Wild1

Hello all and thank you for allowing me to be a member.
I have just purchased a 2001 Mercedes C200 estate with the w203 chassis. The car seems to be in immaculate condition but for a few smaller issues.

The clock will not stay on time and keeps resetting to 12:00 after I remove the key, why is this? And how to fix it?

There is a warning on the center console on the clock saying Restraint System Visit Workshop SRS, the workshop said don't worry and reset it but it has come on again, what is the cause of this and how to fix it?

Is there an auxiliary battery on this car because I can't find it?

The workshop reckons it will cost at least 9000$ to fix so I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions please.

LexBrett2

the fuse for srs could be blown, it's in the engine compartment, worth checking!!

Wild1

Thanks for this I will check, I believe it is fuse 45 and 49

insame1

chances are the srs module under the seat is bad and draining your battery thus the clock not staying.

C230 Sport Coup

Yeah, I was going to say the battery.
Any issue with the SRS, ie modules, airbags, etc.
will cause SRS error.
I think insame1 meant to say the seat modules drain the battery.

The only way to know the root cause is via Mercedes Star ie SDS.
So they want 9K to fix it? geez. Did they provide a printout, or did they do a
diagnostic? Ask for the printout.

Wild1 update your profile to include location.
Obviously you're not in the US since we never had C200.

Wild1

Many thanks for the replies,
Here is what I know so far;
I Have had the car for less than one week,
Immediately the SRS warning came on,
The workshop did a computer reset,
The previous owner said the clock was draining the battery so has had it removed from the backup batteries some time ago.
The previous owner said the SRS warning has been coming on for the last 3 years but says nothing to worry about.
The drivers side seat was not working on the buttons when I bought the car and the workshop did some wiring they said, now it is working again,
The car is an import from UK and I am in Malaysia. It is a C Class estate.
It is my first mercedes I know nothing I do not have any books on it,
I have spent the last week reading various forums getting more and more confused, but yes still searching to try to understand what is happening and how to fix it.
The SRS warning came on this time after I tried to start the car, I turned the engine one time then I let go the key because I had forgotten something, then when I started the car the warning came on.
The workshop say to replace the centre metre cluster to repair the clock will cost 6000 and the SRS will cost 9000 the cost is almost what i paid for the car and extremely expensive. Now I am trying to at least get some clarification as what could be the problem and what to do with it.
I have read about the seat modules draining battery and now am concerned maybe this is why the drivers side seat was not working and I have had it rewired back again.
I have also ready the you cannot simply disconnect the main battery.
I have read there should be an auxiliary battery but I cannot find it or reference to it. Although the clock must run on something when the car is switched off.
It is a 2001 model car with the w203 chassis.
I will continue to search as suggested but difficult to know what I am searching for. Sorry ifs my post is too basic.
I also have checked the fuses as suggested in an earlier reply, they are ok.

Stephen

C230 Sport Coup

Clock? What clock? In the center console? Thats total BS.
Fact is these cars are constantly running diagnostics on themselves, even when the car isn't running. Over time, the battery would go dead no matter what after, heck I dunno, a month or 2.
Only SD printout will tell you what the issue with the SRS is.
Find another shop. These guys are crooks!
Yeah, likely a bad seat module and someone rewired to not turn on unless the car is on. Lots of threads on that. And your idiots guys just put it back.
Bad seat module will drain a battery OVERNIGHT. So glad I had manual seats.
Even in Malaysia, you should be able to find used parts to resolve your issues.
What is a centre metre cluster ? You mean like this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Mercede...JX5KGr&vxp=mtr

Never heard of this draining a battery...not once. Been on the forums 15 years.
Whats the date code on your battery? Get it tested. Not sure about Malaysia but here any auto parts store will do it for free.

Wild1

Many thanks for your frank reply, yes the eBay link you sent is the meter cluster that I am referring too and yes the clock I am referring to is the digital clock in the bottom of that.
I totally agree the workshop is a bunch of morons, however even though I asked them about the battery they wouldn't tell me where it is. I have found the main battery in the passenger side bulkhead under the cockpit air filter it cannot find the auxiliary battery, where is this located?
Thanks again for your response replies

Stephen

C230 Sport Coup

There isn't one! Our ML350 has one but the C-Class doesn't

Wild1

Thanks for this I now wonder what they have supposedly disconnected on the clock because it still works but just keeps resetting itself after the key is removed.
Anyway this is no big issue really but sort of would be nice to get everything working as it should be. The climate control unit is not working properly either I have discovered and again the quote was another 9000 bucks to repair becaus have to remove the whole dashboard they say. I have found in eBay the exact same unit so it only needs fitting and there must be a way to do this cheaper then 9000 bucks. I know the car is old but it is sound in every other way just a few minor issues I thought but not minor at these prices.

insame1

You might as well pay me $8000 to fly where ever you are and let me punch you in the face. You need to find a different shop to take your car to. I would be surprised if they didn't cause at least one of your problems. In short don't even consider giving these morons any money. Let alone 9k.

LexBrett2

i second that

LexBrett2

did you check the fuse?? Srs light automatically comes on if power source is not on / when bad fuse computer thinks no power and sends the warning light

Wild1

Yes the fuses are good and yes I have realized the the garage is a rip off. We only went to see them for a quote because the previous owner used to use this workshop.
And yes we will be taking it to another workshop for another check.
I may be old but not stupid.

C230 Sport Coup

Did the question of "how old is the battery?" ever get answered?
A battery on the way out will cause a myriad of weird problems.
And amazingly, a few people around here are just replacing it for the 1st time.

Wild1

Ok good point I have not asked the previous owner this.

Thanks

C230 Sport Coup

Should be a date code on the battery.
Where are you anyway?
Here in the states, any auto parts store will test your battery.
As there is no backup battery, the clock getting reset every day, + all the wierd problems....it could just be the stupid battery!
Do you have electric seats? Lot of threads on the seat module draining the battery,
search around and have a read. Me? I have manual seats...and on purpose!

Focus on those 2 things, forget those crooks at the workshop.
Battery & seat modules. The clock is draining the battery...
what A holes.
These cars are designed to do wierd things when the battery gets low...
it will shut off what it considers uneccessary systems, like the radio, and other stuff, kinda like the human body cuts off blood the extremities when you are freezing to death, to keep the core warm.
The cars do the same thing.
I never waited for a battery to get that bad before replacing, so I haven't experienced it. But I've read about here a lot. Things get real weird when the battery is going.
Systems shutting down, erroneous errors...and on and on.