C320 won't start (again)
 

2001 C320 won't start (again) 3rd time in last two weeks...Here are the problems in a nutshell:

First time, doors would unlock but car wouldn't start. I was able to
turn the key back and forth in the ignition (and dashboard lights came
on) but just got a clicking sound so I knew the battery was dead. After jump-starting the car, we drove for 500 miles. We took it to a MB dealership, it checked OK for battery, starter and alternator.

Second time, last weekend, turned the car off for only about 15 minutes on the gas station. Remote
unlocked doors but no response from ignition. Key would not move
inside the ignition. Pulled the key out, retried a few more times
then it started.

Third time, the doors were unlocked (and I know I didn't leave them
unlocked, weird). The fob key would not lock/unlock doors and did not
move inside the ignition at all. No dashboard lights, no signs of life
at all. Completely dead.

Does anyone know what can be wrong? I appreciate your help. -Dali

Sounds like EIS failure.

I'd agree.

Yep! ~ unreliable handshake between Key & EIS. The key is inductively powered by the EIS so batteries in the key have nothing to do with this.

See start enable process in the Wiki.

EDIT ~ make sure that the IR window in the end of the key & in the EIS is clean. You can safely clean with a cotton bud & alcohol.

+1

One more question. If the EIS is malfunctioning, why is it more
likely to happen after the car sits for a while? And why doesn't it
happen every time we try to start it?

There's no real logic to it, honestly. If it's on the fritz, it will be very tempermental. It's like car menopause.

Lol nice way of putting it :rolf:

The only difference is you can still get some great use out of the car. :p:

I am a newbie but sounds just like what happened to me.. Damn power seat module thing was draining the battery... but I could be wrong. Jump it off and run like stink. Then it would drain the battery while sitting.

how da hell EIS go bad anyway?? :nix::nix:

Mercedes quality control.

Theory I've heard is these things have a lifespan. Who knows...

With as many EIS equipped cars as there are now - basically every Mercedes with only a few exceptions since 1998 - I'd say they've done pretty well.

How can I check what exactly is draining battery? Is there a such device to check fuses? Can I unplug something that I do not need?

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w203...-power-im.html

New battery and 20 AMP fuse solved the problem.

THANK YOU ALL!

Fuse 52 - Damn!

Another case of checking the easy and least expensive trouble-points first.

Glyn usually makes the call on Fuse 52,.... I don't know how he missed it this time,... but it just goes to show,... calling Fuse 52 is "not easy"! :rolleyes:

BTW,... the Chinese members of the forum should get it,... in Chinese the pronunciation of the number 5 sounds like the Chinese word for "not" and the pronunciation of the number 2 sounds like the Chinese word for "easy",.... thus saying "5 2" in Chinese would sounds like "not easy" in Chinese. I know, I know,.... :slap: :wwf: There, I beat you to it!

Yep! I have a fuse 52 warning in the start enable thread in the Wiki.

I'm travelling hence only sporadic log in.

I had this same problem in my 2001 c320 that i just got. Both keys wouldn't unlock the car and wouldn't turn in the ignition when we finally got the car unlocked. It would only work sometimes, like really late at night or really early in the morning but after those times I encountered the same problem. took it to the dealership, $1400 to fix.:eek:

SAME PROBLEM
 

I`M HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM... CAR SOME TIMES DOESNT RESPOND TO THE KEY AND SOMETIMES DOESNT START... HE ALSO DIED TWO TIMES IN THE STREET WHILE RUNNING, FEW HOURS LATER BACK TO NORMAL. ALREADY CHECKED FOR THE FUSE 52 AND IT SEEMS FINE...ANYONE?

C320 2001 W203