Merc C220 (1995) petrol, fails to start. argh....

[anyweb]

hi guys,

my mercedes c220 has decided to annoy me. Tonite I wanted to drive to the shop and get some stuff, but when i inserted my key and turned, i got the impression that the immobiliser (if there is one present, i'm only guessing) had kicked in as the red/green leds on my rear view mirror were flashing alternatively.

I've seen this problem only once before (i've owned this car since april 2005) and back then, i tried on/off with the key FOB 10 times or so and got out of the car, locked it, got back in again and it started. Today however it simply refuses to comply,

when turning the key the car sounds like its choking itself, the power to the dashboard lights dims a lot and once i stop key turning the RED/GREEN leds flash at me very fast.

I have seen the red/green leds do the following,

RED on when i tell it to close the car, GREEN on when i tell it to open the car, RED/GREEN flashing TOGETHER at the same time and RED/GREEN alternating.

I've also noticed that the dashboard Clock is set to 0:00 (not the trip, the clock) which is odd as the sony stereo correctly displayed the time as 21:45....

In an attempt to figure out the problem i must mention that earlier in the evening i attached a trailer 13 pin to 7 pin connector (which i just bought) to see if i could fix an annoying problem i have there (the issue there is when the supplied one is connected, my left/right indicators act up flashing VERY fast, or very slow), anyways the one i bought (new/non merc part) didnt cure that problem, but it was a troubleshooting exercise for me.

I did not attempt to start the car between doing that quick 1 minute test and when i tried this evening so what i'm asking is

* have i caused the problem ?
* how can i fix this problem ?

i need my car tomorrow so i'm really hopeful that some of you can give me a clue where to look and how to fix/troubleshoot


i have check later tonight (23:45) and the instrument panel clock is still saying 0:00 even though the car radio says the correct time... is this telling me something ???
thanks in advance

anyweb

 

[anyweb]

the car still wont start... power seems fine battery wise until i turn the key

should i jump-start this ? if so whats the correct procedure.... (don't want to cause more damage)

cheers
anyweb

 

[Olufemi O]

Can somebody help? I have the same problem, except that mine (c220 - 1998) switched off while on 120, and has since been showing me red/green light simultaneously. We need your help.

Olufemi O

 

[anyweb]

any ideas guys, my car is still dead

last night before going to bed i set the instrument panel clock to 0:01

this morning at 8:45am it said 9:01 so at least something was happening (yet again the sony car radio reported the same time)

as I tried to start the car i immediatly noticed the instrument panel clock reset to 0:00

so do i have a duff battery or what ?

please advise !!!! I need to get this car started....

cheers
anyweb

 

[jberks]

Hi,
Lights dimming on cranking is almost always the battery not giving out enough juice. Clock resetting and immobiliser cutting in are all battery symptoms too. It certainly sounds like a duff battery to me. The sony clock keeping time may be an anomoly as some stereos (especially pull-out ones) will have an internal battery to keep the clock and station presets retained. Try a jump start, it may give a clue, though when I tried to jump start our C220 a couple of weeks ago, attached with heavy duty leads to the E class, I couldn't get enough juice in to start it (same procedure works instantly with the mother-in-laws megane). Eventually we just fitted a new battery and she was off first flick of the key.
cheers,
JB.

 

[anyweb]

ok thanks jberks i was hoping youd reply !!

so is there any particular way i should 'jump start'

i don't want to blow anything, i've just disconnected the negative earth to let the car 'reset' itself

if that fails after 30 minutes then i will try a jump start

cheers
anyweb

 

[jberks]

Not that I am aware of. I just attached leads to the battery terminals. From your description I suspect you have a cell down. If you have a meter, put it across the terminals. I suspect you'll show 11v instead of the 12-13 you should see. I think this is why ours wouldn't go, the battery was basically useless so I was trying to run the entire car over the jump leads.
Is the battery the original Merc one? If so its been in there since the factory. As our '95 one died a few weeks ago, I suspect we've both discovered its lifespan! 10 years isn't bad for a battery though.

 

[anyweb]

i have no idea if its the original but it looks old and has mercedes written all over it, so i guess it is the original

i'll try a jump start and buy a replacement battery today

thanks jberks again for your advice, i appreciate it !

cheers
anyweb

 

[anyweb]

ok did a jump start and it worked perfectly so i guess you are right, the battery is too old and the onset of winter with heated rear screen and heater turned up full was taking its toll

i'll go and buy a replacement battery today

thanks again jberks

 

[television]

Not that I am aware of. I just attached leads to the battery terminals. From your description I suspect you have a cell down. If you have a meter, put it across the terminals. I suspect you'll show 11v instead of the 12-13 you should see. I think this is why ours wouldn't go, the battery was basically useless so I was trying to run the entire car over the jump leads.
Is the battery the original Merc one? If so its been in there since the factory. As our '95 one died a few weeks ago, I suspect we've both discovered its lifespan! 10 years isn't bad for a battery though.

To test a battery, it must be loaded ie headlamps on. Meter should read 12v with engine off. With the engine running it should be 13.8v.

On most Mercedes things start to going wrong, or stoppng at 11volts (static)

Most batteries fail at the start of winter,one cell goes high resistance. you can be driving the car all day,and next morning-dead

Malcolm

 

[anyweb]

i bought a new battery today just need to fit it (tomorrow)

yet again the car failed me tonite while in town, wouldnt start at all, i had a class to go to and when i came back from the class it managed to start

i'll replace the battery tomorrow and hopefully that will be the end of my woes

cheers guys

anyweb

 

[anyweb]

after fitting the new battery i must say the difference is staggering,

it starts immediately like a new car and gone (so far) are the red/green flashing LEDS at what used to be extrememly random and often occurences !!


fingers crossed it stays this way

thanks for the advice people

cheers
anyweb

 

[benzo]

Have same battery problem - any recommendations?

Hello, I have a MY2000 C-class and apparently have the same problem. Monday morning after the cold snap, car did not start (first time in the 2+ years I've had it). Engine rolled but no 'fire'
Had to try starting about 13 times before engine finally 'ignited'.

Took it to George Fraser's same morning - informed me I had a bad battery. Alternator was delivering 13 volts to battery.

My questions are:
Any recommendations on where to get good quality batteries at reasonable prices?

The car is just 5 years old -should the mercedes battery be packing up already?

Thanks.

 

[television]

The start of the cold weather soon brings out the battery problems as the loading on the car is double of that for summer.
5 years is about the average max life before replacment due.

Buy a good one, if you do not,you will soon be back to square one, and buy one the same size as you have now.

From what I have seen over the years with batteries you only get what you pay for, Look in you phone book for good makes, Bosch,Exide etc.

Malcolm

 

[philharve]

Hello, I have a MY2000 C-class and apparently have the same problem. Monday morning after the cold snap, car did not start (first time in the 2+ years I've had it). Engine rolled but no 'fire'
Had to try starting about 13 times before engine finally 'ignited'.

Took it to George Fraser's same morning - informed me I had a bad battery. Alternator was delivering 13 volts to battery.

My questions are:
Any recommendations on where to get good quality batteries at reasonable prices?

The car is just 5 years old -should the mercedes battery be packing up already?

Hi benzo

My C-class, also 5yr old, died during the recent cold weather. Heard a click when I turned the ignition key but car wouldn't start. OK day before. Over the 'phone my Indie diagnosed a 'dead cell' and suggested I tricked the voltage sensor that prevented my car from starting into believing I had a good battery. The solution was to place a known good battery in parallel with the defective battery to raise the voltage above 11 volts. Did this and the car sprang into life. Disconnected the good battery and hastily made my way to the Indie's garage where it was pronouned I had a dead cell. Battery was swapped for a new one, a Delphi, and starting performance was transformed. Cost me GBP50.00. Delphi batteries are often rebadged and sold for considerably more than GBP50.00.

What fooled me was there was enough current in the battery to power the electrical systems but nothing to start the car??? The Indie explained that modern MBs won't allow the battery to be flattened through excessive engine cranking. The voltage sensor cuts in to protect the battery and to ensure enough current is available to power life support systems: light and heat.

 

[anyweb]

update

well after some months since the battery change the red-green flashing scenario is continuing

but at least the car starts mostly.

i've started another thread in relation to OVP and after cleaning it things improved engine wise, but i'm still getting this very annoying red/green flashing at the same time

when i press the FOB to lock the car, instead of a nice RED on the car door and interior mirror i get RED/GREEN flashing together

this is happening a lot lately, and takes many tries to get it to do the right thing

i guess this is a mercedes C xxx problem....

annoying too

cheers
anyweb

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi,
You may just need to change your battery in your remote key fob, sometimes both LEDs in rear view mirror will flash if they are low and need replacing. Worth a shot as they will only cost your a few pounds.

Rajinder