What red and green LEDs ?

[Axcontrols]

I've been searching the forum about alarms and immobilizers and people are talking about red and green LEDs in mirrors and doors flashing.

I have a 1998 E200 which won't start (Turns but doesn't fire)

Do I have an immobilizer problem ? Do I have any of these LEDs people are talking about (I don't see any LEDs or maybe I'm looking in the wrong place )

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

[anyweb]

sounds like your immobiliser all right,

if you look at your rear view mirror do you see any red/green LED's on it ? if not you don't have them, the other place they are on is the door handle of the drivers side,

if they are not in either of those places then you don't have them,

if your immobiliser is not working then you may need to resync your key, however I'm not sure if the same thing applies to your model as I have a C series (with immobiliser and leds)

 

[Axcontrols]

I'm not looking at the car at the moment but I don't recall seeing any LEDs in the mirror or in the door. I've had the car around 8 years so I guess I'd have noticed them by now.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
If your key is 'not' got a blade that flicks out from the side you will not have red, green leds

 

[brandwooddixon]

It sounds suspiciously like the batteries are going in the key fob. It is possible for the batteries to allow you to unlock the vehicle but not start it.

Try another key or even the emergency one (if you still have it.)

If none of them work then the culprit could well be the key reader in the ignition barrel. I gather that this is a bit pricey to fix.

 

[Axcontrols]

I have two keys. One of them is just a few months old (117 quid it cost) so I'm sure there's no problem with the keys.

In a separate thread I explained that around 2 years ago I had water getting sucked into the central locking pump and the circuit board in there is a bit coroded. It's been dry ever since but I'm wondering if any further corosion in there would cause the immobilizer to prevent the car from starting.

I've looked at pictures of these pumps but mine looks much more complex. I has 3 connectors/bundles of wires going in so it's much more complex than 'just' the central locking pump. I'm wondering if there's something in there affecting the immobilizer.

What do you reckon ?

 

[brandwooddixon]

I don't think that the central locking pump has any relevance to the immobiliser.

From what I gather the immobiliser reads a code from the key when it is placed into the ignition switch and it is the matching of this code which determines whether your car engine will fire up or just turn over. On some Jaguar and Range Rovers this is dealt with within the engine management, but I don't know whether this is the case with MB.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
What type of key you have will have bearing on which system is fitted flip out key blade and its a Scorpion alarm fitted from new by Mercedes.
97-98 was a changeover year from Scorpion alarms to Mercedes own Alarm with the DAS system (Driver Authorisation System)

 

[Axcontrols]

Mine is the newer type. The car is 98, the key is the same as in newer cars.

 

[Axcontrols]

I have two keys.

The old one is a long triangular shaped fob and the metal key slides up the length so can be taken right out of the fat end of the fob or slide forward so that it pokes out of the thin end.

The newer key, bought just a few months ago, is similar in design but much shorter.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
It sounds as if you have the later system D.A.S. as far as i,m aware the immobiliser is in your key if neither of your keys start the car and one of your keys is recently new as stated (sounds like you got a good price for that key mine was £148 bought 4 weeks ago) i would say you would need to look elsewhere for your fault.
But there are many more people on here with more knowledge than me with this system, maybe some one else can comment/confirm my diagnosis.