CLK won't start - nothing happening ?

[dwhattam]

Hi, a question for all you knowledgeable people out there. My CLK 230 Komp (1999 model) won't turn over, it won't do anything. I came to start it this morning and nothing, it was fine last night. The lights on the dash etc are fine, the battery has plenty of life in it, but nothing. A couple of noises from the solenoids but no starter motor etc.

Does anybody have any ideas what this might be?, I've looked through the history etc and noticed that it could be the ignition switch etc, which sounds expensive, but any other possible causes.

If it is the ignition switch, is there a way to short out the relevant bits so that I can get the car started?

Any help much appreciated

Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[Spike]

Check your battery terminals and the main earth lead to the chassis. Make sure there is no corrosion and that the securing nuts are nice and tight. It may be that the connection is not good enough to cope with the drain from the starter.

I wouldnt have thought its the starter solenoid as you can hear it click.

 

[dwhattam]

Spike, had a look at them, very clean and no problems, I also attached my wifes car up with jump leads, nothing, didn't make a single difference. I've tried my spare key (which has never been used) just in case it was the battery in the old key fob, but no, didn't make a difference.

I also jiggled the gear lever (its an auto) and took it out of 'P' and moved it through the gears etc, still nowt. I unfortunately are coming to the conclusion that it is the DAS ignition switch that has gone south, which is going to annoy the hell out of me. The car is just 5 yrs old now, I've had it from new, its done 51000 miles, been serviced on the dot by MB and is very well looked after.

If it is this, apart from the annoyance of not being able to get to work, I am less than happy that a component like this craps itself after such low usage - totally unacceptable if you ask me. :evil:

Anybody know if you can override the DAS etc, I have all of the keys etc, plus the metal keys in the fobs and the ignition identification fob with a key in it as well. I suspect the keys are just for the door locks, in which case not much ****** use either !

Any help appreciated, any other things to check also welcome !

 

[jaymanek]

does the ignition make that sound when you insert the electronic key?

jay

 

[dwhattam]

Yes, it does the click noise that 'locks' the key in place and you can hear the odd solenoid or two clicking/whirring etc

Any ideas ?

 

[55JWB]

Could it be an imobaliser problem?? New to MB but is there an alarm reset procedure??

 

[jaymanek]

really does sound like the symptoms of a dead battery! But i guess its time to get it to a dealer or specialist.

Jay

 

[guydewdney]

, a question for all you knowledgeable people out there. My CLK 230 Komp (1999 model) won't turn over, it won't do anything. I came to start it this morning and nothing, it was fine last night. The lights on the dash etc are fine, the battery has plenty of life in it, but nothing. A couple of noises from the solenoids but no starter motor etc.


really does sound like the symptoms of a dead battery! But i guess its time to get it to a dealer or specialist.


confused........

 

[piestore]

das

hi

Have you got a spare key (remote control) if so try that, If you haven't got one buy one they are about 40 quid and you will need it sooner or latter and it is possible that that is your problem.

The next thing to check is at the front right fuse box (under bonnet) towards the front right corner of the fuse box should be a plug with 4 or five wires one of which is a plain purple wire quite heavy gauge (2 mm) this is your cicuit 50 (starter signal) check this to see if you have 12 volts when holding the key in the start posistion, if 12 volts present its good news, it means that its either the starter motor itself or that purple wire from the fuse box to the starter has a break.

If you havent got 12 volts there your back to PFM, DAS (drive autherisation system) and Star diagnosis


Sorry PFM is Pure F**king Majic

good luck (you will need it)

 

[dwhattam]

PFM - your not joking, I checked all of the circuits and found that I had no feed to the started solenoid, but I did to the fuse box (after which who knows!!)

Anyway, the good news is.....................

The car was recovered this morning by Merc Asst - thankfully, the MB dealer has now diagnosed the fault as one of the starter circuit relays/solenoids. I don't have the exact details yet, but I will tomorrow after they have fitted the replacement part.

What the MB dealer did say is that the symptoms did look like the EIS/DAS, but once they put it on the machine and read the fault codes, then it pointed to this part.

Thanks for all of the advice and pointers, very helpful indeed.

The good news is that this part only costs £38 plus the usual fitting, so with labour probably £300 sir !!

Anyway, at least it wasn't the EIS/DAS thank goodness.

Regards

Dave

PS - When I have the exact relay name/part number I'll post it here, although he did say he had never seen one go before - just my ****** luck !! :evil:

 

[F_HERNAN]

Dave,

I have a CLK320 and I am having the same problem. I can't turn my key. I can hear some noises comming but nothing else. Can you please let me know which parts did you replace?

Thanks,
Felipe

 

[dwhattam]

Felipe, everybody who is interested, the part replaced was the relay in the starter circuit and was called the T40/4 relay, or at least that's what they put on the receipt !

Hope that helps Felipe

Regards

Dave

 

[dwhattam]

Well it failed again, about a week after the relay was replaced, the relay had blown again. I asked them if it was the EIS, they assured me it wasn't, after they spent several days !!! checking it out, they traced it to the EIS !!!! :roll:

The long and the short of it is, they replaced the EIS and all is fine again, they tried to sting me for a whole bunch of cash but I refused to pay it as I had already asked them if it was the switch and they had assured me it wasn't - they had even recorded it on their system that they had said it wasn't - sort of buggered them really - so I only paid for the switch - still stung me for another £220 mind !!

Still I had a new CLK for 6 days while they sorted it out and got the new switch and keys etc !