Info on the red and black plug keys you get with the normal merc c180 keys

[kenbenz]

Hi there,

Been a while since i was last on and feel a bit of a plonker asking this question. Today i set of my alarm on my 97 mercedes 180 which may or may not have been my own fault due to pressing the remote too many times too quickly. Couldn't get the alarm to turn off so i reached for the little black plug key that i keep handy and put it in the socket under the steering wheel and gave it one full turn which stopped the alarm. Everything for the rest of the day has worked fine but i couldn't remember completely what these two (one red & one black) plug type keys do. Phoned Mercedes dealer for advice and they told me the red one was simply used to programme or make a new key while the black one when turned will turn off the sound of the alarm which to be honest is exactly what it did. Any further advice would be helpfull as i have lost the book. Thanks in advance.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi there,

Been a while since i was last on and feel a bit of a plonker asking this question. Today i set of my alarm on my 97 mercedes 180 which may or may not have been my own fault due to pressing the remote too many times too quickly. Couldn't get the alarm to turn off so i reached for the little black plug key that i keep handy and put it in the socket under the steering wheel and gave it one full turn which stopped the alarm. Everything for the rest of the day has worked fine but i couldn't remember completely what these two (one red & one black) plug type keys do. Phoned Mercedes dealer for advice and they told me the red one was simply used to programme or make a new key while the black one when turned will turn off the sound of the alarm which to be honest is exactly what it did. Any further advice would be helpfull as i have lost the book. Thanks in advance.

I also have the same 2 'plugs' for my S-Class and have been unable to find out what they are for. No mention in any of the books either.

There are now 2 of us awaiting Informed Guidance from our Village Elders..!!

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
There is a small separate very thin book just on the alarm, there is no pt. no. on this book but it says that,
The black touch key is for disarming the alarm system, in the event of the infra-red key is not functioning.
The red touch key is used by the dealer for programming new black touch keys and diagnostic purposes. This key should be kept in a safe place and not in the vehicle.
There should also be a "Credit Card" key as well, which is the spare key for the vehicle and will lock/unlock the vehicle and will arm/disarm the system, but will not activate the comfort locking (closing of the windows etc.)
This alarm system is quoted on the Thatcham list as a catagory 1 system, and is referred to as MBSS2a (Mercedes-Benz Security System), and was fitted too the 202, 210, 129, 170, and the 140 (CL & S Class).
Hoped this has helped.

 

[kenbenz]

Thanks for that. I have got that thin book on the alarm system but couldn't find it at all this morning when i needed it. I used the small black plug key in a slot under the steering wheel which then stopped the alarm. Since then everything has worked fine for the rest of the day - ie. i can start the car, drive the car and open and shut it with central locking (still with the 3 lights flashing when i lock it) but with no alarm going off. As long as it stays like that i can put up with it until i can both afford and have the time to have it properly checked out. Thanks to all for the advice. Just didn't want the alarm going off in the middle of the night.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Correct operation of these alarms can depend on the red & green leds in the mirror and door lock area all working, also when the rear view mirror leds are flashing it is time to replace the fob batteries. MB also recommend in the pamphlet that you always carry a spare set of fob batteries in the glove box.