Key wont work after car wash
10-16-2008, 12:29 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2019 E450 Sedan 4Matic
Key wont work after car wash
I will first off say that my only key was pretty weak to begin with and I would have to stand anywhere from 6 inches to 10 feet to the sensor for it to work, even after changing batteries.
Ok so earlier today I pulled the car out of the garage to wash it. After washing it I cant start the car. I put the key in the switch and it won't recognize it and definately wont turn. The door open/lock/trunk on the key wont work and the red light on the key wont blink either.
Right now, the car is left open as I don't want to close it out of fear of not being able to open it again. I wouldn't be able to shut off the alarm either.
After a few hours, I tried the door open and it worked like 3 times. I tried the ignition and after 10 tries of putting the key in and out, it recognized once but immediately stopped. And now I'm back to nothing.
Anyone have any advise? Help would be greatly appreciated.
Ok so earlier today I pulled the car out of the garage to wash it. After washing it I cant start the car. I put the key in the switch and it won't recognize it and definately wont turn. The door open/lock/trunk on the key wont work and the red light on the key wont blink either.
Right now, the car is left open as I don't want to close it out of fear of not being able to open it again. I wouldn't be able to shut off the alarm either.
After a few hours, I tried the door open and it worked like 3 times. I tried the ignition and after 10 tries of putting the key in and out, it recognized once but immediately stopped. And now I'm back to nothing.
Anyone have any advise? Help would be greatly appreciated.
10-16-2008, 01:11 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I drive a Toyota Hybrid...
happened to me before, you need to get your radio antana replace
gotta love warranty got it replaced for no charge and got a free dealer car wash
+ another C230 coupe loaner
all free
gotta love warranty got it replaced for no charge and got a free dealer car wash
+ another C230 coupe loaner
all free
10-16-2008, 03:00 AM
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2019 E450 Sedan 4Matic
It's in my driveway so I'm not really worried, but yeah I do need a 2nd key. I recently bought the car so I haven't gotten around to that and I was too stupid to realize that it should have come with 2 keys. But it should still work in the ignition right?
10-16-2008, 07:51 AM
#6
Super Moderator
Check you have no crap on the IR lense in the tip of the key & no crap in the ignition switch that could block the IR beam.
Trending Topics
10-16-2008, 04:18 PM
#8
Super Moderator
10-16-2008, 07:23 PM
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2019 E450 Sedan 4Matic
ok I just bought a key at the dealership, coming in tomorrow. hoping that fixes the problem. i'm pretty sure it is the key since the red light no longer blinks after pressing a button. brand new batteries dont work on it either. thanks for the help guys, atleast I have an excuse to get the chrome version lol.
btw why is the hood/vent designed so that water can go straight underneath to the components. the water channels arent very good. it rained last night and i checked under the hood for water and there were lots of places where water had gotten into that i dont think it should have. i think the battery ground wires were laying in water?
btw why is the hood/vent designed so that water can go straight underneath to the components. the water channels arent very good. it rained last night and i checked under the hood for water and there were lots of places where water had gotten into that i dont think it should have. i think the battery ground wires were laying in water?
Last edited by rinosaur; 10-16-2008 at 07:27 PM.
10-17-2008, 02:17 AM
#11
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Orange County
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes
on
15 Posts
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The key and the electronic ignition switch (EIS) have been designed so that if the batteries in the key fail, or if your drinking buddies remove them to have a laugh, you can still open the door and start the car.
The key has three ways to connect to the car. There is a radio frequency transmitter that sends a code to the car when a button on the key is pressed. This goes through the air like an FM radio signal. There is also an infrared LED in the nose that can communicate with the infrared receiver in the drivers door handle. This a beam of light, and you must be much closer to the car, than with the RF system. Both of these paths require working coin battries in the remote. There is a visible red LED on the key that flashes when a button is pressed if there is enough juice in the batteries to operate the RF and IR functions allied with a key press.
The third communication route does not need a button pressed or a battery in the key. This is the infrared communication between the key and the EIS. You might be asking "So where does the power come from to light the led in the key?" It comes from the EIS through the air! There is a transformer primary in the area where you insert the key. Inside the key is a transformer secondary. When you insert the key into the EIS, it puts an AC wave into the primary. A current is then induced into the secondary in the key. This provides the electricty for the key to tell the EIS who he is and why the car should start.
This means you can unlock the door with your metal key, and start the car with the key that has flat or no batteries in it.
The key has three ways to connect to the car. There is a radio frequency transmitter that sends a code to the car when a button on the key is pressed. This goes through the air like an FM radio signal. There is also an infrared LED in the nose that can communicate with the infrared receiver in the drivers door handle. This a beam of light, and you must be much closer to the car, than with the RF system. Both of these paths require working coin battries in the remote. There is a visible red LED on the key that flashes when a button is pressed if there is enough juice in the batteries to operate the RF and IR functions allied with a key press.
The third communication route does not need a button pressed or a battery in the key. This is the infrared communication between the key and the EIS. You might be asking "So where does the power come from to light the led in the key?" It comes from the EIS through the air! There is a transformer primary in the area where you insert the key. Inside the key is a transformer secondary. When you insert the key into the EIS, it puts an AC wave into the primary. A current is then induced into the secondary in the key. This provides the electricty for the key to tell the EIS who he is and why the car should start.
This means you can unlock the door with your metal key, and start the car with the key that has flat or no batteries in it.
Last edited by Moviela; 10-17-2008 at 02:19 AM.
10-17-2008, 04:52 AM
#12
Super Moderator
The key and the electronic ignition switch (EIS) have been designed so that if the batteries in the key fail, or if your drinking buddies remove them to have a laugh, you can still open the door and start the car.
The key has three ways to connect to the car. There is a radio frequency transmitter that sends a code to the car when a button on the key is pressed. This goes through the air like an FM radio signal. There is also an infrared LED in the nose that can communicate with the infrared receiver in the drivers door handle. This a beam of light, and you must be much closer to the car, than with the RF system. Both of these paths require working coin battries in the remote. There is a visible red LED on the key that flashes when a button is pressed if there is enough juice in the batteries to operate the RF and IR functions allied with a key press.
The third communication route does not need a button pressed or a battery in the key. This is the infrared communication between the key and the EIS. You might be asking "So where does the power come from to light the led in the key?" It comes from the EIS through the air! There is a transformer primary in the area where you insert the key. Inside the key is a transformer secondary. When you insert the key into the EIS, it puts an AC wave into the primary. A current is then induced into the secondary in the key. This provides the electricty for the key to tell the EIS who he is and why the car should start.
This means you can unlock the door with your metal key, and start the car with the key that has flat or no batteries in it.
The key has three ways to connect to the car. There is a radio frequency transmitter that sends a code to the car when a button on the key is pressed. This goes through the air like an FM radio signal. There is also an infrared LED in the nose that can communicate with the infrared receiver in the drivers door handle. This a beam of light, and you must be much closer to the car, than with the RF system. Both of these paths require working coin battries in the remote. There is a visible red LED on the key that flashes when a button is pressed if there is enough juice in the batteries to operate the RF and IR functions allied with a key press.
The third communication route does not need a button pressed or a battery in the key. This is the infrared communication between the key and the EIS. You might be asking "So where does the power come from to light the led in the key?" It comes from the EIS through the air! There is a transformer primary in the area where you insert the key. Inside the key is a transformer secondary. When you insert the key into the EIS, it puts an AC wave into the primary. A current is then induced into the secondary in the key. This provides the electricty for the key to tell the EIS who he is and why the car should start.
This means you can unlock the door with your metal key, and start the car with the key that has flat or no batteries in it.
