Hi all, wonder if anyone can help isolate a starting problem with a 1998 C250TD.
The problem started about 6 weeks ago, when turning the ignition key the engine just goes 'clunk' it doesn't attempt to turn over, you try a few times and the engine just clunks repeatedly, then after a few attempts it will turn over without starting. Then if you remove the key and try again it will start normally. After a week or so, I switched to the spare key and the problem disappeared. BUT after a couple of weeks the problem exists with the spare key now as well and is worse than ever!
I have checked the battery and had the starter motor tested and all is ok with those, so I wonder if the problem is that the key is not being 'recognised' or something... The batteries in the keys are only a couple of years old, but perhaps that's an issue? Any ideas how I can diagnose and isolate what the problem is?
The problem started about 6 weeks ago, when turning the ignition key the engine just goes 'clunk' it doesn't attempt to turn over, you try a few times and the engine just clunks repeatedly, then after a few attempts it will turn over without starting. Then if you remove the key and try again it will start normally. After a week or so, I switched to the spare key and the problem disappeared. BUT after a couple of weeks the problem exists with the spare key now as well and is worse than ever!
I have checked the battery and had the starter motor tested and all is ok with those, so I wonder if the problem is that the key is not being 'recognised' or something... The batteries in the keys are only a couple of years old, but perhaps that's an issue? Any ideas how I can diagnose and isolate what the problem is?