Hello everyone, my name is Neilla. I live in Oregon about half way between Portland and Salem. My car is a 2002 c240 manual. I love the car but I am starting to get upset. I’ve recently lost my job due to COVID (uhhhhh) but now I get to be a teacher to my 3 kids. Anyways. So I don’t really have the funds to take it to the dealer. And I want to learn to tend to my car on my own. So I’m hoping I can get some help.

I bought the car about a month ago. The car has some issues I am working on, it’s my project but I still drive it often. Anyways since day one I would get a message saying my steering wheel isn’t locked and my key fob buttons don’t work. Yes I went and had the battery changed but still can’t lock or unlock my car with the key fob. If I take the key out and try to manually lock still won’t lock. So I just lock the 3 other doors and call it good. At first I wouldn’t drive it cause that scared me. However, even with it not locking it doesn’t really move. So I’ve learned not to drive like a mad-woman. Which I have to add is difficult cause my car loves going fast. Ok anyways. So here’s the thing. Besides the steering wheel and they key fob I’ve had no issues with the car until about a week ago, I was driving I had my two daughters in the car. I noticed the door was slightly opened so I pulled over into a parking lot, put the car in neutral pushed the emergency brake got out opened the door and closed it. I got back in put my seat belt on pulled e-brake to release it then drove off. About 300 feet down the road I started getting messages saying Tele Aid SOS, low brake fluid, wear on brake pads, SRS and ABS light won’t shut off the e-brake light won’t shut off my high beam light won’t shut off they stay lite up on my dash. However my dash lights no longer work, I have no difference between my high and low beams they just stay on low. The temp on my dash reads 185 degrees that’s even if the car has sat overnight. My interior lights won’t stay on. My side mirrors no longer adjust, my sunroof won’t open, my wipers no longer work. THE SOS info light has started beeping twice for no reason.

I have checked fuses all good.
I have checked relays all good.
I have replaced battery in my key fob twice still doesn’t work.
I just had the battery tested and it’s good.
my brakes and the fluid are still good as well.

Does anyone have any ideas? Yes I do know I should go to the dealer but like I said, I just don’t have the funds for that right now.

 

Welcome to the forum. I moved your thread to the appropriate sub-forum. Hopefully you'll get the help you need.

 

How many miles are on your C-class? What kind of cosmetic condition is it in?

 

If you're going to keep this car and do repairs yourself you need a scanner that will read codes for the various systems. My "go to" scanner is an older Autel MD802 (around $100 on ebay). Plenty more options out there, this is just 1 that I've used for years.

Without codes, my internet guess is that you have (at least) a failing electronic ignition switch

 

Another one-post wonder. Time to move on!

 

I wonder how the description for that car read ... ' 2002 Mercedes... an original, well looked after 250 thousand miles... All of the warning lights are working perfectly.... Just needs some new washer fluid and a bit of TLC - Accepting only realistic offers '

problems 'from day one' - that sounds like a nightmare!

 

Yes, I do wonder wonder at times why peeps ask questions and then disappear???

 

Musta fixed it on her own

 

Right.

 

Sounds like the front SAM cooked due to someone connecting the positive after the ground line.

How does one drive around without working wipers?

In any case, sounds like a fun time trying to repair this one. Also not sure if she replaced the car battery as opposed to the fob battery.

 

I had no idea this was a thing and the last person to access my battery (prev owner or garage) had put the RED + plastic protector cover , over the negative side of the battery (is this a stealership tactic maybe?) (also one of the bolts was missing for the bracket haha) so me being new assumed that the right side was negative, so i disconnected it. Luckily i took so long to fix my oil pan that the battery was low on charge / already dead.. ONLY after removing the battery (heavy thing) and taking it inside did i notice the + on the right / - on the left when connecting my battery charger. I guess i got lucky for once as nothing was damaged. i dont even know what a SAM is, thanks! Found a nice video on it: