Smart Key issue
Hope this post finds everyone well!

Two days ago I was at the Airport picking up a friend and I go to start my car and the key wont turn. We try of half an hour and the key would not turn. We call MB roadside (who was useless), so we call AAA for a tow. Well as soon as AAA shows up, I try the key one more time and it turns and the car turns over (hooray!).
I drove home and my auto lights were not working and the little "S" and "W" for Standard and Wet were not showing up on the dashboard (it was just blank in the square). Parked the car and tried starting it and the key would not turn again.
Next day, I try starting the car and everything works.
Anyone have any insight into this issue?
TIA
Cheers,
Beth
HEY GG, havent seen you in a while. Hopefully the dealer will figure out the problem.
you have to point the key at one of in infared windows for the summer feature to work
speaking of smart key, I thought that the keys are programmed to open windows/sunroof when parked/locked after hit unlock once then hold down again and vise versa after park if windows/sunroof open when u hit lock and hold down remote button again all will close. Is this need to be programmed at dealer or even possible on W203 (coupe)?
the coupe is the CL203, for what it's worth...
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speaking of smart key, I thought that the keys are programmed to open windows/sunroof when parked/locked after hit unlock once then hold down again and vise versa after park if windows/sunroof open when u hit lock and hold down remote button again all will close. Is this need to be programmed at dealer or even possible on W203 (coupe)?
Not sure I understand. Were you driving the car for some time after returning from your trip to Europe, or were you trying to start your car for the first time after it sat at the airport for 2-3 weeks?
It could be the key (do you have the same prob with the other key), or it could be the EIS (Electronic Ignition) port. There have been a few posts about faulty EIS's (across several MB models, not just C-Class). Keep in mind the EIS senses the presence of the key plugged into it. Most of the key "problems" discussed here relate to the push-button remote features (including the remote opening of windows), which are unrelated to starting the car. You can take the batteries out of your SmartKey) insert it into the EIS and still start the car.
It could be shifter related, but that would be a new fault we have not discussed before. Aside from having the car in Park to start it, I don't see where the shifter issue comes in.
Last edited by MB-BOB; Oct 17, 2002 at 01:12 PM.
You've got to aim the key at the IR sensors on the door handles from less than 10' away for this feature to work.
There's an IR sensor on the door? Hmm my car is black so i may have missed it. Is it like next to the actual keyhole? I thought the remote transmit signal via radio frequency and not IR. Thanks though.
BTW, Bob, I was just picking up a friend by the baggage claim. I'm off to Paris, Rome, and Florence in a week and a half. Hooray!
Ciao
Beth
GG, be weary of pickpockets while you are in Rome. They're sneaky in that part of the world!
- BT
No crap, you can be standing admiring some ancient Roman artifact - the next thing you know some gypsy kid's got his hand down your pants looking for your wallet.
- BT
Hope everyone is well!
Cheers,
Beth
remember this you have to hold the button down and continue
to hold the button down> it also has to be within several inches from the drivers door handle> you will see a small square
window> this is where the car picks up the information to make this work> enjoy



