Dead cluster and today dead ignition

[Pastaman]

Good evening everyone,

Our car is a 2002, W203 c180K automatic estate, 62k on the clock and normally drives fantastic.

Yesterday I started the car to drive back home, only to realise all cluster lights, gauges, computer etc. were dead (i.e the whole cluster). Apart from that it started and drove fine and external lights, indicators, radio, switches, locking, indicators also working fine.

After work today I checked fuse 42, but that was fine, then tried to start the car, but the cluster was still dead and on top of that this time the ignition will not turn the engine.
I can turn the key and hear all the electronics getting ready (ac unit, etc.) and all external lights, radio and other electrics stuff still work fine as before.
Previously this, the car was left unlocked – windows up, though - in the drive for about 5 days, silly me. And as you probably know, it’s been raining nearly non stop for the past 3 weeks…

I understand the garage checked if the engine warning light bulb was working about two months ago due to an unrelated emission problem (turned out to be the lambda sensor).

I have been reading around here about similar faults, so I am getting prepared for the garage to tell me it’s the EIS or cluster failure, sigh.

BTW she's now stuck in parking in my drive and I only have roadside assistance, of course. Could try jump start to see if anything to do with the battery, though I doubt it as everything else works.

Sorry for lengthy post, but any ideas, please, including estimate cost if repaired by my 50 pounds an hour indy?
Many thanks,
Luca

 

[Mark@RMK]

Key fault...

Is the key worn? Do you have a spare???




Mark

 

[Pastaman]

It would be great if it was, and thanks for encouraging reply, Mark.

I do have a spare fob and I only briefly tried it yesterday afternoon – just a quick one go, though.

Is there anything that I need to reset before I try it again, please? I think the batteries on both keys are a couple years old but spare key hardy ever used. Both fobs open/lock the car fine and they turn fine once inserted into the ignition. Just nothing happens.
Cheers,
L.

EDIT: I read around here about disconnecting the battery to try and reset the car electronics. Can anyone confirm if it is worth trying without messing up something else, please? How long should the battery be disconnected and do the fobs need resetting afterwards? Thanks.

 

[television]

If the keys turn in the ignition then not an EIS fault I am sure there is a maxi fuse under the bonnet for this.

Sadly no time to day

 

[Pastaman]

Thank you Malcom.

Well, after fiddling with the fob a few times just now (pressed buttons a few times, then turned key on position 2 to reset as suggested elsewhere) the cluster resurrected and by magic the car started! Pheww.

I now just get a SRS malfunction, though the airbags off light does go off as soon as I start the the engine as it normally does, suggesting that might just be a confused computer or a recorded malfunction when the cluster went off in the first place?

Incidentally, for information, before all this started - i.e. the cluster died - as I wasn't sure that the car was locked, I now recall pressing the fob lock button 2-3 times from around 20 yards from the car, so I wonder if that caused the fob/ignition to un-sync (un-set?).

Cheers,
Luca