Yet another won't-start thread
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: New York City
08 C300 Sport
Yet another won't-start thread
my 08 c300 with 44k has an intermittent problem which is driving me up the wall
occasionally i'll put the key in, turn, and......nothing. radio goes on, etc, but it does not crank. usually i have to take the key all the way out and put it back in or screw around with it for a few minutes to get it to crank.
lately it's been occurring more and more often.
reminds me of the crappy old volvo i had in college! but for that i had to go to a junkyard and pick up a relay, the benz is under warranty till june...
i just want to make sure there's not some easy fix or something i'm doing wrong. it seems like a common issue with this model and year and there's a service bulletin for the "electronic ignition switch" but i doubt the dealer will bother doing anything until it comes in completely dead on a flatbed!
occasionally i'll put the key in, turn, and......nothing. radio goes on, etc, but it does not crank. usually i have to take the key all the way out and put it back in or screw around with it for a few minutes to get it to crank.
lately it's been occurring more and more often.
reminds me of the crappy old volvo i had in college! but for that i had to go to a junkyard and pick up a relay, the benz is under warranty till june...
i just want to make sure there's not some easy fix or something i'm doing wrong. it seems like a common issue with this model and year and there's a service bulletin for the "electronic ignition switch" but i doubt the dealer will bother doing anything until it comes in completely dead on a flatbed!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 47
From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
Sounds like the EIS problem. I recorded video of the issue on my phone and took the car to the dealership. They noted that I had video on the work order, but were unable to reproduce the problem. They offered to have me leave the car for an undetermined amount of time so a Tech could drive it around and take it home. I declined. It is a $2000 fix if out of warranty so make sure they document it prior to your warranty expiring. Make sure you bring both keys.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
First time no crank
my 08 c300 with 44k has an intermittent problem which is driving me up the wall
occasionally i'll put the key in, turn, and......nothing. radio goes on, etc, but it does not crank. usually i have to take the key all the way out and put it back in or screw around with it for a few minutes to get it to crank.
lately it's been occurring more and more often.
reminds me of the crappy old volvo i had in college! but for that i had to go to a junkyard and pick up a relay, the benz is under warranty till june...
i just want to make sure there's not some easy fix or something i'm doing wrong. it seems like a common issue with this model and year and there's a service bulletin for the "electronic ignition switch" but i doubt the dealer will bother doing anything until it comes in completely dead on a flatbed!
occasionally i'll put the key in, turn, and......nothing. radio goes on, etc, but it does not crank. usually i have to take the key all the way out and put it back in or screw around with it for a few minutes to get it to crank.
lately it's been occurring more and more often.
reminds me of the crappy old volvo i had in college! but for that i had to go to a junkyard and pick up a relay, the benz is under warranty till june...
i just want to make sure there's not some easy fix or something i'm doing wrong. it seems like a common issue with this model and year and there's a service bulletin for the "electronic ignition switch" but i doubt the dealer will bother doing anything until it comes in completely dead on a flatbed!
And now it's doing it with the new key which proves it's the car after all. I may have two weeks of warranty remaining so back I go next week.
28700 miles, BTW.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 5
LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
Ah, yes. My '08 started doing this a few months ago so I switched keys for three weeks to prove whether it was my key or the car. No trouble with my second key so my dealer replaced the first key, no questions asked.
And now it's doing it with the new key which proves it's the car after all. I may have two weeks of warranty remaining so back I go next week.
28700 miles, BTW.
And now it's doing it with the new key which proves it's the car after all. I may have two weeks of warranty remaining so back I go next week.
28700 miles, BTW.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 85
From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
RLE, when they replaced your one key, did they give you the new style? So you had one new style, one old style?
Mine doesnt happen that often but it has happened at least 4 times since ownership. I can just see the problem becoming more common once I am out of warranty
Mine doesnt happen that often but it has happened at least 4 times since ownership. I can just see the problem becoming more common once I am out of warranty
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
RLE, when they replaced your one key, did they give you the new style? So you had one new style, one old style?
Mine doesnt happen that often but it has happened at least 4 times since ownership. I can just see the problem becoming more common once I am out of warranty
Mine doesnt happen that often but it has happened at least 4 times since ownership. I can just see the problem becoming more common once I am out of warranty
I just discovered yesterday that the warranty covers the keys for the first 90 days of ownership only which must mean that my dealer paid for it.
