E320 won't crank/start

[car-electrician.co.uk]

Hi all, how about this one. A '98 E320 V6 which will not start. When you turn the key to cranking position the starter clicks in for 1 second then immediately switches off again. The Electronic Ignition Switch is reading and authorising the key, the auto box is in park with starting authorised, there are no fault codes appearing anywhere, the starter relay is triggered for a split second by the ME2 engine management system, you could force cranking by over-riding the relay and the engine will crank over but still not start! Any ideas?
Regards Phil

 

[television]

this car may have the K38 starter lock out relay wired to the alarm,if it has one they are behind the radio.

the ignition switch was a common fault on the 129 that went open circuit on one or more of the modes

I think that if you measure from the switch itself you may find where the voltage stops on the ignition side and starter

 

[car-electrician.co.uk]

Thanks, i'll check that out tomorrow. Are you talking about the old type ignition switch with metal key though? This beast is a 202 with the electronic ign switch on the CAN bus network

 

[BlackC55]

Try lubricating the ring gear. They often cause the starter to stick. I have the special grease to do this if you need any. I also have a time saving method to apply it.

 

[type49]

Could well be the ringear as C55 says. Does the revcounter jump up to 3-4K when you try to start??

 

[luders79]

Hello,

I've had a fault like this before and it was a fault with the k40 relay which in the module box on the lefthand side under bonnet. The have little cooling fan at the bottom of that module box that plugs into the k40 relay sometimes this shorts out and damages the relay. Mb solution to this is to unplug fan connector and cut off! you may have to still replace the k40 relay!

Just an idea for you to try if you get stuck!!

Good luck

 

[television]

Hello,

I've had a fault like this before and it was a fault with the k40 relay which in the module box on the lefthand side under bonnet. The have little cooling fan at the bottom of that module box that plugs into the k40 relay sometimes this shorts out and damages the relay. Mb solution to this is to unplug fan connector and cut off! you may have to still replace the k40 relay!

Just an idea for you to try if you get stuck!!

Good luck

Good one, I have the mod sheet for this. You just have to change the fuse with this fault

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Be carefull with that one malcolm, i have seen the k40 catch fire when just the fuse is replaced, allways change the cooling fan or a least disconnect it.