Hi all!

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

 

sounds like it may need a shifter assemble,,
has anything got spilled in the shifter area??

 

is this just a trick to get a new key?

HEY GG, havent seen you in a while. Hopefully the dealer will figure out the problem.

 

Sounds like a bad key (but you already knew that). Did you try your other key to see if it does the same thing? It may be worth carrying around both keys, for if/when it happens again.

 

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)?

 

keep in mind that she says some of the shift indicator display is not there ,,i dont think it is a simple key issue

you have to point the key at one of in infared windows for the summer feature to work

 

this feature works on my 2002 coupe.

the coupe is the CL203, for what it's worth...

 

Got a "key" question...maybe DSMIT can answer?
I've got a 2001 C320. Am thinking of buying a new 230 Coupe. Is it possible to program both cars to use the same key?

 

the keys are ordered by vin #,you cant uses the same key for both cars.

that would be way to convient

 

I think DISMIT maybe right. The shifter assembly appears to control the turning of the key.

 

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.

 

thats DSMIT,


right its probable the shifter

 

yes the ir sensors have the effectiveness of you tv remote

 

GG, nice to see you're back.

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.

 

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.

 

smart keys are both rf and ir,,the sensor should be right next to the pull out handle

 

the keys have both RF and IR transmitters (IR is how your key works with the ignition, for example). point your key at your door handles and stand within 10 feet of the car and it should work fine.

 

Guys, thanks for the advice. It's not a bad key because I tried both. I think it's something else. MB roadside thought it was the battery, but that does not sound right either. I'm just so jinxed with this car.

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!

 

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

 

I guess some people would enjoy that!

 

I've been to Italy before, so I think it's fine. But thanks.

Hope everyone is well!

Cheers,

Beth

 

reply to summer feature question:
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

 

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT NOW ,BILL

GO BACK TO SLEEP