V220 cdi starting problem

[Richard ADI]

Hi everyone,

Can someone help please. I have a w638 V Class 220 cdi auto 52 reg. It has developed an intermitent starting problem. Usually when cold. On turning the key all lights on dash light up nice and bright but as you hold the key to start nothing happens. Just silence. Sometimes if this happens and the key is just held round to p3 it will start 1st time but when it feels like it! Its like it pauses then all of a sudden away it goes. It has a new bosch battery. And i was thinking of changing the starter motor but theres no solonoid click. Its just like if the immobilser was not letting it start. Could it be a starter motor relay? A problem with the ignition switch? or lose wire/earth cable somewhere or actually the connection to the starter? When its not playing up it starts first time every time even on cold frosty mornings. Thats why i dont think its the starter. And its only on first initial start as it wont do it for the rest of the day! Its such a pain as we have a disabled 3 year old daughter and need to get her to hospital all the time with her powerchair its sods law that when we need to go it plays up!

Hope you can help.
Happy new year.
Richard

 

[barry@smith1949.fsnet.co.]

220 starting prob

Hi,I have the same car with the same problem, it has hesitated on turning key about 4 times lately, but today will not start at all, if you find anything out please email, Cheers Barry.

 

[Quick Silver]

This is a common problem and it's a fault with the starter motor and it will get progressively worse. This was a problem on one of my W638 (02) Traveliners right from new and it got progressivly worse as time went on .MB could not replicate it as it was so intermittant and eventually went out of warranty, it would go at the most inconvenient times and would not start for several hours or you could walk away and come back 5 mins later and it would start .I removed the starter motor checked it could find nothing wrong with it and reinstalled it and it still did it .Eventually I replaced the starter motor and it has been ok now for over 120k miles , other colleagues of mine who use these vehicles have had the same problem
It appears to affect vehicles registered 02 and early 52.

 

[Richard ADI]

Thanks for that Quick Silver. I will look into getting a new starter motor. I know that MB charge a fortune for an original. Ive found new replacment starters on ebay for £70. That seems to be too cheap but I might give them a go. Has anyone else bought one of these from ebay?

Thanks
Richard

 

[Quick Silver]

Thanks for that Quick Silver. I will look into getting a new starter motor. I know that MB charge a fortune for an original. Ive found new replacment starters on ebay for £70. That seems to be too cheap but I might give them a go. Has anyone else bought one of these from ebay?

Thanks
Richard

Make sure it's the right one ,if your Vito has factory fitted aircon it will be smaller than the standard fit startermotor.Euro car parts suplied mine @ nearly half the cost from MB AND IT WAS A BRAND NEW BOSCH ONE .

 

[Richard ADI]

Ok, thanks for that, does LRT 134 ring a bell? it doeas have a/c as its an ambient and has all the ellectric bits, its been a good car upto now. The only problem being that the compressor for the rear suspension is not man enough when my little girls wheelchair is in the back, it weighs 140kgs! so ive adapted it with a manual valve that i can let down and pump up with a plug in comp from argos! It works fine. Cheaper than changing to springs and still have the air ride quality.

I dont want to have to take off the old one just to look at the part number because little one has to go to Great Ormand Street all the time and we live in Surrey so i cant risk it until i have the replacment and do it all in one go.

The one on ebay says its replacment code for Lucas is LRT 134. What do you think?

Cheers

Richard

 

[MicasOlivier]

just posted that i had the same problem in my 2002 e220cdi. the non reparable valeo start engine was replaced by a refabricated bosch by 225 euro + vat, new mb ones cost 700 euro + vat I was told.

 

[Quick Silver]

Ok, thanks for that, does LRT 134 ring a bell? it doeas have a/c as its an ambient and has all the ellectric bits, its been a good car upto now. The only problem being that the compressor for the rear suspension is not man enough when my little girls wheelchair is in the back, it weighs 140kgs! so ive adapted it with a manual valve that i can let down and pump up with a plug in comp from argos! It works fine. Cheaper than changing to springs and still have the air ride quality.

I dont want to have to take off the old one just to look at the part number because little one has to go to Great Ormand Street all the time and we live in Surrey so i cant risk it until i have the replacment and do it all in one go.

The one on ebay says its replacment code for Lucas is LRT 134. What do you think?

Cheers

Richard

You want the Mercedes Benz vin decoding service,this will tell you everthing about your vehicle ie when and where built the supplying dealer and the type of equipment fitted to it ,things like starter moter,alternator etc .You will need your Vin no which is at the side of the drivers seat on the floor under the little flap.It's all in Russian but if you look carefully you will see "english" click on that and Viola ! you have it all

http://old.mbclub.ru/mbvin/Ing=eng

 

[Richard ADI]

Hi Quick Silver, Thanks for the link. Ive tried inputting the VIN into the decoder but it returns no results. It works fine on my A class. I found another VIN decoder site and the same happens. The result is quite disturbing as the only remaining factor that returns the negative result is if the car has had its identity changed/forged VIN! I will contact my local MB dealer. Its only had one previous owner who was disabled aswell so I know the car is genuine. I will let you know what happens.

 

[Quick Silver]

Early Vitos had a different prefix code and didn't start with wdf638 but it should work as I have an older Vito on a 1999 "T" PLATE and that comes up with all the info .The fault with the starter motor is a batch fault and it's a problem with the solenoid , it probably affects other 2.2CDI engines for other models as well if they were built around that time but I wouldn't swear to it.

 

[hmang]

Hi everyone,

Can someone help please. I have a w638 V Class 220 cdi auto 52 reg. It has developed an intermitent starting problem. Usually when cold. On turning the key all lights on dash light up nice and bright but as you hold the key to start nothing happens. Just silence. Sometimes if this happens and the key is just held round to p3 it will start 1st time but when it feels like it! Its like it pauses then all of a sudden away it goes. It has a new bosch battery. And i was thinking of changing the starter motor but theres no solonoid click. Its just like if the immobilser was not letting it start. Could it be a starter motor relay? A problem with the ignition switch? or lose wire/earth cable somewhere or actually the connection to the starter? When its not playing up it starts first time every time even on cold frosty mornings. Thats why i dont think its the starter. And its only on first initial start as it wont do it for the rest of the day! Its such a pain as we have a disabled 3 year old daughter and need to get her to hospital all the time with her powerchair its sods law that when we need to go it plays up!

Hope you can help.
Happy new year.
Richard

It's very possible that you do have a starter motor or solenoid problem as has been suggested.

it may also be worth considering a poor contact in the selector unit which is in the engine bay.
my 638 had just this problem.
the unit is "sealed" but it is possible to drill out the rivets to separate and after cleaning up the contacts, re-assemble using small ( 3mm or 4mm ...cant remember) nuts and bolts . i used a bit of silicon sealer on mine to keep the wet out too.
It's been fine for over a year now.

hope this helps.

 

[Richard ADI]

Thanks Hmang, I will try the selector unit first, wont hurt i suppose.

richard

 

[Funmidele]

I have a mercedes 2002 V220cdi with engine problem. Does anyone know if there is any difference between a 2001 vito 110 or 108 engine and my 2002 V220 diesel engine? Cheers!

 

[Judge G]

Richard
did you fix the problem, as you had the same faults as mine has????
JG

 

[television]

Richard
did you fix the problem, as you had the same faults as mine has????
JG

Why not send a PM as he has not been on here for some months

 

[Judge G]

Vito been sitting on the drive for a good 3 weeks now, when the glow plug light comes on the engine starts, when it doesnt it wont even crank, whats the link?? i think that could be the problem.
lost my faith in mercs, as no-one knows the answer.

 

[Judge G]

looking at the elec. circuits it seems the glow plug ciruit and starter both meet at the cdi module, where about is this module so i can check on the plugs/connections etc...?
JG

 

[MB Service Centre]

hi, is it auto box by any chance?

 

[Judge G]

no manual box, 2002 plate

 

[Judge G]

cant belive no-one knows the answer on this, would the cdi module, (behind the instruments) cause the van to stop once running and stop the engine from cranking? as this unit is £205 i dont want to just change it without an idea if its at fault or not.