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2002 ML 320 power failures
Hello- Our 2002 ML320 with 30k miles has begun to have complete power failures (including breaks and steering) while driving, with no apparent reason. Two Merc garages and $1500 later, all the mechanics can tell me is that "nothing shows up on our computers." Can those who have had similar experiences please tell me what they finally had to change/repair to resolve the situation?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by trina West on -
Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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Have you checked your power steering fluid. I have a 99 ml320 which had a power steering leak and that caused power failure problems. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by trina West on
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Yes, so far the problem seems to be fixed. apparently, there is a metal chip that passes electrical charge from one fuse to another and it was getting too much charge and melted to some wires or something and it was causing the car to shut down. the amazing thing was that it took me taking my car in 6 different time from anywhere to 2-4 weeks at a time for them to see this. they basically ripped my car apart, wire for wire, replaced everything, and even replaced the entire navigation system and still could not find the problem. the service guy told me the metal plate is so small that unless you are looking at it for a certain reason you can not visibly see a problem.
trina West said:Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by Roy Fraser on
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Thank you for the suggestion, which I am having to deal with anyways since I am now having problems with the power steering in the ML. As for the general power failure, the story is very ugly and, I have discovered, not the only case of its kind.
In our specific case, and probably also in the case of Ms West's problem below, there is an interlinkage of faults that are causing this, and follow this if you can.
On many of the MLs of this generation, there is a water leakage problem with the sunroofs and the right-hand side of the vehicle (characterized by water pouring in through the side ceiling lights in the rear seat section of the car, and also by the accumulation of water under the right-hand front passenger's floorboard. On some vehicles, the water drains into the chassis of the vehicle and accumulates there. The electronics of the vehicle become waterlogged, rusted and/or fused and a whole series of electronic problems ensue. My garage was unable to discover this, and it was only after discussions on various forums that I was able to piece this together. The local Mercedes garage refused to believe me, until I paid them to lift up the floors, where they discovered almost 50 litres of water in the chassis (that's about 13 US gallons!). They have told me my choices going forward are to replace the sunroof and hope that fixes the leakage (cost: $ 1800) or to seal the entire sunroof with adhesives. I am currently putting a tarp over the vehicle when it rains while working on getting more info on similar cases and taking it to Mercedes, or taking it public as in the recent Toyota cases.
This is a disgrace, but just one more incident with this doomed vehicle. A real pity, as after 40k miles it has just started to run nicely on the motorway.
Seeking similar stories to approach Mercedes, if you hear of any.
Regards,
Charles said:Have you checked your power steering fluid. I have a 99 ml320 which had a power steering leak and that caused power failure problems. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Cara on
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Hi,
I am going through a similar issue that you have discribed even though I have a R500. I'd like to know where the metal chip is located so I can be as specific as possible the the service reps. I'd also like to know if you had to come out of pocket for all they had to do for your car. Thank you for your response, I have to take my car in but because the reps make a commission I'd like to get right to the point of the problem so they dont charge me for extras.
trina West said:Yes, so far the problem seems to be fixed. apparently, there is a metal chip that passes electrical charge from one fuse to another and it was getting too much charge and melted to some wires or something and it was causing the car to shut down. the amazing thing was that it took me taking my car in 6 different time from anywhere to 2-4 weeks at a time for them to see this. they basically ripped my car apart, wire for wire, replaced everything, and even replaced the entire navigation system and still could not find the problem. the service guy told me the metal plate is so small that unless you are looking at it for a certain reason you can not visibly see a problem.
trina West said:Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by trina West on
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the first time i took it in i think i paid around $400 for them to look at it and tell me everything was fine. So everytime after it, because it was to same "unsolved" issue, I made sure that I didnt pay anything. In short, I had a loan vehicle all 5 times and they replaced lots of parts and all I paid was the initial $400. And, if this problems comes about again, I will not pay a penny. The key is to keep taking it to the same person so they cant blame the problem on some one else.
My car, the issue stood that the car would sound like it was going to start but it would never turn over. So they knew it was not a fuel problem. They could trace that the car would want to start, gas would leave the fuel pump but not make it to the engine. I think they told me there was a fuse box for the fuel pump and that is where the metal chip was.
Hope this helps.
Cara said:Hi,
I am going through a similar issue that you have discribed even though I have a R500. I'd like to know where the metal chip is located so I can be as specific as possible the the service reps. I'd also like to know if you had to come out of pocket for all they had to do for your car. Thank you for your response, I have to take my car in but because the reps make a commission I'd like to get right to the point of the problem so they dont charge me for extras.
trina West said:Yes, so far the problem seems to be fixed. apparently, there is a metal chip that passes electrical charge from one fuse to another and it was getting too much charge and melted to some wires or something and it was causing the car to shut down. the amazing thing was that it took me taking my car in 6 different time from anywhere to 2-4 weeks at a time for them to see this. they basically ripped my car apart, wire for wire, replaced everything, and even replaced the entire navigation system and still could not find the problem. the service guy told me the metal plate is so small that unless you are looking at it for a certain reason you can not visibly see a problem.
trina West said:Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by Cara on
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Thank you so much for your speedy response. The issue you faced sounds exactly like mine. Now, I will at at least have something concrete to steer them with. Without your information who knows what type of run around I may have faced. Thanks again!
trina West said:the first time i took it in i think i paid around $400 for them to look at it and tell me everything was fine. So everytime after it, because it was to same "unsolved" issue, I made sure that I didnt pay anything. In short, I had a loan vehicle all 5 times and they replaced lots of parts and all I paid was the initial $400. And, if this problems comes about again, I will not pay a penny. The key is to keep taking it to the same person so they cant blame the problem on some one else.
My car, the issue stood that the car would sound like it was going to start but it would never turn over. So they knew it was not a fuel problem. They could trace that the car would want to start, gas would leave the fuel pump but not make it to the engine. I think they told me there was a fuse box for the fuel pump and that is where the metal chip was.
Hope this helps.
Cara said:Hi,
I am going through a similar issue that you have discribed even though I have a R500. I'd like to know where the metal chip is located so I can be as specific as possible the the service reps. I'd also like to know if you had to come out of pocket for all they had to do for your car. Thank you for your response, I have to take my car in but because the reps make a commission I'd like to get right to the point of the problem so they dont charge me for extras.
trina West said:Yes, so far the problem seems to be fixed. apparently, there is a metal chip that passes electrical charge from one fuse to another and it was getting too much charge and melted to some wires or something and it was causing the car to shut down. the amazing thing was that it took me taking my car in 6 different time from anywhere to 2-4 weeks at a time for them to see this. they basically ripped my car apart, wire for wire, replaced everything, and even replaced the entire navigation system and still could not find the problem. the service guy told me the metal plate is so small that unless you are looking at it for a certain reason you can not visibly see a problem.
trina West said:Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by trina West on
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i completely understand your pain. it only took 6-7 months to solve my problem and many late days to work because my car wouldnt start. i just wish that some one could have pointed me in the right direction when all my issues started.
Cara said:Thank you so much for your speedy response. The issue you faced sounds exactly like mine. Now, I will at at least have something concrete to steer them with. Without your information who knows what type of run around I may have faced. Thanks again!
trina West said:the first time i took it in i think i paid around $400 for them to look at it and tell me everything was fine. So everytime after it, because it was to same "unsolved" issue, I made sure that I didnt pay anything. In short, I had a loan vehicle all 5 times and they replaced lots of parts and all I paid was the initial $400. And, if this problems comes about again, I will not pay a penny. The key is to keep taking it to the same person so they cant blame the problem on some one else.
My car, the issue stood that the car would sound like it was going to start but it would never turn over. So they knew it was not a fuel problem. They could trace that the car would want to start, gas would leave the fuel pump but not make it to the engine. I think they told me there was a fuse box for the fuel pump and that is where the metal chip was.
Hope this helps.
Cara said:Hi,
I am going through a similar issue that you have discribed even though I have a R500. I'd like to know where the metal chip is located so I can be as specific as possible the the service reps. I'd also like to know if you had to come out of pocket for all they had to do for your car. Thank you for your response, I have to take my car in but because the reps make a commission I'd like to get right to the point of the problem so they dont charge me for extras.
trina West said:Yes, so far the problem seems to be fixed. apparently, there is a metal chip that passes electrical charge from one fuse to another and it was getting too much charge and melted to some wires or something and it was causing the car to shut down. the amazing thing was that it took me taking my car in 6 different time from anywhere to 2-4 weeks at a time for them to see this. they basically ripped my car apart, wire for wire, replaced everything, and even replaced the entire navigation system and still could not find the problem. the service guy told me the metal plate is so small that unless you are looking at it for a certain reason you can not visibly see a problem.
trina West said:Oh my gosh, I am having the exact same problem with my 2006 ML 350. Was your problem solved? Do you know how they fixed it?
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Permalink Reply by Ara Sahelian on
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Hello,
I'm an attorney currently in litigation against MBUSA on behalf of clients who
have experienced identical problems. If you'd like to reach me, go to my
website at SAHELIANLAW.COM and email or call and ask to speak to my
assistant Cheryl Hatch, and we'll be glad to share a copy of the legal
documents we've filed in court.
Good luck,
Ara
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Permalink Reply by trina West on
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I was told I didnt have a case because my car was out of warranty? Do you know something different?
Ara Sahelian said:Hello,
I'm an attorney currently in litigation against MBUSA on behalf of clients who
have experienced identical problems. If you'd like to reach me, go to my
website at SAHELIANLAW.COM and email or call and ask to speak to my
assistant Cheryl Hatch, and we'll be glad to share a copy of the legal
documents we've filed in court.
Good luck,
Ara
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