C200 Would Not Start, Central Locking Problem?

[z-b-i]

I apologize in advance because my automotive knowledge is very limited. I spent the whole morning reading various forums for any similar symptom but still could not find the solution.

The car: MB C200, 1998 Model, Automatic.

I unlocked the car using the remote and put the key into ignition. Suddenly I smelled something electrical burning. It only lasted for a few seconds and I'm pretty sure it's not only inmy imagination. I turned the key but the engine was not cranking, and I only head a very faint clicking and whizzing (?) sound.

I thought my I had a bad key and used the spare key and got the same result. Sometimes I need to press the buttons a few times to lock / unlock the car remotely. And now, the central button key would not unlock the car, and the I could not open the boot using the remote or the metal key or the button/switch inside the car. I have to say, I could not get the metal key in properly to open the boot.

I put the key in II position, and taried to open the windows and able to operate the rear passenger sides but not the front windows.

Could it be the immobiliser? The steering is unlocked but I just could not crank / start the engine.

Sorry for the long post, just want to give as much as I know and hopefully someone would be able to help me.

 

[mattkh]

Hi
The burning smell then must have been the ignition switch.
When was the car last used?

 

[z-b-i]

The car was last used last night, i.e. about 12 hours before I tried to start it again.

I was not sure whether the smell was there when I unlocked the doors via remote or when I put the key into the ignition, it just happened so quickly. Most probably it was when the was in.

Could it be something major or just fuse/relay was blown?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[z-b-i]

Some progress today. I managed to jump start the car but the central locking is still not working.

From the forum I learn that most probably the master vacuum pump that is faulty. So I have another problem because I can't open the boot using the remote, the metal key or the button inside the car.

Is there any trick on opening the boot using the key because I can't get the key into the keyhole. I can only push half of the key, and I already sparayed WD40 into the keyhole and on the key.

Thanks for helping me.

 

[anyweb]

have you tried opening the car by using the key hole in the passenger door ? it may be covered by a black circular protective piece of plastic (to keep dust out)

in addition, when you use your key and point it at the rear view mirror to unlock the car, do you see a GREEN flashing led or green/red/green/red ?

 

[television]

This all sounds to me like the battery was too flat to lock or unlock the car, its unlikely to be the vacuum pump, why not charge the battery and take it from there

 

[z-b-i]

have you tried opening the car by using the key hole in the passenger door ? it may be covered by a black circular protective piece of plastic (to keep dust out)

in addition, when you use your key and point it at the rear view mirror to unlock the car, do you see a GREEN flashing led or green/red/green/red ?

The front passenger doesnt have any keyhole, it does have a rectangular thing that looks like an infra-red receiver.

I dont think my car C200, 1998 has any LED at all on its rear view mirror.

 

[z-b-i]

This all sounds to me like the battery was too flat to lock or unlock the car, its unlikely to be the vacuum pump, why not charge the battery and take it from there

Malcolm,

While I got the engine running, is it still not enough to power the vacuum pump? I mean, the central locking button and the boot button still won't open any door.

Another thing and I'mnot sure whether this is related to the problem above. My front windows is not working as well, the passengers windows work fine using the buttons on the console.

Any suggestions on the best way of charging the battery since I still don't have access to the boot. I will try again tomorrow using the metal key.

Thank you for all the help and suggestions so far.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Dont spray any more wd 40 into the boot keyhole. The Mercs dont take kindly to it and it in fact could make it worse.. Go and borrow a powerful air compressor. Use the straight straw shaped nozzle and pump the air through the key hole.It will take time. Keep trying with the compressor nozzle. You may need to use some graphite powder if the compressed air dosent work. It should.
I have a recent post on the ignition lock. Look up my name on the member site and click under my posts. It is probably the first one on the list.
Your car is different to Anywebs and mine and employs the upgraded non infra red entry system. The ignition lock ,I believe is infrared but but is operated with akey without a blade.Does your key have a Flip out blade? Have you checked the batteries in the key fob?

 

[stevesey]

Any suggestions on the best way of charging the battery since I still don't have access to the boot. I will try again tomorrow using the metal key.

Battery can be charged by finding the correct terminals under the bonnet. If you take the cover off the black box at the back right of the bonnet you should find some suitable terminals (as pointed out by Malcolm on another thread), otherwise the alternator or starter motor have a direct connection to the battery (but more difficult to get at).

Persist with trying to un-seize the lock (and remember to grease properly afterwards, so it doesn't seize again). Flat batteries and seized boot locks seem to be a common problem.

N.B After battery disconnection (and possibly if very flat) the windows need reprogramming and the one touch raise/drop will not work. Not sure of the full process but it's something like cycling the windows fully closed/open by pressing the button gently, rather than a full one-touch press (not sure how long you should hold them at the top/bottom).

 

[jimlol]

mercedes c200 problem

hey i was thinkin of buyin a merc 200 1998 s reg but when u go to start it just clicks but when u run a wire from the live points on the car to the starter it will satart but when u take the wire off it will cut out just wonderin if it could be the starter thanks

 

[ken_kagz]

I apologize in advance because my automotive knowledge is very limited. I spent the whole morning reading various forums for any similar symptom but still could not find the solution.

The car: MB C200, 1998 Model, Automatic.

I unlocked the car using the remote and put the key into ignition. Suddenly I smelled something electrical burning. It only lasted for a few seconds and I'm pretty sure it's not only inmy imagination. I turned the key but the engine was not cranking, and I only head a very faint clicking and whizzing (?) sound.

I thought my I had a bad key and used the spare key and got the same result. Sometimes I need to press the buttons a few times to lock / unlock the car remotely. And now, the central button key would not unlock the car, and the I could not open the boot using the remote or the metal key or the button/switch inside the car. I have to say, I could not get the metal key in properly to open the boot.

I put the key in II position, and taried to open the windows and able to operate the rear passenger sides but not the front windows.

Could it be the immobiliser? The steering is unlocked but I just could not crank / start the engine.

Sorry for the long post, just want to give as much as I know and hopefully someone would be able to help me.

I apologize in advance because my automotive knowledge is very limited. I spent the whole morning reading various forums for any similar symptom but still could not find the solution.

The car: MB C200, 1998 Model, Automatic.

I unlocked the car using the remote and put the key into ignition. Suddenly I smelled something electrical burning. It only lasted for a few seconds and I'm pretty sure it's not only inmy imagination. I turned the key but the engine was not cranking, and I only head a very faint clicking and whizzing (?) sound.

I thought my I had a bad key and used the spare key and got the same result. Sometimes I need to press the buttons a few times to lock / unlock the car remotely. And now, the central button key would not unlock the car, and the I could not open the boot using the remote or the metal key or the button/switch inside the car. I have to say, I could not get the metal key in properly to open the boot.

I put the key in II position, and taried to open the windows and able to operate the rear passenger sides but not the front windows.

Could it be the immobiliser? The steering is unlocked but I just could not crank / start the engine.

Sorry for the long post, just want to give as much as I know and hopefully someone would be able to help me.

I experienced the same issue with my C200 one morning as I was unlocking the door. The key fob had been dipped in water by my five-year old son and it had been raining the whole night. The doors were not unlocking when I pushed the key and the indicator lights kept flashing on and off. After about ten minutes of persistence, the door unlocked and I drove off with my alarm setting off interminently.
I decided to drive to the garage which is close to my place of work. Halfway through the journey, the smell of burning wires/harness filled the car. Driving to the garage, I parked and tried to pop the trunk. Nothing happened, same as with the doors and fuel flap. Diagnosticd revealed errors with the immobilizer and central locking system. The C200 had blown the vacuum pump and could not start or lock the doors. Using a direct fuel injection technique allows the car to start, but it won't keep running once the fuel is withdrawn.
So, I know it started with water interference, then burning smell filling the trunk and car, followed by diagnosis, then engine not running. I am yet to try replacing the vacuum pump, but before that, I would like to know if anyone has faced the same issue with engine not running. If so, how did you go about getting it to run again?
How is the blown vacuum pump related to the engine not running?
I don't want to fix the wrong item and end up spending over $2000 while I can simply fix one issue as opposed to a host of unrelated problems.
Thank you.

 

[television]

It can only be the immobilizer cutting the fuel pump if unlocked with the metal key only on a 1995 car.