Intermittent Starting Problem with 2002 C220 CDi Manual

[smuf1962]

Hi there. This is my first post and hopefully someone out there can help me. Apologies in advance for the length of it but it's not easy to explain my predicament in a few words.
My problem started about 3 months ago with the car not starting after we had been out on a run. I put the key in the ignition several times, all the dash board lights came on but the car didn't start. Mobilo Life came after an hour or so and the car started no problem - how embarrassed was I? A week later the same non-starting happened again but this time I had to get towed home by Mobilo Life. The next day a Mercedes Technician came out and hey presto it started 1st time. I put the car into the Mercedes dealer who has always serviced it for them to check it out and they changed the starter motor which cost me over £600. Within days the intermittent starting problem came back but this time when it did start I was intermittently getting warning lights about the cooling system, ESP and also the alternaotor warning light. Before I could get it to the dealer again it completely died on me - no power! Mobilo Life took it to the dealer and they changed the alternator - another fortune. Within a few days the intermittent starting problem started again with all the same warning lights coming on - only this time I was getting a dip in power whilst driving. Very dangerous!
The dealer has since changed the EIS switch -over £500. Guess what? After a few days the ****** thing still had the same problem - intermittent non-starting, warning lights and loss of power. It's been with the dealer for two weeks now because I've told them I dont want it back until they know 100% what the cause is and they sort it. The'yre now talking about changing the control unit - another £1000+!! I've lost total confidence in the car which up until 3 months ago was great to drive. Does anyone have any experience of this type of problem and how to solve it? I'm at my wits end.

 

[jibcl500]

Have mercedes run any doagnostics on the car?

Are the batteries in the key ok have you tried replacing them?

Could possibly be the ingnition switch is on its way out, keyless system I know but there have been issues related to this discussed on here.

Others will come forward with advice later.

jib

 

[smuf1962]

Thanks. Not sure about diagnostics. Dealer has referred problem to Mercedes UK but not a lot back from them as far as I know. Both keys were checked and found to be okay.

 

[Xtractorfan]

The first thing you need to do is have a word with the senior servivce guy in the MB dealership and ask for your money back, the parts fitted to your car were unessecary and did not cure the fault. have a word with your local trading standards office.. these guys are ripping you off.. and dont be tempted to take the car anywhere else until you are reimbursed..

 

[smuf1962]

Have already told them that I want full refund of money paid to date for 3 unneccessary parts and that I wont pay another penny until they reimburse me. I certainly wont be taking the car anywhere else until then.
My main focus however is to find out what's wrong with the car which is why I posted.

 

[jayhattams]

Did you solve the issue

Hi I seem to have the same issue did you ever get there to the bottom of the problem
thanks J