drs1heart

HAVING NO START ISSUE C350 2008, EVERTHING CHECKED, BATTERY AND FUSES, INDICATORS LIGHTS DONT COME ON.....TURN KEY, WONT START!!!! WHAT WLSE CAN I DO? ...BEFORE I GO TO DEALER, DEAD IN DRIVEWAY...

Big Daddy

Check battery voltage, if thats ok, you are stuck with the dealer option

blumgart586

I have the same issue. My two keys do the same, unlock the steering wheel, all indicators work. Can turn to position I & II, but wont crank when I turn all the way. Checked all fuses, swapped starter relay, battery is a few months old and is fully charged.


C230K, 170kmi


Thanks in advance,

drs1heart

I had towed to mb dealer today. ..will wait to see what they say

drs1heart

Response: Still wont start TOWED TODAY...

HawaiianC350

try turning your steering wheel and turn your ignition. Your steering wheel may be too tightly turned, especially if you like to use your wheel as a handle when exiting your car. Something to do with some kind of pin in the column.

illlojik

Happened to me 3 weeks ago. The Fiance and I were stuck downtown Brooklyn all night. Roadside sent someone to give me a jump even though I told them to send a flatbed because I suspected it was the ignition. Sure enough, jumping the car didn't work because I already had power. It was too late to find a Flatbed so the car stayed there overnight, accumulated tickets and was towed the next day.
Dealer quoted me $1400, I *****ed to MBUSA headquarters and they got the dealer to reduce it (paid them?) $1000.

My complaint was that this is a known issue and no recall was done because they feel it's not a safety issue?

Long story short I traded the car in the next weekend for a F30 328i Sport.

MajikTom

Well it's covered on extended warranty. I didn't pay a cent. (Steering column lock, anti-theft and new key programming).

They should recall this, but I suppose someone has to die before that happens....

drs1heart

SO, ITS APPARENTLY NOT THE EIS(ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH) , BUT I HAVE TO REPLACE STEERING LOCKS, ANOTHER $300.00

drs1heart

MIND YOU I ALREADY PAID $1200 FOR THE EIS TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T START........

gnueliafnak

Try this. I remember I had the same issue on a non MB car. Something with the steering wheel locking up when its shut down and not straight.

Don't force it but jimmy it left and right.

drs1heart

Looking back, that actually worked about 7 mos ago, when I got stuck at the post office.....called for a tow, waited an hour or more ( in the rain), tow truck came and I jimmyed the steering wheel just a bit to show the guy what the problem was and the car started right up..he followed me home safely...I should've known then......O Well......my technician is just going to order new steering locks and this should fix my problem.....since he's already replaced the ignition switch....

CarrieC

Unfortunately joining the "won't start" club. 09 C300 L 61k. Wife sat listening to radio waiting for a about 15 minutes and car wouldn't start. Called for tow, he jumped it, started then loaded it up left it running and took to dealer. Dealer runs diagnostic for $110 checked found ok. Failed to start twice since. Jumped once and it started. The second time looked at the battery and added a little Distilled water to all cells which were low. No corrosion, very clean, tight connections. Interesting to note the battery is a AAA 94R-C lead acid so not original. Trickle charge for 6 hours and fired right up. After sitting over night battery reads 13.75-13.9V. Starting drops to 10.2V. Running 13.8-14.2V. Dealer shows checks for parasitic draw with negative results. Wife is ready to trade but I am trying to remain optimistic. Nicest looking and handling car we have ever owned and bought it for the positive aspects of MB reputation. I have a 96 Jeep XJ with 260k that has never left me stranded anywhere that I can actually work on. What was I thinking?

drs1heart

HI BIG DADDY
SO I GO TO PICK UP MY 08 C350 , THE ESL & EIS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AREN'T WORKING AND I SEE THIS NEW MESSAGE ON THE DASH" AUTOMATIC LIGHT INOPERATIVE" OR SOMETHING LIKE LIKE THAT......, SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I LEFT IT WITH MY DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO FIX IT!!!!! I JUST SPENT $2000......AND I DON'T HAVE WIPERS?!!! REALLY??!!!

CarrieC

Feeling your pain1 heart. Picked ours up yesterday and near as I can tell, I just spent $331USD for a battery. IF that does it I don't mind so much. If it doesn't....

gaiex

Your problem is a dealer error, something not programed right!

By the way, since it was me that open this thread in 2007, last week, after some times without problems, my car wouldn't start, well, it started and then it turned off the engine!!!
Called MB 24h assist, they called me a tow truck and the car went to my dealer.

Two days later the problem was solved... at least for now, the key was not working!
Got the replacement key and the car is ok!

CarrieC

Does the dealer have a specific test protocol or device to test the key gaiex? Planning for future failures here. Is there a time change recommendation for batteries in the smartkey and if so does it seem to help?

gaiex

Just when it doesn't work test with new batteries, if not something is wrong, and then comes the gamble... EZS, fuse box or something it calls, etc...
My car got all of those since 2007, now time for a new key as a first!