Ok, first problem on my w204,
Today morning I was shopping and at lunch time when going home I enter the car, put the key in, radio turns on, etc.. but the engine does nothing!!!
I have power, but the engine is like it was dead! not starter engine nothing!

I call MB 24h service and after a while on phone I tried another time and it started!

The only warning message I had was "ESP and tyre pressure system not working" well, it was not working, it was something else I can remember/translate.

Happened with someone else?

I also called a MB technician friend of mine and monday I will put the car on MB, He sayed that coul be the CAN circuit or the auto transmission with some fail!

At least I was near home!

 

I had tried to also start my auto tranny C class and it had done nothing... I tought I had my foot on the gas by mistake or something that would force the programming of the car to not start. So I took my feet off all the pedals, took my seat belt off, took the key out, open and closed the door, and restarted. Worked for me... Only problem that I have ran across with my new C class... Sounds like we had the same thing... yours just slightly more severe.

-Mike

 

Does the car in question (in Portugal) use the same remote lock/unlock as US cars? Otherwise what works here might be irrelevant.

As a meaningless anecdote, when my '95 C280 was new, it did the same thing and the fault was the contact in the driver's door lock that operated the starter interlock. Replacement of that component solved the problem.

It's sounds like whatever activates the starter cutout in the new model's alarm system is malfunctioning. A dealer will fix it under warranty.

 

Did you took the car to the dealer

 

I went today to the dealer and he connected the car to DAS, and it had alot of errors!!

It seams that its a CAN bus problem!!

The solution... wait to see if happens again, and compare the errors to find out in which component the error was started!
There isn't a specific component error, but a bunch of error from many components!

It seams that I'm the first one with the problem!

I will be posting

PS: There was allready one service action for my car requested by the factory, the AC belt pollie. (My dealer didn't know what was the problem with that!)

 

If I see many errors my mind runs to the simple, like a loose connection at the battery.

 

I'm getting several message errors, but an new one every time!

Oil level, folding rear seats, tyre pressure, etc...

I'm going to the dealer tomorrow to check at least the oil level!

 

this happened to me today! any update on what the cause was for u?

 

There is a MB call service for this problem, but my car is not in the lot of cars called!!!

The problem looks like it is in the ignition module, its the EZS unit, and it will be replaced and both keys also.

In my car, because of transportations protests in Europe, It wasn't fixed when I had my car in for the first service, there was no parts delivery here!

Next week I will leave the car at the dealer again to change the EZS unit. Hope it will be fixed for good!

 

+1

 

This has happened to me too!!!! it happens all the time....like everything will work but it doesnt turn over...and i have to wait 20 minutes or so and then it will just start whenever it feels like

 

No problems here

 

I had a similar issue with my E430. It got to where about every 10 - 15th start the engine would turn about a half a revolution and then nothing. After a while it would start. As it turned out my tech dropped the starter and coated the starter and ring gears with anti-seize grease and the problem was solved. It was a friction issue, when extra amps was required to turn the engine over, the computer detected it and shut everything down. Needless to say it was a much cheaper fix. At some point there was a service bulletin on this from MB.

 

OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI)
Service Bulletins - Search Results
4 Record(s) Displayed.

Report Date : June 16, 2008 at 12:38 AM
Search Type : VEHICLE
Year : 2008
Make : MERCEDES
Model : C300
Make : MERCEDES Model : C300 Year : 2008
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

1)
Service Bulletin Number : P-B-32.25/63 Date of Bulletin : APR 28, 2008
NHTSA Item Number : 10024884
Component : SUSPENSION:REAR
Summary :
MERCEDES BENZ MODEL C300, C350 - THUMPING/KNOCKING NOISE FORM THE AREA OF THE REAR AXLE OVER BUMPS. *NJ

2)
Make : MERCEDES Model : C300 Year : 2008
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Number : 2008020003 Date of Bulletin : MAR 01, 2008
NHTSA Item Number : 10024635
Component : ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Summary :
MODEL C300 & C350, MODEL YEAR 2008 - REPLACE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH. *NJ

3)
Make : MERCEDES Model : C300 Year : 2008
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Number : 2007110003 Date of Bulletin : DEC 01, 2007
NHTSA Item Number : 10023858
Component : SUSPENSION:REAR
Summary :
MODEL C300, C350, MODEL YEAR 2008 - CHECK CROSS MEMBER AT REAR AXLE CARRIER. *NJ

4)
Make : MERCEDES Model : C300 Year : 2008
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Number : 2007100001 Date of Bulletin : OCT 01, 2007
NHTSA Item Number : 10023778
Component : STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Summary :
MODEL C300 4MATIC, MY 2008 --REMOVAL OF STRUTS BETWEEN FRONT SUBFRAME AND FRAME RAIL. *NJ

 

DONE and still have the problem!!!

PS: the engine doesn't show any signs of activity when this happen, its an electric problem, not mechanic!

 

Ok, problem still there (didn't bothered to go to the dealer till now, no much free time to do it) and I have a new problem, maybe this will help those dumb asses.
Like Moviela sayed, this could make some sense, since this happened today!
Car was runing, started ok and then, battery ligth ON!!!
What is the meaning of the ligth, weak battery?

 

I've got the same problem with the ignition....took it to the dealer and they said they had fixed it...later on the next day the same thing happened again...looked at the work order and it doesnt mention anything about them fixing the igniton...i've emailed the SA...we'll see what they have to say...

 

I agree with other forumers that it might cause by a borderline-weak battery.

The battery was strong enough to power the radio and such, unstable enough to cause other electronic components to throw some error codes, and too weak to start the engine.

Before letting the dealer tearing apart the car, I would suggest to simply replacing the battery first for troubleshooting.

Just a thought. Best luck,

With best regards,

 

rarely, my 2008 c350 wont start after nserting the key into the ignition and turning the key. every thing else seems normal, just no engine cranking.

if i turn the key back off, remove it from the ignition, wait a few seconds, then try again it works... i'm gonna report it at the first service since it's easy to fix...

 

Same happened to me on Sunday after parking the car.
Switched on, but no starter. Then I realise it's not properly in Park position.Foot on brake re-position to Park. Switch on, no starter.
>Switch ignition key off completely, then it started. My mistake.

 

Thats what I was thinking too, but sometimes I also do it, and have no results!

Its other thing...

I didn't wonder that the US cars where having the same problem, and it looks like its not the ignition switch EZS problem, its something else MB didn't found out yet!

 

i thought i was the only one who had problems with my C. well first off my check engine turned on due to a bad magnet camshaft b sensor. took it to the dealer and they fixed it. picked it up and once i got home the check engine turned right back on. i called mb and they said to bring it in, once i arrived to the dealer it turned off. i asked my friend who works at the mb dealer and he said that the new c has issues with there camshaft sensor which they would not be able to replace all of them if one goes bad. but does it make sense if they replace all of them if they know that they are having problems? well i drove my car home since the check engine turned off and after a couple of days my check engine light started flashing! the car also had a bad idle and was really struggling. I finally pulled over and had the car towed to the dealer. Once i arrived to the dealer the car would not start any more and it said the same thing about the ESP innoperative. Well the mb dealer that i took it too said that they would not be able to warranty the work since my ecu was not sending any signals and i had wires running through my rear fuse box for my sound system. Which has nothing to do with it and they blamed it on my HID which had nothing also to do with the problem. so i towed my car to another dealer and hopefully they would fix it..

 

Thats bad news. I hope you removed the wires running through the fuse box before turning up to the new dealer.

 

THATS because i had the same ESP inop happen to me to and i took it in....car would not start and then i called MB Roadside.....then MB of walnut creek and took it in the next day. they said they reflashed the sys yada yada yada, but has not happened again.

 

dude i took it to mb of walnut creek to and they were telling me that they would have to void my warranty so i took it out and took it to another dealer bro