1999 SL500 Barely cranks, "StArt Error" No Spark

[BoatBoyTiM]

My Mercedes won't turn over fully, just a brief second then nothing. "StArt Error" is displayed on the dash. Brand New battery. I kind of think it may have something to do with the immobilizer?

1999 500SL, 145,000 miles

Please Help!

TiM

 

[mioba]

Hi Tim, welcome to the forum, sticking around is mandatory.

Thinking without being sure (as inferred by the ? mark) gets expensive. One starts throwing parts at the car till it sticks.

No idea to your problem, but someone will chime in soon..

 

[ajlsl600]

My Mercedes won't turn over fully, just a brief second then nothing. "StArt Error" is displayed on the dash. Brand New battery. I kind of think it may have something to do with the immobilizer?

1999 500SL, 145,000 miles

Please Help!

TiM

Star or icarsoft 1st place t start once ur sure on batt. Poor cable connections.?

 

[Blobcat]

Star or icarsoft 1st place t start once ur sure on batt. Poor cable connections.?

Possibly no OBD port so diagnostics a bit more challenging on a ‘99

 

[ajlsl600]

Does that motor not have the round 38 pin? Socket under the bonnet? If so and no adaptor for icarsoft ur looking star xentry. Mine does.

 

[NJS5]

Welcome Tim.

Your profile is incomplete in that it doesn't show your location. If it did we might be able to recommend a decent "indy" in your area.

Good luck.

NJSS

 

[00slk]

Does that motor not have the round 38 pin? Socket under the bonnet? If so and no adaptor for icarsoft ur looking star xentry. Mine does.

I would have thought so, my '77 W116 had a 38 pin usually under the bonnet

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes 99 will likely be round 38 pin diags.

Again if location were known we might be able to suggest somewhere or if not too far from a member someone might offer.

 

[Blobcat]

Again if location were known we might be able to suggest somewhere or if not too far from a member someone might offer.

Nirvana and Starbucks for location

 

[ajlsl600]

Deff won't be here!!!!

 

[SL63 Mark]

Nirvana and Starbucks for location

Love it. I wouldn't describe Starbucks as Nirvana. I am more of a Greggs person.

 

[Blobcat]

Love it. I wouldn't describe Starbucks as Nirvana though.

Nevermind...

 

[SL63 Mark]

Nevermind...

Very good BC.

 

[ajlsl600]

Nevermind...

Just lookin Starbucks last quarter tells me to find somewhere else.

 

[NJS5]

Hi BoatBoyTiM

Don't let us scare you off - all good humour... so have you been able to run Star or icarsoft diagnostics ?

If you don't have the kit tell us where you are and we may be able to direct you to a local indy who can help you.

NJSS

 

[BoatBoyTiM]

Sorry, was out if state for a wedding.

It has an OBD2 port under the dash, but I'm not getting any errors.

New battery (2 actually, because I thougbt maybe I bought a bad one).

Replaced the Crank Semsor, but getting no spark.

I have fuel @ the rail.

Thanks for your help.

BoatBoyTiM

 

[LostKiwi]

Unless the cranking rpm is high enough it won't start. It's unlikely immobiliser as it cranks. Immobiliser will stop it cranking if it's original MB.
Likely culprit is starter motor has a bad winding so lacks torque.

 

[BoatBoyTiM]

Barely cranks when using the key. I had a mechanic come over to help me diagnose it and he was able to get the starter to turn the motor from underneath at the actual starter. Just not with the key.

When he did this, we had no spark at the plugs.

 

[LostKiwi]

If it cranks it's not the immobiliser (unless some crappy 3rd party one in which case you're pretty much on your own).
If it cranks slowly it's either starter motor, battery, starter solenoid (on starter motor) or bad cables/connection/earth.

 

[BoatBoyTiM]

Had the battery tested @ Oreilly. It came back BAD. Purchased in July, so they replaced it yesterday. Also picked up a new starter.

Installed the new starter today, hooked up the new battery... Dash lights up, but NO STARTER ACTION!

Please help.

TiM