1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230

VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR

THIS IS A REPORT ABOUT UNUSUAL FOGGING UP OF ALL VEHICLE WINDOWS IF THE A/C IS SWITCHED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE WITHOUT A/C BEING ON ALL THE TIME OR HAVING TO OPEN WINDOWS DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. IF, FOR SOME REASON, THE A/C MALFUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING, THIS COULD POSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED QUICKLY. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE DRIVES WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL ON RECYCLE INSTEAD OF ALLOWING FRESH AIR IN COLD CLIMATE. BUT IN THIS CASE, IT IS FOGGING UP REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY OUTSIDE AND EVEN WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL IS NOT ON RECYCLE MODE. THE CAR HAS A FRESH/RECIRC FLAP INSIDE THE DASHBOARD AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED BY A FLAP ACTUATOR. IF THIS PART FAILS, AS I SUSPECT IT HAS HAPPENED, THEN THE FLAP CAN GET STUCK IN RECIRC MODE WHICH NO FRESH AIR WILL EVER ENTER THE CAR WHEN WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. EVEN IF A/C IS ON TO PREVENT FOGGING, DRIVING WITH NO FRESH AIR COMING IN CAN BE DANGEROUS AS CARBON DIOXIDE BUILDS UP INSIDE FROM BREATHING LEADING TO SLEEPINESS IN THE DRIVER (WHICH IS WHY DRIVING FOR LONG WITH RECIRC AIR IS NOT RECOMMENDED). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS A SILENT MALFUNCTION, AND OTHER THAN THE FOGGING PROBLEM, THERE IS NO OTHER INDICATION. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. BUT I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE THIS WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING WITH A/C OFF. THERE IS NO RECOURSE LEFT FOR ME TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND DRIVING THIS WAY IF THERE IS NO FRESH AIR COMING IS DANGEROUS TO ME AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

HELLO, THIS IS A PRE-EMPTIVE REPORT OF A PROBLEM WITH A COMPONENT IN 1998-2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 ROADSTERS. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT HAS MANY SYMPTOMS BUT ONE SERIOUS SYMPTOM IS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. I AM HOPING THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR CRASHES AND DEATHS BEFORE YOU INVESTIGATE. I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE DOCUMENTED PROBLEM HERE AND SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ASK THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS IT. THE PROBLEM ARISES FROM A POOR DESIGN/MANUFACTURING OF SOLDERING ON A K40 RELAY MODULE WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND PART OF THE ELECTRONICS OF THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE OPERATION. CERTAIN SOLDERED POINTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET CORRODED/BURNT OUT OVER TIME THAT AFFECTS THE ENGINE OPERATIONS. THE THREE PICTURES BELOW SHOW THE AFFECTED PART, THE PCB INSIDE AND A CLOSEUP OF THE SOLDERED JOINTS THAT SHOW THE PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-1.JPG HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-2.JPG HTTP://WWW.OPENPRESENCE.ORG/SLK/K40-3.JPG THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND WHILE THE OED THROWS UP REPEATABLE CODES ONCE THIS PART STARTS TO DETERIORATE - P1420, P1236, P1235, AND P1525, THE MB DEALER SERVICE CENTERS HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THESE CODES AND THEY TELL CUSTOMERS THAT IT IS UNDEFINED AND PROBABLY DUE TO LOW BATTER VOLTAGE AND SEND THEM WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL THERE UNTIL THE PROBLEM GETS BIG. IF THE CUSTOMER IS LUCKY, THEN IT JUST RESULTS IN A STARTING PROBLEM OR STUMBLING BUT IN SOME CASES CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE DANGEROUS PART. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED IN SLKS FROM 2001 ONWARDS BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN EARLIER SLKS OR TO EQUIP THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS TO CATCH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE STAGE OF HAVING BEEN MISDIAGNOSED FOR THE ABOVE CODES. *TR

THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN MY 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY WHICH GREATLY ELIMINATES REAR VIEW CAPABILITY IN THE INTERIOR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. THE LEAK DISCOLOR THE MIRROR WHICH MAKE VISIBILITY POOR. *TR

MY INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS FAILED. THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE FLUID IN THE MIRROR, WHICH CAUSES THE AUTOMATIC SELF-DIMMING, HAS LEAKED OUT. THE MIRROR NOW FAILS TO PROVIDE DIMMING FOR REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN A BLINDED DRIVER OR NON-USE; BOTH ELIMINATING REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. THE ELECTROCHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRRORS ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MY 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230, MODEL R170. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THE EXACT MIRRORS FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. THE MIRROR MANUFACTURE, MAGNA DONNELLY, WAS REPLACING THESE MIRRORS FOR FREE UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY PROGRAM IN THE PAST, BUT STOPPED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT THEIR WARRANTY DEPARTMENT DIRECT NUMBER (616-786-7495) NOW HAS A RECORDED MESSAGE DIRECTING PEOPLE TO ANOTHER WEB SITE THAT SELLS DISCOUNTED REPLACEMENT MIRRORS. *TR

THE LH SIDE VIEW MIRROR IN MY 1999 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 230 (R170 MODEL) IS AN ELECTRO CHROMIC SELF-DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRROR CONTAINED A FLUID WHICH LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE SELF-DIMMING MIRROR TO BE SMOKEY WHICH YOU CAN NOW BARELY SEE OUT OF AND TO FAIL TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR AWAY. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING IN VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS AS A RESULT OF USUALLY FROM THE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKING. *TR

IN THE RESENT MONTH I NOTICED MY REARVIEW MIRROR ON THE INSIDE TO APPEAR TO BE LEAKING. IT ALSO HAS STOPPED DIMMING. EVERYTHING I SEE FROM MY MIRROR APPEARS VERY FOGGY AND HARD TO SEE. IT DIFFICULT TO BACK UP LOOKING THROUGH IT. THE MIRROR NEVER WORKS PROPERLY SINCE THIS "LEAKING" HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM YET. THE OEM MIRROR IS $180 AT THE MERCEDES DEALER. *TR

1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230. THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS A SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR

VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR