AcesHigh

Hey everyone, I put my 03 C240 4matic through storage over this winter, and when I tried to start it up today, nothing. Lights still worked and electricals seem fine but there was no crank attempt by the motor at all, just a click and a whirring sound (presumably the fuel pump priming).

I checked the voltage of the battery on the dash and it said 9.5v, so I hooked it up to a jump box. Voltage said 14.2v so I thought it was good to go and tried to start it.....

Nothing. Same as before, motor doesn't do anything except click once, and the whirring noise. I know its not cranking, but I don't know why its not cranking. Has this happened to anyone before, anyone have any thoughts?

paypaboi

This happend to me when my alternator went out but it also happened to my friend with an RX-7 Last week. His problem was electrical some how when he turned the key it wasn't getting the juice to the starter to make it turn so we made a push start for his car...I doubt a mercedes would be that easy but here are some things you might want to check.

1.) Alternator
2.) Starter
3.) Connection to the starter

Glyn M Ruck

I don't think the battery can provide enough current. I think the flat battery is sucking all the current when you try & jump it. Put a fully charged battery in the car. Remember when you change batteries on these cars you need a quiescent current device to keep everything powered up and synched - see sticky.

TemjinX2

Yeah seems like mercedes needs a lot of amps to crank. I remember i needed to rev the crap out of my gf's acura to jump start my mercedes.

you can try taking the battery out and take it to autozone. They'll tell you if the battery is bad or not and recharge it for free.

vdiddy

I drive a c200 kompressor (2001) and i m having the same problem.At times when i park the car and try to start it, i get no response at all, just hear some wizzing sound and relays clicking.I phoned the previous owner and he said i should look at the starter motor relay.I replaced it and nothing.I then vigorously shook the fuse box (in the bonnet) and the car started.I m still puzzled as this keeps occuring and i dont know what to do.Any help

Glyn M Ruck

If shaking the fuse box/SAM makes a difference then you have some sort of low tension circuit problem which you need to investigate - clean all connections with switch cleaner. The HT to the motor is switched by the main solenoid on the motor but you need a stable LT supply to kick it in.

Glyn M Ruck

Yeah Mike - that's my experience I've seen people try & use these little porta packs to jump a merc - no go. Whereas a BMW will jump easily from one of those things

TemjinX2

lol i know..its a small 4 cyclinder, but it was still able to do it. I didn't have the patience to wait 3hrs for autozone to recharge due to some work issues.

It was worth it since i taught her how to jump start a car. Her friends were in awe when she was able to jump start her friends car without a guy.

vdiddy

i replaced the starter motor relay and voila, problem solved and it cost me £8 .

Glyn M Ruck

Excellent news!

kirax2

thx for the help... but what's a starter motor??// where is it locate??

kokeilut

I have exactly the same problem, and funnily enough similar car: C240 4matic, 2004.

I live overseas and use the car during summer vacations only. Last year, I had a flat battery and after recharging it, it worked like a charm. Now, sadly, the original battery was flat. After recharging it, nothing happened. I suspected the battery has come to an end. I tried with another old battery which should still be OK. After fully charging it, I heard a "click" but it does not crank.

Could it be that the other battery still does not have eough juice or is the starter motor somehow "stuck"?

Glyn M Ruck

I think you need to get a known good battery into the vehicle. Batteries don't like the service cycle you have. They sulphate badly.

tj40

Could also be a loose battery connection, the car will seem fine when you turn the ignition on but not crank - just click as the relays switch. This happens on plenty of cars..

Just check the battery connections are tight.