Mercedes Benz Electrocnic Steering Lock Repair - Fast turnaround!
Mercedes Benz Electronic Steering Lock Repair - Fast turnaround!




Watch the video below for information.


You can find my eBay listing for the emulator programming service here: My eBay ESL emulator programmed listing.



Symptoms of a failed ESL

You try sticking the key in the ignition and turning it but nothing happens. You may have noticed that familiar sound of the Electronic Steering Lock that you usually hear when you stick the key in the ignition is no longer making a sound. Most of the lights that usually turn on in the instrument cluster are not lighting up. The steering wheel is locked. You can't roll the windows up or down. The message on instrument cluster may read "Remove Key From Ignition".

The C Class (W204 Chassis 2008-2014) has a known issue with the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL). In most cases the ESL fails in the locked position,  so you can't turn the steering wheel. When you stick your key into the ignition you don't hear the small motor of the ESL unlock your steering wheel. The motor in the ESL fails leaving your car with a no crank no start condition. 

This issue happens most commonly with these models:

C Class all models under chassis W204 2008-2014.
E Class Coupe and Convertible models C207/A207 Chassis 2010-2017.
GLK Class X204 Chassis 2010-2015. Dealership cost to replace your ESL: $2000-$5000 depending on where you live. 

The intent of this listing is to repair your original Mercedes Electronic Steering Lock.  In some cases, the steering lock has a malfunctioned electronics board inside. If this is the case with your steering lock, it cannot be repaired. We can either program a remanufactured steering lock for you or we can program an electronic emulator. Either way, we will get the problem solved, your car will start again, and you will have saved thousands of dollars over the costs of the dealership or an independent shop. Call and speak with me over the phone to go over your options. My phone number can be found in the subtitle of this listing. That is at the very top of this eBay page. Just above the eBay "Buy it Now" button.




This video shows a remanfactured, programmed ESL working on my work bench.




Here is how it works:



I need these three items. The electronic steering lock, the electronic ignition switch, and your key(s).






Send your ESL, EIS, and key(s) to us. Once we receive your parts, we will test your EIS, and key. If those two parts are functioning properly we can then repair your ESL or program a rebuilt ESL to your vehicle. Once this is all done, we will contact you by phone and ask you to checkout on eBay. Once payment has been received we will ship out your newly programmed ESL along with the EIS and key(s).

Be sure to pack them well, these are sensitive electronic devices.







If you need tips for removal of the ESL follow the instructions below.


1. Remove your Electronic Steering Lock. If you are doing this yourself. Here are some tips. 

The ESL is located on the steering column near the footwell on the driver side. Remove the footwell cover on the driver side. There are four torx screws size t20, detach the the OBDII connector from the footwell cover. Detach the hood release from the footwell cover by unscrewing a small phillips head screw. Then remove the footwell cover.  

Now the steering column is visible, see the first picture below for exact location of the ESL on the column. Be sure your car battery is fully charged giving at least 12.5 volts of electricity. Put the key in the ignition, don't turn it to position 1, just stick the key in there (if you have "keyless go" remove the start/stop button. It simply pulls out.) With a hammer tap on the steering column as near to the ESL as you can or on the ESL itself. In some cases the ESL will unlock. If you do get it to unlock, you may hear the motor unlock. You will be able to move the steering wheel. Your car will start.

If this was successful. Leave the key in the ignition and disconnect the battery or disconnect the electrical connector to the ESL. Do not remove the key from the ignition until you've unplugged the power to the ESL or it may lock again!  Once you disconnected the battery or the electrical connector from the ESL, you can rest assured it won't lock again and you can now remove the key from the ignition.  

Now you must remove the ESL from the steering column. The steering column is held in place by four fasteners. Two near the bottom and two at the top of the steering column. Remove both lower fasteners. You will need a external torx number 12 or a 10mm socket will work as well. The two top fasteners do not need to be removed completely. Just loosen enough to be able to angle the steering column down far enough to remove the ESL. There is a 13mm nut that needs to be removed from the ESL. Once the nut is removed, you can depress the bolt that the nut was screwed onto. Depress that bolt and pull up on the ESL to remove it from the steering column. There are plenty of videos on YouTube for this procedure.  Do a search on YouTube for "Mercedes Benz ESL removal".

If tapping the ESL with a small hammer was not successful, you'll have more work to do. You'll have to pull out the steering column to get the ESL free of it. Once you have the steering column out (search youtube for these instructions or contact me here on eBay for help over the phone) cut the bolt off with a dremel tool or small hacksaw. Do not drill the ESL in order to turn the gear manually. Most of the time when the ESL is drilled, it cannot be repaired because of damage to the circuit board.

2. Remove your Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS)

The EIS is that black box you stick your key into to start the car. Do a search on YouTube for (W204 EIS removal). It's not difficult. You'll need to unscrew the securing plastic ring with a special tool or improvise and use two screw drivers to turn the plastic nut. Once you get this off, there are two wires and one retaining cable to disconnect from the EIS. Disconnect these three and remove the EIS.

3. Send your ESL, EIS, and key(s) to us.

Be sure to pack them well, these are sensitive electronic devices.



If you have any further questions please do feel free to contact us. Find our phone number in the subtitle of this listing.











USPS Priority Mail for 50 states, military, and PR

USPS Priority Mail Free! (1-3 days)

  • Free shipping for ESL only, without the steering column

USPS Airmail International

USPS First Class Mail International Ask us! (3-8 days)

  • Free delivery confirmation

Qualifications for international buyers using Paypal:

  • If you have an internationally confirmed address, you may use Paypal.

  • If you have 100% positive feedback with 10 or more feedbacks, you may use Paypal.



Payment Terms

We accept all major credit cards through Paypal (you must have a confirmed address).

Warranty

6 month warranty on your remanufactured ESL
Questions? Requests? Special needs?
Message us here on eBay