Ignition, dash light issues & engine cutting out?

[George Benz]

Hi all, new member here but have been a lurker for some time!

I have a CLK 220CDI with 160K on the clock, car has been utterly reliable but am now having some strange electrical gremlins, hoping someone has had the same issues and found a common fault.

It started with key fob issues, as in delays in unlocking and having to press the key a few times to unlock, I changed the batteries in both the main and spare and this did not make any difference.

Then I had issues where I would insert the key into the ignition and the dash lights would flash on and off, things like the auto-moving "easy entry" steering wheel would stop and start intermittently when moving into the saved position.

Sometimes I would turn the key and nothing would happen even though the electrics were on, if I turn off fully and and then re-insert it starts first time usually.

Finally this came to a head last week when I had the "ignition" issue first, then a few miles down the road at a junction the engine and dash lights cut out, however the radio stayed on?

I stopped and restarted the engine and everything has been fine since, these issues have come and gone over the last month or so and I don't want to get it investigated yet as really the cost will probably outweigh the value of the car so before I spend a load of cash I am hoping someone else here has pinpointed this issue?

These issues are intermittent by the way and don't happen all the time, the battery is only 6 months old and the wiring to the terminals all look healthy.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

George I bet you have looked in all the normal places . But i would start with the fuses, and pull out all relays you can find to see if they are nice and clean and with no grey bluish coating on them . As you know over the last week or more we have had lots of rain, it can, and it will , upset the apple cart if it gets in to the electrics . I dont know if you have the -sam control box in the boot ?. Water in that little beauty will give you all sorts of problems like your having right now.

 

[grahamcol]

Welcome to the forum. That car seems to have served you very well and l hope my similar one will too.
I may well be wrong here but I'm wondering if the problem is caused by the EIS (electronic ignition switch). If necessary it might be an idea to find a good local Merc independent with Star diagnosis. However others will doubtless reply here with their ideas.
Good luck with it.

 

[George Benz]

George I bet you have looked in all the normal places . But i would start with the fuses, and pull out all relays you can find to see if they are nice and clean and with no grey bluish coating on them . As you know over the last week or more we have had lots of rain, it can, and it will , upset the apple cart if it gets in to the electrics . I dont know if you have the -sam control box in the boot ?. Water in that little beauty will give you all sorts of problems like your having right now.

Thank you for the suggestion! I am actually very much a layman when it comes to cars so hadn't checked the fuses yet!

Seems simple enough to locate so I will first check for the SAM unit in the boot and check for any water ingress then take a look at the fuses and relays!

 

[George Benz]

Welcome to the forum. That car seems to have served you very well and l hope my similar one will too.
I may well be wrong here but I'm wondering if the problem is caused by the EIS (electronic ignition switch). If necessary it might be an idea to find a good local Merc independent with Star diagnosis. However others will doubtless reply here with their ideas.
Good luck with it.

Thanks Graham, indeed it's been a great car and I am really hoping to take it to 200K so not looking to part ways just yet!

I have a good local indie I can take it to however would rather rule out anything I can check first, the car is probably only worth around £1-2K so trying to limit my costs as much as possible!

 

[barnaclebill15]

Hi George, I have a CLK 220 with 183k and have had a similar problem to you, the rear SAM on our cars is in the boot but not floor level, it's on the passenger side and hard to access. Re getting it on star, just had mine on STAR for another problem and my indie did a diagnostic check and found no faults so it may be something that does not show up, have not checked the fuses though.
One thing mine has done that you did not mention is driving along ok about half a mile after starting and it cut out twice one after the other but restarted itself as only momentary, just a jerk and a flash of the dash lights. If you find out what it is let me know.
Mine has been good since Thursday.

 

[George Benz]

Hi George, I have a CLK 220 with 183k and have had a similar problem to you, the rear SAM on our cars is in the boot but not floor level, it's on the passenger side and hard to access. Re getting it on star, just had mine on STAR for another problem and my indie did a diagnostic check and found no faults so it may be something that does not show up, have not checked the fuses though.
One thing mine has done that you did not mention is driving along ok about half a mile after starting and it cut out twice one after the other but restarted itself as only momentary, just a jerk and a flash of the dash lights. If you find out what it is let me know.
Mine has been good since Thursday.

Thanks Bill, that's interesting sounds like we are having the same issues! If I recall once I did have the same issue where cut out and then started but I killed the engine and restarted, likewise if you find out please let me know.

Thanks for the advice RE Star.