C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

Key problem

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Old Nov 14, 2011 | 06:08 PM
  #1  
Peanut2410's Avatar
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From: Southern Spain
W203 C32 AMG
Key problem

Help! My spare key will remote open/close doors, start engine but the dash cd wipers & horn are dead, is it the key fob batteries ??
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Old Nov 14, 2011 | 07:27 PM
  #2  
sammydragon3's Avatar
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
i think theirs a fuse that controls that stuff

your key wouldnt have anything to do with it
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Old Nov 14, 2011 | 07:53 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Do the dash cd, wipers & horn work with one key and not the other?

Batteries in the key have nothing to do with this. The key is inductively energised by the EIS.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 02:55 AM
  #4  
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From: Southern Spain
W203 C32 AMG
W203 key problems

Glyn, thanks for your reply, yes the chrome key is fine, the spare will unlock/lock remotely, start the engine & drive but nothing else is energized, non of these work- rev counter, wipers, horn, cd etc, I've tested the IR output with a camera & it unlocks the car, it's like a get-you-home mode - any ?
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 10:22 AM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The key for some reason is not accomplishing a complete handshake with the EIS. Very, very strange. First time I've ever encountered this. I'm sure a new key will fix it - reprogramming the old key might. You talk about a Chrome key? Is the other one plain black plastic & are both original? C32's to SA did not have chrome keys so I wonder if it is a replacement. Do you know the history?

It is almost as though the spare key has been programmed as a service key except the things it is cutting out make no sense. Maybe in Europe some cars second keys were programmed as minimum function service keys.

Anyway - a new key or reprogrammed key will fix it but it is a bit of a pain with Benz security. The dealer will have to send it in with all the checks that you are the owner of the car.

Good luck!
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 01:44 PM
  #6  
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Saab 900 SE
Sounds like Valet mode to me, is that an original key? Have you tried driving over like 30?
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 01:49 PM
  #7  
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Yes - it could be a valet coded key but cutting wipers would seem stupid.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 03:25 PM
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From: Southern Spain
W203 C32 AMG
W203 key problem

Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Think I'll go down the old key or new key reprogram route, my local MB money vacuum shouldn't try it on this time, the last visit was a battle over the cash register.........they had the car 4 times before managing to fit new pads n discs, the original price was £716.00 all in..... I actually paid £275.00 after various requests to see the MD & asking whom was going to take responsibility for not having checked the spares had arrived prior to calling me to drop the car into them 4 times in 2 months!!!!! GOOD RESULT eventually!
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