W202 Starting Fault

[aclem]

My 1996 W202 C180 Auto has developed an intermittent starting problem over the last 10 days or so. Occassionally when I turn the ingition to start the car I get no response at the final 'Starter' position. All the panel lights come on as usual, its just that the final turn of the key yields nothing..... no dimming of the lights, no clicking of the starter solenoid..... nothing!

Invariably jump starting solves the problem, so I replaced the battery with a new MB 74kWh one, which is the one up from what was on there. The alternator is charging happilly at 13.8-14.1 volts. The new battery appeared to solve the problem for a few days until it came back again yesterday..... although it did start when I turned the key a second time.

I ran the car over to my local MB specialist who ran some diagnostics for me. The only fault on the car was a 'Code 064', which he said was something to do with the central locking, which in turn affects the immobiliser, of course. MB UK won't tell him exactly what the code means because he is not a dealership!!!!!! Whilst he said he would see what else he could find out over the next few days, I wondered if any of you experts could shed any light on it for me, please.

Many thanks in anticipation.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Have you got red & green led's lights and in the door handle, do they all work? what do these do when you lock/unlock the car?

 

[television]

If you have a K 38 starter lock out relay,, that could cause your fault and you have to be sure that the 12 volts from the key is there when you turn it, the wire for the starter goes via the K 38 relay if fitted,, and these do get bad connections.
This relay is an extra from the alarm and not on all cars

So start off by measuring the 12 volt from the igntion switch when you turn the key, and go from there

 

[aclem]

Hi,
Have you got red & green led's lights and in the door handle, do they all work? what do these do when you lock/unlock the car?

I have red & green lights in the rear view mirror and in the driver's door handle, althouth the red one in the door has never worked since I bought the car 7 years ago.

When I lock the car the red [mirror] light flashes quickly repeatedly until the alarm horn sounds and the indicators flash, then it flashes every 3-5 seconds thereafter. When I unlock it both the green lights flash quickly repeatedly until the alarm horn sounds and the indicators flash, then they remain off.

 

[aclem]

If you have a K 38 starter lock out relay,, that could cause your fault and you have to be sure that the 12 volts from the key is there when you turn it, the wire for the starter goes via the K 38 relay if fitted,, and these do get bad connections.
This relay is an extra from the alarm and not on all cars

So start off by measuring the 12 volt from the igntion switch when you turn the key, and go from there

Thanks for this, television. If I have a K 38 relay, where will I find it, please.

 

[television]

Thanks for this, television. If I have a K 38 relay, where will I find it, please.

Its behind the radio on the bulk head, it was a fitment on many cars and the trouble was the push on spade connectors were a bad fit.

Very hard as not all cars have one

 

[muckymits]

is this code not a rpm signal error ?

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Crankshaft position sensor? Just a thought....

 

[television]

Crankshaft position sensor? Just a thought....

This would not affect the engine turning over Ron

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Yes Malcolm, you're quite right. My thought was not deep enough, sorry...

 

[television]

Yes Malcolm, you're quite right. My thought was not deep enough, sorry...

You do not have to say sorry to me Ron, I am the worlds worst at reading something and thinking something else