Car won't start
 

Hi,
A few weeks ago I was driving my C180 w203 2006 and my SO connected the cigarette lighter usb charger to charge her phone. But when she did it the car gave me a lot of different error codes regarding the brakes, cooling system and more. So I deciced to pull off the car to check it, but I couldn't see anything wrong and when I tried to start it, it wouldn't even crank the engine. But the lights and dashboard works fine.

I checked the fuse and battery and I can't see anything wrong with them.
So I took the car to a MB mechanic and they told me that they could see that it was something wrong with the ESP and possibly something more. But that they had to change the ESP to continue looking for errors.

The biggest problem is that they want to charge me about $2000 to replace it and it could cost even more if they find more problems.

Have you guys been in a similar situation?
Was changing the ESP the solution?
Is the ESP dependent of the cars VIN? Or is it safe to buy an used one?


Dale

Sounds like they wanted your money. Go to an independent MB mechanic with STAR and have it looked at.

I went to an independent mechanic first, but they received too many error messages and they recommended me to take the car to MB.

Any other ideas before I try to sell the car for almost nothing? :(

Well, where are you located?
Does the car start now?
ESP has nothing to do with getting the car to start, and the associated sensors list for
a small fortune but can be had used for a song. For instance, I have a spare Yaw sensor, the one in the trunk I could sell you for about 10% of the list price. To answer your question, no I don't think ESP is the answer. What parts were they going to replace?
Whats the voltage on the battery?
Get any big rain storms lately?

Failing batteries cause lots of weird problems. How old is the battery? Did you try getting a jump start?
And twice I've had my car die after a big rain storm only to fix itself after everything dried out.

Have them clear all the errors, and start fresh.

Very odd....plugging a phone into the cig lighter killing the car. Like I said, start with the battery.

Post the errors from the star printout, and the list of parts they planned to replace.

Home, wasn't willing to pay for the replacement. Specially since they indicated that more parts needed to be replaced.

They were just going to replace the ESP, but implied that more parts could be broken

Was above 12 last time I checked. 12.3 if my memory doesn't fail me.
No, the weather was fine when the car stopped working.

The battery should be at least 6-7 years. And we tried to jump start the car and it didn't work.
Which parts do you think is the one that needs to dry out?

Too late I think since the car is at home. Can I reset the errors without MB/special software/adapter?

I will as soon as I get home.

And thanks for relpying. I appreciate all the help I can get.

Really, you haven't changed the battery? :smash:

Why change something that is working?
So the battery could cause this kind of problem? (engine doesn't even crank)
Shouldn't MB know this kind of issue?
And could it still be the battery even though we tried to jump start the car?

It's not about the voltage it's about the cold cranking amps. and if the battery is shorted well that can cause all kinds of fun problems. Mercedes do a lot of weird things when the battery is dying. they operate like the human body cutting off the blood to the extremities when you get cold. It turns off various systems.
Maybe try disconnecting the battery entirely and connecting it to another battery. and shouldn't mb know about this? yes but they like your money! So that's why I asked about the battery first. at least for starters it probably had something to do with the battery. I'd be willing to bet the yours is done. Me personally I clear all the codes and put in a different battery that I know is good. a new battery on these cars has something like 950 cold cranking amps. maybe take the battery out and run it over to the nearest auto parts store they can test it for you. I almost bet money that it's bad

you need to try a fresh good battery . Mercedes are very sensitive and the battery may still operate all the lights Windows etc but not allow it to start