500SL WON'T START!

[BOB MCNAMEE]

JUST REPLACED BATTERY ON 1990 500SL RECENTLY PURCHASED AND NOW I CAN'T GET CAR TO START...TOTALLY DEAD. DASH LIGHTS COME ON BUT OTHER THAN THAT NOTHING. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO RESET OTHER THAN TAKING TO DEALER. CAN ANYONE OUT THERE HELP ME?

BOB

 

[guydewdney]

just a thought - it might have 'forgotten' key code.. unlock manually, then turn key on for 10 seconds, off, then on for 10 secs then it should start.

check all fuses as well.

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500SL

I'm new at this so when you say turn key manually and on 10 sec off then on 10 sec, I'm assuming that you are saying to leave key in door turn alarm on then off then on....correct? I tried that and it didn't work.

 

[guydewdney]

no - use the key to lock the door, then unlock it (ignore the zapper bit completely) tehn put key in ign and turn on, then off, then on - it re-sets the computer into knowing that your key is for your car - or somthing...

also check - OVP relay (common fault) combination relay (again, common) starter solenoid! and double check there arnt any extra wires you forgot to connect on the battery.

check fuses?

aslo see - http://www.autolib.diakom.ru:8001/CAR/Mercedes-Benz/1997/S420/SYSTEM WIRING DIAGRAMS/ and change the model to a 500 - but there isnt much difference.

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500SL WON'T START

didn't work....Checked fuses all okay, rechecked connections on battery-okay. Where and how do I check the Relay's and solenoid...car is new to me so it will be a big learning curve. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[guydewdney]

solenoid is on starter motor - get underneath with multimeter and check that big fat cable has 12V constantly, and the small wire should go to 12v when key is turned.

also check that gearstick is in P or N.. try waggling it...

depends on how much of a grease monkey you can be

relays etc are in engine ompartment, usually just in front of driver.

 

[teky]

copied from another site...

The time has arrived to reboot the operating system, just like Windows.
It is quite a simple process. Just disconnect the battery for about 30
minutes. 30 minutes is a good amount of time to be sure that whatever can be
purged, will be purged. After reconnecting the battery, and performing the
four "sync" operations in the handbook and resetting the "settings" and time,
everything is back to normal. Drive around for a few miles, and the good data
will have been learned.

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500SL Wont start

wiggled gearstick...nothing. How do I check relay's?

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500SL Won't start

Okay battery disconnected will come back in 30....checked my manual and do not see the four "sync" operations you speak of. Is that the same as the instructions for the remote controls when batteries are replaced? Also, what other settings need to be reset...radio code?

 

[teky]

as i said i copied it from another site i was just hoping it would be of some help :idea: only things i can think to reset are the clock/central locking/immobiliser/windows

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500SL won't start

Tried disconnecting battery...waited 30 minutes and still nothing. Checking starter and relays looked good.Is it possible (and does anyone know) how to disable the immobliser? I have a key that I don't know where it goes...could be for that. Alarm is factory installed but I don't have any paperwork on it. Last ditch effort then I guess I'll have to have it towed to dealer which I hate to have to do.

 

[BOB MCNAMEE]

500 SL WON'T START

THANKS TO ALL WHO GAVE SUGGESTIONS. TOWED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH.....