Breakdown, stranded at rest stop on CA I5

[JLeising]

While headed out of the SF Bay Area to southern WA state, had two warning lights suddenly illuminate - icons of a car with squiggly lines behind it (ESP, per manual) and a tire with up and down arrows on it (ASR/BAS per manual) Stopped, checked owner's manual - said "drive on with care. Consult a qualified workshop as soon as possible". Lights reset after a restart. Drove on.
Lights came back on, plus ABS icon, red brake system warning lamp, and check engine icon. Speedometer stopped registering (dropped to zero) and cruise control stopped working. Vehicle seemed to run fine. Again stopped as soon as safely possible. This time the manual said "Do not drive on. Consult a qualified specialist workshop." All lights except check engine icon would reset, but would come back on after a few minutes. Called two Freightliner shops and one Mercedes shop. One had no advice, the other two said try driving it - the lights might clear. One indicated may have been caused by a wind gust. Tried to drive on but the vehicle would not shift out of first gear - only got maybe a quarter mile, then backed back to the safety of the rest stop. Now awaiting a tow truck, with no hope of having the vehicle looked at before Monday.
Anyone experienced anything similar? Seems like an electrical or electronic issue to hit so many systems simultaneously (also what one of the Freightliner techs surmised). Looking for any advice!

[CJofWolfcreek]

This wont help you now but a similar issue had me decide to get obdII scanners to keep in our vehicles. We had a check engine light come on traveling through Moab Utah on a Saturday evening. Found an auto parts place but it had just closed. Thought we were screwed until another customer showed up. Just so happens he had one at home and we followed him back, put the scanner on and figured out the non critical issue. Reset the code, thanked him and we were back on our way. My current scanner is a dongle that plugs in and my smart phone connects via bluetooth. A code means nothing to me, but the internet is a wonderful thing. Google the code and you know exactly what you're dealing with and how to proceed. About $20 for the OBDII dongle, $5 for the Torque Pro app versus a minimum of $50 for a cheap scanner that only tells you something like "P48" Here's a link to the OBDII dongle http://www.amazon.com/Newest-Bluetoo...94JH10PV6WH3ZZ

[JLeising]

Yep - great tool with Internet code lookup - I even have one - home in the garage!

[DaveJordan]

I ran into some, but not all, of your symptoms, with a nearly new Ford E350. The problem we had turned out to be a wheel speed sensor. Since everything seems to depend on the computer being able to sense how fast each wheel is spinning, it got very confused when one wheel was reporting bogus information. We had ABS lights, traction control lights, and, eventually, it refused to go into higher gears.

It sounds like you've had additional symptoms beyond what we had, but I'd definitely look at the various sensors and at the communication links between the computer(s) and the rest of the vehicle.

Good luck...hope the tow driver knows how to do it...

Dave

[Still Kickin]

Sorry can't help, but do watch the tow. The extention past the back wheel set hits the ground pretty quick when the front lifts during tow or flatbedding.

[Herk7769]

Broke down with a driver information center warning and called OnStar. They ran a side of the road diagnostic of the engine and transmission; called the closest GMC Dealer; told me how to get there and stayed on the line until I arrived safely. Great service OnStar!

[JLeising]

Home now with a rental car from the Sacramento airport. Vehicle is at Mercedes Benz of Sacramento awaiting service (hopefully Monday morning).
The wheel sensor idea is interesting - never imagined a wheel sensor would/could inhibit shifting. Thanks for the insight Dave.
Tow went well (70 miles!). Guy seemed to know what he was doing. Again, thanks for the advice Dave and Stll Kickin.
Will report results of repair.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by JLeising

Home now with a rental car from the Sacramento airport. Vehicle is at Mercedes Benz of Sacramento awaiting service (hopefully Monday morning).
The wheel sensor idea is interesting - never imagined a wheel sensor would/could inhibit shifting. Thanks for the insight Dave.
Tow went well (70 miles!). Guy seemed to know what he was doing. Again, thanks for the advice Dave and Stll Kickin.
Will report results of repair.

Sorry about you trip interruption, Can you tell me what tow service you use?

[Phinias]

OBDII will that interface with the 2014 sprinter

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Sorry about you trip interruption, Can you tell me what tow service you use?

Good info to have especially driving a FoMoCo.

[bob caldwell]

Yes scanner port is now standard, so OBD2 scanner will work

[JLeising]

Tow Service was L&T towing out of Willows CA. I actually called two Freightliner shops and Mercedes of Sacramento - Mercedes made the towing contact.

[phillyg]

Interesting symptoms. Had similar happen with an '05 Ford F350. Most of the electrics and dash warnings/indicators went haywire, including the power windows not working. Engine would start but little power and stuttering. I guessed the main computer brain. Not. Alternator and batteries. I had no idea those would cause those issues. Hopefully it's something simple for you, too.

[bob caldwell]

This is the era of electronics.....Oregon DEQ checks for NOX....car wouldn't pass...changed anti-freeze, passed.....so with Alt problem, wouldn't surprise me a bit......another case... truck wouldn't up shift...no codes...changed output shaft speed sensor...fixed....WISH THE OLD DAYS WERE STILL HERE.

[gtony2]

I had a similar problem and had it towed to MB.. It was a transmission control module ....I did not have AS MANY LIGHTS as you.....Good Luck



gtony2

[duradiesel]

Had the same problem with a Dodge . low battery voltage belt came off.

[Pod2Vibe]

Originally Posted by JLeising

Home now with a rental car from the Sacramento airport. Vehicle is at Mercedes Benz of Sacramento awaiting service (hopefully Monday morning).
The wheel sensor idea is interesting - never imagined a wheel sensor would/could inhibit shifting. Thanks for the insight Dave.
Tow went well (70 miles!). Guy seemed to know what he was doing. Again, thanks for the advice Dave and Stll Kickin.
Will report results of repair.

Any word on your issue?

Hope it is good news!

Jay

[JLeising]

Latest report from Mercedes - diagnosed as failed ESP computer. Replacement ordered, due in Thursday.

[backdoctor]

Is that covered by warranty?

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by JLeising

Latest report from Mercedes - diagnosed as failed ESP computer. Replacement ordered, due in Thursday.

Just curious, what is it's function. Is that the emmissons computer under the drivers seat?