Car Fix DIY Videos

Ron Redding says:

Hey Joe, (like the Hendrix song). I have a 2003 ML500, with a brake fluid pressure sensor brake light switch (MB part #A 002 542 84 18), that is exhibiting the symptoms of the BAS/ESP light accompanied by a locked gear shifter. The problem started out a couple months ago with an occasional BAS/ESP light that would go out after a few days of daily use. Then the gear shifter lock stopped releasing and the light comes on consistently after the brake pedal is pressed. The light will illuminate (for self check) normally with the ignition switch in the on position. Then it goes out after the engine is started. The gear shifter can be moved if the engine is started and then turned off repeatedly for about three times. Once the brake pedal is "normally" (swiftly) pressed or tapped, the light comes on and the gear shifter stays locked. If I very slowly press the brake pedal (but not all the way to fully depressed) I can get the gear shifter out of park and avoid the light – but only initially. Repeated attempts to do so seems to leave residual pressure in the system which makes the light illuminate very easily.
After a quick internet search, I thought the problem was the mechanical plunger-type (MB part #001-545-95-09-05, 209K41). So I trundled on down to the local MB dealer and bought that switch. When I got under the drivers side and found that no such switch was present on my car, I realized I had the wrong part. Another search revealed that the vehicle had the pressure sensor type switch (which I got from Parts Geek for about $130). The MB dealer's parts department was good enough to return this electrical part for me. Although, parts guy looked at me like I had three eyes when I assured him that the part he sold me was incorrect.

OK, so after that "War and Peace" explanation, my question is: Have you seen the pressure-type switch behave the same way as the mechanical plunger-type? The mechanical was only $30 so I was willing to "throw parts at the problem" (like the service guy at the dealer put it). But now, even though I have the pressure switch in hand, I would like to know if that $130 part has some chance of fixing the issue. It seems as though it is the switch because of the gear shifter lock acting as though its is not getting the signal to release, and the BAS/ESP light coming on with only the brake pedal being actuated. I would also like to verify this because the service guy said he had seen many of the mechanical switches replaced, but saw the pressure switch configuration usually fail for some other reason (like wiring failure).

Thanks for providing your learned opinion in this matter.

Guillermo Castaneda says:

How to find where is the ESP sensor for 2001 mercedez mL 430

Ryan Dunbar says:

Dude excellent vid. I’ve got 2000 ml 320 and BAS esp was always on. Now the abs is screwed up as it does the petal flutter when I stop on dry pavement as if on ice. She’s also slow to hit 2nd gear too so I’ll be watching that vid as well. Got the car cheap and was real clean. Just had a whiny PS pump which I fixed and the window switches were a little glitchy, so got a whole new board for the buttons. The rear drivers side wheel bearing is my next fix along with the sensor I’m guessing is the speed or abs sensor. It was tore up (wire to sensor) so spliced it and thought I was good but now got all these lights and CEL. Haven’t got any codes read yet but looks like I’ve got some work to do LOL

japjot randhawa says:

hey joe was wondering if you have the size for the brushes so i can order all the parts before i take the pump out of my ML350. ive already ordered the bearings.

tom woods says:

how did you grip this in a vice without damaging the shaft?

Gregory Guerrier says:

I have just rebuilt my friend's ABS motor (2002 ML320). It cost me about $30.00 to buy the brushes, the bearings and the bearing puller on Ebay. All the warning lights are now off. Your instructions did work. Thanks a zillion times.

tom woods says:

how do you open up the ABS motor?

John Tilley says:

my wife was driving our ml430, and she said all of a sudden the brakes locked up, then the bas/esp light came on. She couldn't go anywhere. So she turned the key off, the bas/esp light went off, and yet again she said it was like someone was holding down the brakes. After rekeying a couple of times, the lights stayed on, and the vehicle drove like nothing was wrong. Only 100k miles on it. Any suggestions on what to do?

sherif mansour says:

hello i have same problem in my car , can i know what is the part number for ABS motor pump becouse im looking for 2nd hand part .

magicjuan333 says:

So how do I stop the beeping noise from the ESP abs bas ets 99 ml329

Tess Shepard says:

Hi Joe,

The shifter moves, when I put the shifter on drive and release my foot off the brake pad the car runs but it won't roll because all wheels are locked. As if the parking brake is on, but the parking brake is disengaged. It seems like the hydraulics pump brake is activated for some reason.

Tess Shepard says:

Please Help my 1998 Mercedes ML 320 all wheels are locked up. Does anyone know how to release the wheels lock? The car won't run because all wheels are locked