Hello all,

I just bought a 2000 S500 and I love the car. I have a couple of questions about the car and was hoping someone could help me.

1. When I put the key in the ignition and turn it, should the check engine light come on? I know that after you start the car, it will off, but before I start it, it doesn't come on. I took the instrument cluster out because I thought it was a bad bulb, but when I pulled the bulb holder out, I found that it didn't have a bulb. It was just a black piece of plastic that covers the hole. I bought a new bulb and installed it, but the engine light still doesn't come on?

Any idea why the engine light doesn't come on?

2. The door lock and soft close doesn't work for my left rear door. I did a search and found that it could be a pump, but all the posts I read stated that all the door locks didn't work or all the soft close doors didn't work. Could it still be a bad pump if only 1 door is affected?

BTW, this is a great site with a lot of info. You guys are awsome.

Thanks[/align]

 

Awsome!
Lets see if I can help.

1. CEL. The CEL is achieved by a LED soldered onto the circuit board in the instrument cluster for the w220. LED's are very reliable but they can blow under certain circumstances. The CEL is USUALLY a legal requirement and LED's are used due to reliability. A working CEL is a requirement for the DOT smog/emission test.
However I have discovered that the CEL can be TURNED OFF in software. Incredible! Apparently this is to address Customer concern due to spurious illumination. I can't believe what I'm writing!! I would love somebody from MB to correct this if wrong.
This software option is apparently only available on certain engine/territory menus but for some reason if the ECU is fooled as to what the spec is it still works.
I know this because I have actually encountered this fault myself.
No CEL at start up.Determined LED OK. Changed pack. Still no CEL. Searched STAR menus and bingo. My dealer insisted that no such facility was available because my engine is M112 V6 UK but when V8 USA was used Voila!

2. Door soft shut.
I believe that the PSE provides INDIVIDUAL control of pressure to each door for soft shut. Unfortinately i don't have soft shut so don;t have any real experience on this but the PSE for soft shut has multiple outlet valves/relays in it.
If one door only is malfunctioning then it could be the PSE or the latch /lock that is wrong. Soft shut is achieved within the door latch. However you may have a leak or a trapped pipe on the route to the malfunctioning door.
Age, mileage, recent history, accident damage etc will all help resolve cause.

 

so where do I look for STAR menus? I dont really know much about german cars

 

You have to go to the dealer who has STAR diagnostics.
The menu is available when the car is hooked up to diagnostics.
Stuart

 

Hey Stuart,

Does each door also have an actuator? Maybe there's an actuator that might not be funcitioning the way it should. Just maybe, no?

 

Do you know what caused that(CEL)?

 

I trust the previous post from Snanceki. You're gonna need that STAR Diagnostic.

 

As I stated...

If one door only is malfunctioning then it could be the PSE or the latch /lock that is wrong. Soft shut is achieved within the door latch. However you may have a leak or a trapped pipe on the route to the malfunctioning door.

I guess your actuator is my lock/latch? The lock/latch actually pulls the door to the final closed position.

Therefore some investigation work is required to determine which part of the system is working and which isn't!!

Stuart