NO CRANK NO START
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 1
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NO CRANK NO START
So today, I went to the store before work to get breakfast, and came home. Everything worked fine. I shut the car off, went inside for 45 minutes, came outside to crank it up and leave… the mileage on the dash shows up, the bell chimes and the interior lights come on, yet the radio remains dark. When I try to turn it all the way over literally NOTHING happens no whirs form the motor, no starter cranking nothing. The battery has 12.5V and I have a brand new backup I tried just in case. Any ideas would be appreciated !
Member
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 225
Likes: 29
From: Pennsylvania, US
2008 C300 4Matic
So today, I went to the store before work to get breakfast, and came home. Everything worked fine. I shut the car off, went inside for 45 minutes, came outside to crank it up and leave… the mileage on the dash shows up, the bell chimes and the interior lights come on, yet the radio remains dark. When I try to turn it all the way over literally NOTHING happens no whirs form the motor, no starter cranking nothing. The battery has 12.5V and I have a brand new backup I tried just in case. Any ideas would be appreciated !
Another fairly common thing is the shift linkage can get stuck. Try shifting out of park into neutral, and then firmly put it into park again. See if that makes a difference.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 52
Likes: 46
From: Central NY (315)
'18 E63S Sedan - PA1 'Orange Pearl Metallic'
Possible EIS/ESL failure. Unfortunately very common on W204, worth looking into further to determine if that's the culprit.
Almost certainly the issue if you are not hearing the typical 'click' sound when inserting your key fob. Here's a video of the noise for reference: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=402187247689005
Almost certainly the issue if you are not hearing the typical 'click' sound when inserting your key fob. Here's a video of the noise for reference: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=402187247689005
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Tx
2012 MB C250
Same issue here!
Unfortunately, my car’s ESL locked so i removed it myself (Oct ‘24), since then i’ve manually started my car by the starter fuse, but eventually 2 wks ago it completely died, to include draining all power from my battery, i didn’t hear any clicks from my starter, & worth mentioning my car constantly leaked oil. I just replaced my old starter motor today but i have to juice my battery before i try again, i’m doubtful i fixed my troubles tbh. I’ve researched there’s plenty of culprits to cause for a “no crank” to a W204, i.e. oil leaks, fuse, electrical, alternator, just to name a few *sigh. So i hope this helps, pls lmk if you share my troubles; i’ll follow your thread. Good luck!
Last edited by elpasotuner; Jan 29, 2025 at 12:23 AM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 225
Likes: 29
From: Pennsylvania, US
2008 C300 4Matic
Unfortunately, my car’s ESL locked so i removed it myself (Oct ‘24), since then i’ve manually started my car by the starter fuse, but eventually 2 wks ago it completely died, to include draining all power from my battery, i didn’t hear any clicks from my starter, & worth mentioning my car constantly leaked oil. I just replaced my old starter motor today but i have to juice my battery before i try again, i’m doubtful i fixed my troubles tbh. I’ve researched there’s plenty of culprits to cause for a “no crank” to a W204, i.e. oil leaks, fuse, electrical, alternator, just to name a few *sigh. So i hope this helps, pls lmk if you share my troubles; i’ll follow your thread. Good luck!
While what you’re doing does work to bypass the ESL, I strongly recommend you actually take the time to replace the system, or at least bypass it with an actual kit rather than jumping the car. That’s meant to be used maybe once strictly to drive it to somewhere it can be fixed, and that’s it.
