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Okay old guy here and have not been around the MB club since 1990....
intermittent no crank, key in fine ESL pulls lock key turns fine till crank position then no crank, only once in a while, chase my tail for while with suggestions on the forum relay fuse check etc etc etc all leading in the wrong direction of course no logic diagrams so here is what I figured out, (1) key in key recognized by EIS (2) EIS allows power to the ESL (3) signal back from ESL to EIS okay to proceed with start.........
Finally got down to pulling the EIS and replaced it (yes had it programed) all worked fine after that for a day or two then problem back! Hmmmmmmmm so that was a $500.00 not necessary move, what I found was the ESL was pulling but the return signal to the EIS was the intermittent fault $25.00 later on eBay I picked up a ESL emulator and installed BINGO all is good... When the Chinese start mass producing a part (emulator) to fix this problem you have to sit up and take notice, this is a common problem with ALL W203 types if not even more models,
2001 C240 (W203) just purchased. Had been boosted many many times. Has new battery. Intermittent. Some time starts and runs fine with everything working. Other times will start rune and drive, but message message comes up "turn lights off" and windows, speedo, fuel gauge, and turn signals do not function. other times key will turn but no start or key will not turn when teh steering lock is not released . Can hear steering lock activate on key in and key out 90% of time.
After days of looking on this forum I am thinking Ignition module is going, but reluctant to replace based on Aeronca100 post and reading about the front and rear SAM problems.
Anyone have any advice. If it is the Ignition I will pull and send with key to have refurbished so I do not have to have MB recode car. Dealer is about 100 miles away.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
