My car is a 2002 c240. Everything had been working fine untill I came down to start my car sometime lastweek and it did not suck the key. I pressed all the buttons on the key still nothing working. I got the spare key and tried still nothing. The only thing working was the deck and the inner lights. I noticed when i opened the door, it showed the mileage for a second and then it changed to this "-------". I left the car for a while and tried agian this time it accepted the key but when it got to the third position nothing happened. After trying again and again it finally started. It was on for about 3 mins when it suddenly went off leaving the fan on at full speed and on the screen it showed SRS Restraint system visit workshop. Then nothing worked again apart from the deck and the inner lights. Ater removing the key, SOS displays on the screen and it starts trying to call. Now each time I put the key in and get to the third position it shows SRS Restraint system visit workshop! then the engine fan comes on at full speed but the engine does not try to start. Even if it eventually does start without displaying the malfunction, it goes off after 3 mins and displays the malfunction . SO basically I cant drive the car to the workshop and I reside in a country where road side assistance and teleaid is not available so I am stuck with the question of how to get it to the workshop. Any suggestions?

 

Dam, that sounds bad. 'Bout time to call AAA and have it towed in to the local Stealership. I can't imagine there is anything you could do to fix this on your own.

 

call the MB helpline and ask them to tow it to the nearest dealer.

 

Thanks but does anybody have any idea as to what exactly might be causing this so i can give the dealers some pointers cause they are highly inexperienced over here. I have a friend who spent over the equivalent of $3,000 replacing various electronic components such as the EIS for what turned out to be a bad battery. the dealers just didnt have a clue. I will keep posting updates.

 

Yikes, I just noticed you updated your profile. I did not know you were in Africa. Wow. That could be tough. I'm sorry, I can't be of any help here.

 

The car has been towed to the dealers. I have been asked to replace the EIS and both the Front and rear Sam and they say everything is going to amount to the equivalent of $5000 !!!!. The problem is that the guy really didnt look that sure of what he was doing and I dont think all these can spoil overnight. I guess he just decided to replace the whole components instead of fiddling around with wires and fuses. Mercedes definetely wasnt made for us here. My only hope is that this solves the problem. U guys are really lucky over there to have excellent customer service. Maintaining a benz here is ten times more expensive than getting one because of lack of experience on the dealers part.

 

Replacing everything will cure the problem but everything may not be the problem. Your dealer wants to fix the problem with a single shotgun pull. At this point, I would assume it's the EIS since that is the central brain of the car. I would replace that first and proceed with anything else that needs replacement. The eis is about 400 plus installation and programming. A green transport unlock key needs to be order for the EIS but that should not cost anything. They usually take a 200 dollar deposit and refund it when the green key is returned back. 5000 is still high for all those parts considering a front and rear sam are around 800 together.

 

just unplug a few of the reset fuses in the front of the car first and plug them back in. I sometimes get the "----" on the radio screen of my car and I just unolug the fuse and plug it back in and its all back to normal!!

 

OMG..im going thru the same problem right now. My car wont start as if its out of battery. BUt one time it said SRS blah blah visit workshop.

 

Stupid MB...so i figured ill try to jump start it b4 calling the dealer and it started. Stupid messages saying the wrong stuff.

 

Guys, I need help please...!!!!!
here is what happened: i have c230 kompressor coupe made in august of 2001, one morning I came to start it and the key wouldnt open it from a distance, I tried the second key-same thing, then I came to find out that the keys can open a car only from the passenger IR sensor (but sometimes!!!!! from the drivers door IR sensor too). The next thing was after I started the car-the climate control stopped working completely (except for EC/REST button, which did turn the fan on that I could barely hear it...). I went to this forum and found out how to remove center console (Audio 10 Install Pics / W203 ('01-'04) Center Console Removal Instructions - MBWorld.org Forums) to see if the unit is bad, and by the way I decided to see if there is a wiring for the CD changer for glove compartment (I have the MB CDC which I want to install, but dont know where and how...). So I removed the center console, disconnected the radio, the AC unit, and all other wires (emergency flasher, ESP-off, seats heater and towing button), then I unscrewed all screws holding down the glove compartment and the right wall of center console (which is attached to the left side of glove compartment) to see if I can cut a hole into the glove compartment to connect a CDC- but after moving it back and forth trying to get it out - I gave up, and decided to screw everything back in place - and thats when the interior lights went out, radio turned off (only red light started blinking) and on the dash appeared: "RESTRAINT SYSTEM SERVICE"....((( I tried to lock/unlock the car, start it-it wouldnt start, and the radio wont turn on!!!!! HELP ME SOMEBODY !!!!

 

Okay where are you in the world? I don't think there was a C230 in 2001 for the USDM.

 

I am in Connecticut, I just go by the manufacturers label on the drivers door pillar-it says smth like production date or assembled in 08.2001. I know it was sold in 2002 in US, because the books are for 2002 model, but you know-it had to be assembled in germany first and then shipped to US, go through customs, inspections - whatever they need. The vin number also is coded for '02. Its kinda fkd up the way it is here in US with German cars, and not only german I guess - the dealers have been selling 2010 models all year, even the 2010 hasnt begun yet...! I used to have 2005 c230 kompressor sedan (by the books and the looks) which manufacturers date was may 5th 2004... That means that you are buying the car as 2 years old, and then find out that its 50% older...
Lets get back to our sheep - any suggestions on my situacion ))?

 

i have a 01 that was made April 01 lol. wish i could help with your problem but i am clueless.