Hi can anyone help with this problem please, I have a c180 w203 which has developed a starting problem.

when I insert the key every thing lights and works as it should apart from the w/p (winter/park) indicator light.

With the ignition on and w/p indicated in two yellow boxes on dash I turn key to crank = car starts with no problems.

With the ignition on and NO w/p indicated, just two yellow boxes on dash I turn key to crank = dead, no cranking.

I have to then take out the key and insert it a number of times until the W/P indicates in the yellow boxes on the dash and the car cranks and starts.

has anyone else had this problem or does anyone know what it could be. any advice would be very much appreciate.

Many thanks Tony

 

Would you be able to post a video? We could be much more help then

 

Hi, thanks for the reply, I will post a video in the next day or two.

Many thanks Tony

 

Hi All, I haven't managed to get a video of this problem yet however it happened again today.
Turned on ignition all lights came on except the the W P letters (winter park) on the dash, car would not crank.
I kept removing the key and inserting the key turning to start each time. after about the 25 time the letters W P came on the dash and the car cranked and started ok.

Today this happened nearly every time I parked the car.

seems to run fine for weeks then plays up.
does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this.
many thanks Tony

 

The ignition lock and the gear selector is connected to the ECU-TCU CAN bus. If there is a communication problem when powering up, the gear selector position can not be established, this would explain both your problems. Have you experienced any problems changing gear position once started?

Check the wiring from the selector, and possibly try replacing the selector with another (used) unit.

 

Hi Thanks for the reply,
Had no problem changing gear when the engine is running, but when the wp lights are off it is locked in park. foot on brake and wont change until wp lights come on.

All the ignition lights came on for a split second while driving the other day, the car seemed to miss a heart beat and all was fine again.

 

Hi all,

I am having problem starting my car first thing in morning
once it starts it is fine for the rest of the day

its a c class Avantgarde c220 cdi 2004.
I put key in , turn it , all lights come on dashboard EXEPT the glow plug light (curly yellow light) I have to keep turning the key in the ignition on and off for about 10-30 minutes then all of the sudden the glow plug light comes on and everything is perfectly fine from then on
before it comes on while the key in ignition on 2 position with all the lights on EXEPT the glow plug light (curly yellow light).
My opinion is that I have trouble with the ecu board, I have checked in a service and they have indicated to go replace the ECU board is any possibility in order to repair the ecu board or any electronic schema that in order to check the ecu board.

can some1 help please???

 

Had the same issue with my mates car, its the ignotion control unit under the dash not a cheap fix cost him $1200 the dash board has to come off.

 

Hi I have managed to get a small video clip (not very good) of the problem.
You can see the two yellow boxes on the dash, the car will not start until the W&P are displayed in the boxes.

It takes around 5-6 attempts before the letters come on in the boxes.
Today the car has been stuck on my drive all day. it wont start at all.

All the dash lights come on as they should except the w&p inside the yellow boxes.




Help...has anyone got any ideas please.

 

The problem is very likely with the ignition lock as marto13 says. The ignition lock is the link between the ECU/TCU CAN bus and the cluster iirc.

You will have to take it to a shop with Star diagnosis and possibly have the ignlock replaced. But diagnose first!

 

Hello thanks for the reply,

I managed to get it on the computer and it turned out to be a relay.

Starts and everything runs fine with the new relay in.

pop the old one back in and the problem is back.

Thanks again regards Tony

 

Hi Tony
Could you please tell us which relay unit was that you changed?
It would be useful in case any of us encounter the same problem
in the future.
Shan.

 

Hi Shan,

The relay is in the N10/1 Sam driver

Relay K next to fuse 57.

Regards Tony

 

Thanks for coming back to us Tony. Just had a relay failure on a friend's car.

 

Hi Glyn, I'm relieved it turned out to be just a relay, I was sweating for a while.

By the way, Thanks for your advice about my gearbox vibration problem a few months back.

As suggested, I had it flushed, new oil & filter, new rad. and every thing is working fine.

Kind regards Tony

 

Good news!

 

Relays come in different colour (black, grey, yellow) and size (large & small). The relay (Relay K next to fuse 57 in frontSAM) in question here is the small black relay. Mercedes-Benz part# 002-542-11-19 that list for $15 USD at your local MB dealership. It sells for $7.49 at Glyn's favourite online parts store:

http://www.rmeuropean.com/search.asp...=002-542-11-19


Another example of looking for the cheapest fix first,....

 

I had exactly the OP's issue of the traction control mode indicator not coming on when the car wouldn't start and the indicator (S/W) showing when the car would.

Sure glad for everyone's help on this problem. It's been plaguing me for a week. I had thought the front SAM was bad, but swapping the K relay worked.

 

i have the c-240 2002 no starter all light on dash come on engin blower motor come on when i try to start it. check starter its ok check fuse all ok. WDBRF61J52E003464 VIN. HI my name is leroy i just got this car

 

 

how did you solve the problem?

 

@leroy1 hasn’t been around since 2016. After his 2 posts he probably had to give the internet a break for a while.

Regardless, welcome from SoCal.