Mercedes C180K SE Classic, 4 door saloon, Auto, 2002 reg. Great car love driving it, but 2 days ago the following occurred:


Unlocked the car got in put the key in ignition, turned to engine on, engine started but lost most of electrics, i.e dash display, indicators, wipers, cruise control, electric windows, fan, air con, steering wheel controls. Head Lights, brake lights and internal cabin lights work but that's about it.


So I turned engine off and turned key to position before engine start and all electrics are fine, everything works but as soon as I turn key to next position,(engine start) electrics go off again.


After turning off and removing key and trying once more every thing was ok, i.e engine on and all electrics working. So drove to work parked up, came out after work put key in and same problem, turned off and on 3 times and everything ok, drove home parked up, next morning same problems again, but this time after turning on and off about 20 times all electrics stayed off, ahhhhhhhhhhhh.


Left it for a day and next day tried again, same problem but managed to get it all working after 5 attempts.


Have checked all fuses and relays in cabin, engine bay and boot all look ok, no corrosion as far as I can see and its now driving me up the wall.


Have taken it to a Mercedes specialist, they run a diagnostics check, cleared errors run diagnostics again, came up with errors re dash, he had dash out powered it down put dash back in, ran diagnostics again, still said error, started engine and everything was working, turn it off and on again about 20 times all working ok.


I then drove the car turned it off and on again twice, all ok, drove to work parked it up, came out after work and back to square 1, engine on but electrics die. Drove home with stopping and starting engine at least 15 times, still no joy, got home turn off engine, turned back on all electrics now working, turned off and on again and back to square 1-------grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Has anyone come across this problem and if so can you please offer advice. Thank you.

 

What were the codes that were reset? They should give you some hints where the issue is coming from. EIS is a common issue and could possibly cause issues as well as front SAM. Did it happen to be raining when you started having issues.

 

Phoned Mercedes technician said problem re occurred, he said he thinks its the instrument cluster, has advised me to get second hand one, (AS MAIN DEALER PRICE NEARLY £1000) and he will fit and run diagnostics again, have found right one for my car on ebay £45, will order on Monday

 

Unless he plans on doing some soldering that wont work. The IC's mileage can only be changed up to 1,000 miles or 1,000 Kilometers (can't remember which) so if you get a used one it will have more than that and not be able to be updated to your car. Now I have heard you can desolder a chip from your old one and move it to the new one it should work but that would need some further research.

 

Thank you very much for information, have ordered a replacement instrument cluster, (after much research on correct one for my car) hopefully have it fitted this weekend.