it's hard to see if it is located from outside or inside of your firewall but it is definitelly between brake pedal and booster diaphragm. Check it from engine compartment side where pedal comes out through firewall. Start your engine and turn steering wheel from max. right to max. left twice to reset the steering angle sensor. This should fix it for you.
It is in the same spot as everybody's elses, right by the pedal under the dash at driver's footwell. Here is aldata picture for you! Now look for the wires and connectors. This switch missing is for sure your only problem!

[benml500]

Update on this ml 500

It was towed to the dealer last week.
They called the next day to advise me that the ABS/ESP Module was defective
Part # 163-545-8032.
The dealer’s computer could not communicate with the ml’s computer.

It costs 1100.00 + 2hrs @ 120.00
I asked if it was on warranty. Lol yes of course it was not!
They would then be able to download the ML. “There might be more wrong with it!
We really don’t know” It must have been their first one they ever fixed!
So I gave them the go ahead to install the unit.

I then got on line spent a good 4 hours on this problem looking all over the net looking for problems with other models.
WOW Mercedes has a lot of pissed off customers!!
Yes you guessed it a lot of models with the same problem. PAGES & PAGES and more PAGES!
Almost sounds like a lawsuit is in order for Benz or A.T.E. The makers of this joke.

I then found this outfit on eBay selling the above part for 89.00 all day long every day of the week. With a LIFETIME warranty not the mob’s two year joke.

Here is the linkhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-BENZ-ML320-430-500-55-ABS-ESP-MODULE-REBUILD_W0QQitemZ380163536729QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item58838337 59

I also found a few gents with some neat findings from broken wires from the ATE factory plugs in to broken wires in the harness here are their links.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=163247

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w163-m-class/1356964-bas-ets-esp-abs-lights-help.html

As these guys have pointed out that is it could be from a broken wire to poor solder
Or as simple as the inner fender rubbing on the wire.

Kinda makes you wonder how many were changed in error?

I then called the dealer to ask why I could purchase a rebuilt one for 89.00.
Why they could not use this one over their 1100 dollar one. Why it was not on warranty.

I asked them if they wanted all the info on what I had found on these units & wiring
And all their pissed off customers of MB just in case they wanted to pass it along to
HQ.
I also demanded they put the old one in my ML as I wanted to see this 1100.00 wonder
Maybe I could sell it for 5 buck for a rebuild.

They were to call me back later that day.

They never did.

This afternoon I receive a phone call from the dealer.
“We have good news” They put in the new one and it does not work!
So they put in the old one and then traced down the wiring and found
A BROKEN wire! So it’s only going to be 400 bucks instead of??? Who knows!

So it all happy they say! So I will pick it up in the morning!!
So I assume this is the end of the problem?
.
I hope if not I will update this page for all who might want or need to know.
Oh this unit does not have a brake pedal light switch. I believe it is on the booster on engine side
Always remember to see your old parts!!

I would like to thank mbenz80 for you help and time and effort.

[mbenz80]

No problem, thanks for the apdate. I'm sure it will help others to avoid misdiagnostics and save some of their hard earned $. Dealer still charged you lot for splicing broken wire!

[benml500]

Picked up the ml today. Seems fine drove it over 100 miles. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Funny you think they charged me a lot? Geez I thought the same thing! lol

They said well it could have been a lot worse! As my brother said I think we pointed them in the correct direction!
I later spoke to another Mercedes mechanic who also works on Smart cars.
He stated that most of the time these they will look online at sites like this one as
Mercedes in all of their "Smarts" brains don't know what is wrong and don't know how to take the shortest route to a proper fix. Leaving us with our wallets open for their
trails and errors.
I also told them to take a good look at my Money and my face together as they will never see the two of them ever again!!
We have decided to sell this buggy as we no longer enjoy any of the dealings and
bs involved ownership in such a heap of metal!

Could of and should have bought another house and rented it out! For the same price I paid for this German bundle of joy!! I cost us just under the $97 000 In Canadian Funds or ( french money lol)

Now with about 60 000 miles it worth about 14K nice!!
Oh live and learn lol!!

Thanks again

[mbenz80]

I'm not sure why but they usually start with replacement of the most expensive part of the system. Good think that they did pull the new module out and didn't charge you for both, module and wire connection repair. My ML was there only ones, just for the recalls repair. Mercedes is not what it used to be and slow equalization with all other makes it's in the progress with short warranty period and cheep manufacturing materials.