08 ML320 Front SAM? | Mercedes-Benz Forum

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amthatiam Hello all, My wifes ML320 has a couple water leaks in her car, one in the front under the dash, leaks water on her foot ever so slightly sometimes during rain also I believe around the rear tail lights. I've done a bunch of research on the subject and have read that these cars have a front and rear SAM, I know where the rear one is, where is the front one? Is it in the front fuse box or near it? One of the SAM's has failed, the symptoms are that the wipers, door locks, interior lights will go on and off slowly, tailgate and turn signals do not work, wanting to narrow it down to which one failed so that after I'm done cleaning out the sunroof drains and replacing the tail light seals/gaskets I can replace the defective SAM and move on to the next adventure. Thanks in advance for your help Dan #1 · Sep 18, 2017 Hello all, My wifes ML320 has a couple water leaks in her car, one in the front under the dash, leaks water on her foot ever so slightly sometimes during rain also I believe around the rear tail lights. I've done a bunch of research on the subject and have read that these cars have a front and rear SAM, I know where the rear one is, where is the front one? Is it in the front fuse box or near it? One of the SAM's has failed, the symptoms are that the wipers, door locks, interior lights will go on and off slowly, tailgate and turn signals do not work, wanting to narrow it down to which one failed so that after I'm done cleaning out the sunroof drains and replacing the tail light seals/gaskets I can replace the defective SAM and move on to the next adventure. Thanks in advance for your help Dan Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Sep 18, 2017 The front SAM is located next to the main battery. The rear SAM is located in the spare tire are and controls all of the features that are giving you problems. You must immediately get two new updated tail lamp seals to prevent future water entry.

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• SAM Unit Front N10 Loc..jpg 89.6 KB Views: 19,196
• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 SAM Unit Front Function.PDF 73.5 KB Views: 2,827
• SAM Unit Rear N10-8 Loc. #1.jpg 87.5 KB Views: 11,383
• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 SAM Unit Rear Function.PDF 53.1 KB Views: 1,798

#15 · Nov 26, 2023

43sqd said: The front SAM is located next to the main battery. The rear SAM is located in the spare tire are and controls all of the features that are giving you problems. You must immediately get two new updated tail lamp seals to prevent future water entry. [/QUOTE , I have read that alot of ppl have experienced this same issue like myself. How is their no recall? It's Obvious that the seals around these taillights pose a major problem and replacing the rear sam units are not cheap ($1000 part) plus what the dealer ship is gonna charge for labor and programming. Click to expand...

0 Reply #3 · Sep 18, 2017 Thank you for the quick reply and information, in looking at what you sent I'm hoping that both SAM's haven't failed, the front windshield wipers don't work either....am I missing something as it looks to me as though the front SAM control's those.... #4 · Sep 18, 2017 And clean out your sunroof drains! #5 · Sep 18, 2017 OK, the plot thickens, I went out and tested the drains for the sunroof, put car with front facing downhill used a pitcher of water to test front drains, they worked what seems to me to be quite well, water drained quickly. Water was clearly coming out of the front drains onto driveway, all seemed good so far. Turned car around so the rear was facing downhill, added water, and it sat for a bit, draining slowly, looked under the car and did not see any water draining, alarm started to sound, rear hatch lock started rapidly locking/unlocking and I looked into the rear well at the rear SAM and watched as the rear roof drains emptied themselves onto the rear SAM and on the drivers side the water was coming in the well where the sub woofer is, which is nice, so I got that going for me.... Here's a list of all the things that don't work as far as I can discern; Front wipers SRS restraint system malfunction no turn signals Interior lights do not come on when doors are opened, they do work manually.... No tailgate function no rear wiper no door locks power seats do not work, can't get to main battery and front SAM to see if water is there no fuel gauge, not sure if any other dash functions aren't working I cannot see where the rear sunroof drains are, seems to me as though they are broken/rotted and leaking directly into the car, how do I remove the headliner to get to the drains? I'm very mechanical so can do it, just need the information. Thank you again in advance for your help. I'll keep searching Dan #6 · Sep 18, 2017 Yes, the front SAM controls the front wipers, but it is also controlled by N93 Central Gateway Module which is stored under the driver's side rugging. You wife claims there is dripping on that side. You've got a lot of work to do.

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• Central Gateway Cont. Module Loc..jpg 76.1 KB Views: 9,606
• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 WHIP (R) Printout.pdf 170.1 KB Views: 1,138
• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 WHIP (R) Printout #2.pdf 5.3 KB Views: 851
• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 R&I Floor Covering Left.pdf 87.7 KB Views: 955

#7 · Sep 18, 2017 Thank you for the quick reply, yes, me thinks that I will be gutting the interior down to the floor pans by the time I'm done, yay! Grateful for people such as yourself who has the knowledge of the electronics of these cars, we really love the cars, can be a bi*ch when something simple causes a bunch of trouble. Dan #9 · Sep 18, 2017 Disconnect NEG battery cable. Start with the rear cargo area. Remove everything including the gray mat and and check the rear SAM and the tailgate pump and module next to it.

Attachments

• Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18 R&I Spare Tire Well Panel.pdf 101.6 KB Views: 645
• Rear-end Door Closing Module Loc. N121-1.jpg 87.7 KB Views: 7,208

0 Reply #8 · Sep 18, 2017 Please UPDATE YOUR PROFILE in USER CP to include the 2008 ML320 and is it diesel or gas.

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• AAAAAAAAAA.jpg 48.8 KB Views: 2,824

#11 · Sep 18, 2017 Profile updated and it's a diesel 0 Reply #10 · Sep 18, 2017 Already have all that removed, water present as mentioned before, got to watch as the rear roof drains leaked down onto the electronics next to and below the tail lights....rear SAM is soaked #12 · Sep 18, 2017 Try and take it apart and dry it out and clean the electronics board with a tooth brush and electrics cleaner. The rear leak is caused by faulty tail lamp seals. Buy both of them and install them by sticking them on the body and not on the tail lamps as was done at the factory. Don't forget to check the tailgate module and pump.

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• Electronic Cleaner.jpg 44 KB Views: 2,349
• 2017-09-18_124457.jpg 29 KB Views: 2,113

Show more replies 0 Reply #14 · Sep 19, 2017 Sorry you are having so much trouble with your truck Please let us know what solves the leaks etc since we may all hit this problem in the future... Hope the sunroof drains are an easy fix #16 · Dec 8, 2023 Welcome to the forum @Handyman Andy - please take a moment to read the information on the links below. It explains how to use the forums and update your user profile so that your car's details and your location appear on each post below your avatar. This is good information for others to know when trying to help. It also has good information about how the forums are organized and how to use the search feature: Find your Forum Section, Navigate & Search Complete your profile. You are replying to a 6+ year old thread and the OP has not been seen since. If you have a problem you need help with, please start your own new thread with as much specific detail as possible - that will get you the best assistance from fellow forum members. Insert Quotes Post Reply

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