C180 starting problems

[mercman149]

Forum members, I need some help with this one.
I bought a 1996 C180 recently and the seller delivered it to my home address. Was a bit sticky to start when I needed to move it etc, but it started. Only thing I have changed since it arrived are the remote fob batteries - red and green leds in the mirror flashing alternately. The leds have not done that since.
In the last week however the car has stopped starting.
Battery is fully charged.
The fuel pump is working and petrol at engine.
Spark plugs are all in good condition and gapped correctly.
Only symptom I can find is that the green led in the mirror flashes quite fast when the ignition is switched on. Turn the key further and the engine turns over but does not start.
Is the immobiliser u/s and if so can I just plug the one in from my other C180 without having synchronise the key?
If not what procedure do I have to follow?
I have read that the immobiliser can be by-passed. If I did that would the car start ok?
I have so many questions. Had hoped to get the car on the road after cleaning it up at the end of the week. Does not look like that is going to happen now. :x
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[television]

The green flashing led does say that the alarm is on,,wait for some more replies

 

[mercman149]

The green flashing led does say that the alarm is on,,wait for some more replies.

Would that stop the car from starting though? Is the Alarm and Immobiliser systems linked or separate?

 

[television]

The green flashing led does say that the alarm is on,,wait for some more replies.

Would that stop the car from starting though? Is the Alarm and Immobiliser systems linked or separate?

This will stop it from starting

 

[Dec]

Only symptom I can find is that the green led in the mirror flashes quite fast when the ignition is switched on. Turn the key further and the engine turns over but does not start.

Sit in the driver’s seat and lock the car, then unlock the car, the following should happen;

When the Green LED flash, the car is unlocked and the immobiliser and alarm are disabled, car should start.

When the Red LED flash when the car is locked then the immobiliser and alarm is enabled, if the key is then turned in the ignition the Red and Green LED will flash alternately, this is telling you that the immobiliser hasn’t been disabled so the car won’t start, because the car is locked, armed and imobelised.

If the Red and Green LED will flash together, this means the key fob batteries need replacing however the car will still start.

Have you seen the Red LED flash on its own when the car is LOCKED?
I think you might have a dead Red LED and what you see is the Green LED flashing but without the Red because it is dead.

Dec
EDIT; can you describe what type of key fob/fobs you have?

 

[mercman149]

Dec, Thanks for this info. I will try this tomorrow afternoon. Spoke to a local mechanic today and he suggested disconnecting the battery for 24 hrs to see if that clears the fault. Will let you know how it goes and what I see.
The key fob is the flip out key style with one large button in center of fob to arm/disarm alarm.

 

[drdre78]

try replacing batterys in your key.and hold it to camera to see if it works should get red light.it wont switch off alarm by doscounting battery

 

[Dec]

Have you seen the Red LED flash on its own when the car is LOCKED? I think you might have a dead Red LED and what you see is the Green LED flashing but without the Red because it is dead

You could have a dead Red LED, one possible explanation for the fault, you don’t say if it is seen to be working when the car is locked?
Check batteries are fitted correctly.

Dec

 

[mercman149]

Thanks for all the replies folks.
The red led in the mirror did work when the car first arrived but have just been out and carried out checks as Dec described above - no red LED at any stage in the process.
The previous owner did say the car was sticky to start. Would the LED have failed over time or all at once?
If the LED is u/s, the whole mirror has to be replaced I take it? How easy a job is that and how long would it take to complete?
Sounds like I am maybe one step closer to solving the problem.
Any further advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Dec]

Someone (Andy?? Cant remember his name) did solve a similar problem by replacing a dead Red LED, replacing the mirror from a scrap yard would also achieve the same result, of course I’m not absolutely sure that this is the answer to the fault, its just a suggestion.
It also could be that the led isn’t dead but just a bad connection that has got worse.
Do you also have LEDS I the drivers door handle?, the will not be apparent unless the are flashing.

Dec

 

[Dec]

The amnesia has cleared, see post number #8… http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=45735&highlight=mirror+LED

Dec

 

[mercman149]

Thought a mirror I have ordered up from a breaker in England might have arrived yesterday but it didn't. Hopefully tomorrow!
The car does have LEDs in the driver's door handle. Guess the same goes for them as the ones in the mirror? If they are faulty the car won't start. Am I correct?

 

[Dec]

Could be the same alright, I’m just going by what Andy is saying in the link above.

Below is how the door handle lock comes off on the passenger side, you could take a look at the LEDs in the driver door handle and give them a clean up with switch cleaner, are the flashing at all?

Dec

 

[Dec]

Take a look at this thread… http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=55479 ... the guy seemed to have gotten the car going despite door LEDs not working…see his last post number#15

Dec

 

[mercman149]

Guys, Thank you for you advice re this problem.
Second hand mirror arrived yesterday, got it fitted and once I had charged the battery up, the car started first time, and continues to do so this morning.
Faulty LED appears to have been the problem.
Now I can post my next query regarding botched wiring.

 

[mercman149]

Thanks for the info about the driver's door LEDs.
Only the green one is working at the moment.
Will remove the part, clean it and see if I can get the red one going.

 

[mugerwr]

Hello guys, am kind of new to this forum and looking forward to sharing a lot here.
I currently have the same problem with my C180 - 1995, i took it to a local mechanic and was advised to replace a small component in the starter, just below the engine. I noticed if you turn the engine on and start the car by connecting some two wires that are attached to the starter, it starts up though you have to first switch off the engine now using the key, then there after it will start normally

 

[Dec]

I suppose the Red LED could be dead on the door handle too, while it doesn’t seem to play any part in the starting of the car it will be interesting to hear what you find, thanks for the feedback, always very useful to others with the same fault.


Dec

 

[Dec]

was advised to replace a small component in the starter,

Hi Mugerwr, so did you replace the small component as advised?

Dec