Rooki

My 2010 E350 Coupe won't start! I put the fob in the ignition and instead of the usual soft whirr I was greeted with a almost painful whirr, as if something was trying to strangle it. Took the key out, tried again, same noise. Third time nothing happened. Lights come on and the fob can turn but the motor doesn't start. This is all I need two days before going on a road trip!

Anyone knows what this might be?

Mud

Be happy it happened BEFORE your trip.


I would look at dead battery, battery cable connections and bad starter as possibilities. Batteries can still show 12v but not have enough amperage to engage the starter.

Rooki

I am happy it happened before but would have been even happier if it didn't happen at all!

How does one test a battery without any 'tools'?

Rooki

I've put it ons the trickle charger just for incase but somehow I don't think it's the battery.

sghokie

It is probably the battery. Does it have the original battery now?

dbldpr

If it is the original battery then it is more than likely the battery. You have to figure out which battery? I would replace them all. You either have 2 or 3 depending on the car accessories.

El Cid

Mine died at four years and one week, so no warranty coverage. MB Roadside Assistance came and put new MB battery in for over US$300 for battery alone. Amazingly it has only a two year warranty. Most batteries sold in US have 36-60 month warranties and cost half as much, if not less.
I only drive about 2,500 miles per year and most of that is short trips of less than 5 miles. Therefore, battery really never gets adequately recharged by the alternator.

Rooki

It's been on the charger now for six hours, still no life.

homeofstone

If motor is turning over but no start then it may be the CPS. motor not turning over then try a jump start and take it to Autozone, Advance Auto, or someplace that can check the battery.

dfordham

A trickle charger is intended to prevent a battery from discharging, not to charge one. If you're on the original battery it is almost certainly the problem.

Regards,
Don

Arrie

If you use trickle charger you can wait forever to charge the battery.

If you have another vehicle jump it. You may need to let it charge for a few minutes if it really is empty battery issue before it will start but if it now does nothing without the jump there should be something happening immediately after you connect the jump cables and try to start. If not then you probably have a bad starter motor or another issue related to the starting circuit.

Rooki

Mercedes Benz sending a on-call vehicle now to assess. I have a charger that charges normally until battery is charged and then trickle charges. After 16 hours it's still not charged so it might very well be the battery.

Rooki

Problem sorted, for now. Battery is 100%, was the steering lock that wouldn't release. Techie just wiggled the steering from side to side and eventually the lock released. Will take it in to the stealership tomorrow just for a faultreading anyway.

Rooki

And now it appears my steeringwheel is off-centre.

Oh, and obviously with the battery having been disconnected various settings returned to default.

How do I get the mirrors to stay put and not fold in everytime I switch the car off?

Rear window goes all the way up and then down about 2 or 3cm again?

These cars are really not easy (or cheap) to live with. :-(

dbldpr

I would still change out the batteries. They are old enough and will soon cause problems.

noka

You say battery is 100%, yet in an earlier post you said it would not charge.

noka

Steering wheel off center should be investigated. Either it was removed/replaced and not installed correctly or something is very wrong with the front end or steering components. I would have it checked out.

In my car, auto-folding of mirrors is a configurable option in dash display settings.

In some cars, the windows have some reset/calibration procedure. Check the owner's manual or ask the MB Tech.

Rooki

Battery wasn't charging as it was full, shortly after my post the charger light turned green.

All settings now sorted except for the steering being off-centre. Off-centre happened during the jiggling and manouvering of the steering to get the steeringlock to unlock.

Used the car just now and something is definitely amiss, even though it started immediately that moany whirr is back. Will take it in first thing in the morning.

Alex.currie44

In your circumstances - some other would disagree - I would stop trying to diagnose this issue on line and take it to the dealer. Have his most experienced tech run a complete system analysis including mirror, seats, windows, charging, starting, ABS, BAS, Stability etc, and see that all is as per spec. It sounds as if you have some underlying issues only their computers can sort out.

Rooki

I will never try to do anything, was just speculating because it was weekend. Car went in today. All tests were done and not one single error was picked up.

Alex.currie44

Ouch! That is frustrating.

KEY08

I don't know how wrangling the steering wheel in the cockpit can pull it off center. This usually only happens when the alignment is adjusted and the tech doesn't know how to keep the steering wheel pointed straight ahead while making the wheel(the ones on the ground) adjustments.

Alex.currie44

Totally agree. I was wondering if someone had had it off for some reason and failed to align it. Usually steering wheel position is set by proper settings of the tie rods while adjusting the toe is it not?