No ignition in position 2

E320Trip

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Your Mercedes
E320 Avantgard Estate S210
Hello all.
My 1998 S210 (W210 estate) v6 3.2 litre petrol E320 has a problem besides guzzling fuel of course!
I recently stopped to consult a satnav, put the car in park and turned off the engine. After some 2 or 3 minutes I tried to restart the car. Basically it wouldn't start. Whatever I tried was useless.
I phoned the AA, and during the wait I checked fuses, battery terminals etc. The AA got me going by jumpering two terminals in the main fusebox (offside). This effectively gave the system ignition, allowing me to crank and fire the engine by the key. Now whenever I park the vehicle I remove the key (engine still runs) and I remove the fusebox jumper; engine stops.

The unjumpered sequence is:
Infrared type key opens and closes car normally.
Put key into" barrel".
Steering unlocks in conjunction with break pedal, and Park position.
Key turns to position 1. Only light on dash is SRS which stays on for a 2 seconds then goes off (I believe normally). Windows and radio works. No fans / air con.
Key turns freely to position 2 where I would normally expect lots of dashbord light activity and faint buzzing and clicking in the engine bay, but currently there is no sound or lights.
Position 3, normally cranking, has no response either in this sequence.
When the jumper is attached even without a key in the barrel, all the normal dash lights come on and the engine bay noises commence. I cannot proceed to start however.
In order to start the car I have to follow this sequence:

Put the key in the barrel,
Jumper the fuse box, (Fuse7)
Normal key operation to pos 1, then pos2 and then pos3, crank, fire.
Engine starts and drives normally.
To stop the car, I switch off as normal and remove key, but engine keeps running until I remove fusebox jumper.
I took the car to a Mercedes specialist in park Royal, London, who checked fuses and communication between ECU area nearside and main fusebox. He felt that there was good communication. He intends to look again next week.

I only have one key for this car so I can't try a spare!!

Has anybody had any similar problems?
Any help would be appreciated...
 

television

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2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
I think the EIS ignition switch could have failed, not cheap things but Mark a member on the forum can check this out for you.
 
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E320Trip

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Nov 17, 2010
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Your Mercedes
E320 Avantgard Estate S210
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Thanks Malcolm. How would I contact Mark?
 

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