Agghhhh Just before Xmas and I get a START ERROR

[peter207]

Well I've trawled the threads, and it looks like I'm stuffed. Was trying to see if there were any loose connections on the AAM to try and solve a central locking problem (can sync up and then lock but nothing else), all the connections were fine, so put it all back together, reconnected the battery and then.......START ERROR.....on the dash. Now apart from crying some more, disconnecting the battery for half an hour, rechecking all the connections on the AAM, checking the battery charge (80%), and still able to do a key sync and lock the doors. I even phone a Merc specialist who said they'd never heard of it! Now reading the threads, I'm supposed to see the red LED blink once when the key is in position 2, it doesn't, on either key (I have two).. So do I really have to open my wallet and say good bye to the contents down at the Mercedes dealer? Oh and I'm in Ireland so the dealers like to double the cost of everything.

Any ideas?

Its a W163 on a 2000 plate 270CDi

Oh and just for fun, after a three hour drive to Galway, all the central locking etc worked fine, for three weeks then back to re-syncing every time I get out of the Car.

 

[peter207]

Just for fun and went out and tried a start. And it did!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have a BAS EPS light on the dash, so I'm guessing it could be the AAM?

 

[television]

Have you had the battery disconnected, that will put the ESP lamp on but not the BAS. Just driving the car or turning the steering from lock to lock should put the ESP lamp out

The key led should not blink when in the ignition and turned to 2.

I think that you should forget about the AAM as you faults are more EIS related

 

[davidsw]

Could you have an iffy earth somewhere ? try voltage check at different earth points rather than negative battery terminal.

 

[peter207]

An iffy earth could well be a problem. Does anything rely on the battery box for it's earth as mine is rotten. I'll get out the multimeter after xmas as I'm hopeing not to bugger it up again. Would a fault EIS produce the remote locking problem? I thought it would be more AAM related.

 

[television]

Off hand with out looking anything up there are ground/earth points all over the car, the EIS has to accept the correct code from the key, and the EIS is the master for all CAN activity.

 

[peter207]

well this morning, got in turned the key and nothing, like a dead battery, the lights dimmed but no turn over. Changed the battery with a new one, turn key and the lights fade, I get a buzzing noise from the engine compartment and then the hazards came on of their own accord, oh I think the doors locked and unlocked as well????? It sounds like a starter motor but I'm thinking of giving up at this point

 

[television]

I would guess now that you have the ground lead on the engine that has rotted through. try and ground the engine via jump leads from a good chassis clean point

 

[ELGRINGO]

earth

As above ml was known for bad earth problems caused of sort of faults, once renewed car perfect