Car would not start!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
Car would not start!
After just over 2 years of ownership, I had my first major issue with the car yesterday.
I started the car in the morning, noticed the lights in the instrument cluster was dimmer than usual, without thinking too much, I put the car into reverse and the reverse camera did not engage. I then realised the whole Comand system was not ON and could not be turned ON manually. I drove for about 500 meters and hit the first set of traffic lights and got this wonderful idea of restarting the car in the hope that it would start the Comand system just like what you do when you have a computer problem and how wrong was I. The car would not start at all; the instrument cluster continue to light up, the climate control fan was functioning, and electrical windows were working too, but Comand was dead, engine would not start and even the bloody hazard lights wouldn't work! Great fun at a busy intersection during peak hour traffic!
I turned off everything completely and tried to start the car, multiple times, with zero luck, so I called roadside assistance and help arrived about 1 hour later. They also could not start the car, so they reconnected the battery, at which point, the car came back to life. They reckon it was an electrical failure and asked that I take the car to the dealer.
But after putting the car through the full health check at the dealership, every test passed and they also could not find any error code stored in the onboard computer.
Anyone else experienced this? or heard of similar stories?
I started the car in the morning, noticed the lights in the instrument cluster was dimmer than usual, without thinking too much, I put the car into reverse and the reverse camera did not engage. I then realised the whole Comand system was not ON and could not be turned ON manually. I drove for about 500 meters and hit the first set of traffic lights and got this wonderful idea of restarting the car in the hope that it would start the Comand system just like what you do when you have a computer problem and how wrong was I. The car would not start at all; the instrument cluster continue to light up, the climate control fan was functioning, and electrical windows were working too, but Comand was dead, engine would not start and even the bloody hazard lights wouldn't work! Great fun at a busy intersection during peak hour traffic!
I turned off everything completely and tried to start the car, multiple times, with zero luck, so I called roadside assistance and help arrived about 1 hour later. They also could not start the car, so they reconnected the battery, at which point, the car came back to life. They reckon it was an electrical failure and asked that I take the car to the dealer.
But after putting the car through the full health check at the dealership, every test passed and they also could not find any error code stored in the onboard computer.
Anyone else experienced this? or heard of similar stories?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 787
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From: BNE, Australia
W205 C250BT
^ Faulty door sensor is probably good line of thinking, but you should still be able to start the car or manually bring the COMAND system to life. Did you try using the key in the dash as well as the keyless go?
I reckon go see someone who has Xentry and get a print-out of the full diagnostic quick test report for reference. The modules report on exact odometer time/date for even minor hiccups. It would be really surprising to not see anything at all on that report.
Fingers crossed it won't return Croc. Doesn't sound like the sort of issue you want a repeat of in traffic.
I reckon go see someone who has Xentry and get a print-out of the full diagnostic quick test report for reference. The modules report on exact odometer time/date for even minor hiccups. It would be really surprising to not see anything at all on that report.
Fingers crossed it won't return Croc. Doesn't sound like the sort of issue you want a repeat of in traffic.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
As I said, the car did start initially, but Comand didn't turn ON. Other electronics including climate control were still working.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
^ Faulty door sensor is probably good line of thinking, but you should still be able to start the car or manually bring the COMAND system to life. Did you try using the key in the dash as well as the keyless go?
I reckon go see someone who has Xentry and get a print-out of the full diagnostic quick test report for reference. The modules report on exact odometer time/date for even minor hiccups. It would be really surprising to not see anything at all on that report.
Fingers crossed it won't return Croc. Doesn't sound like the sort of issue you want a repeat of in traffic.
I reckon go see someone who has Xentry and get a print-out of the full diagnostic quick test report for reference. The modules report on exact odometer time/date for even minor hiccups. It would be really surprising to not see anything at all on that report.
Fingers crossed it won't return Croc. Doesn't sound like the sort of issue you want a repeat of in traffic.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by Croc
Not possible as I said many of the electronics were still working.
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Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 787
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From: BNE, Australia
W205 C250BT
Most dealers just don't let you peer over their shoulder whilst they use it however because it's done inside the workshop where they don't like folks wandering about. You could ask for a printout of the "Quick Test Log" though (it should be about 8 pages in length, showing each module, software etc, plus not only faults but also 'event' conditions which fall outside of normal parameters and they're all logged in each of the modules). If you want a sample PM me. The problem is that you can clear the fault log to see if anything new comes up when running a new suite of tests. If they do that then you're back to square one and you'll have to wait until your problem occurs again.
Last edited by DBOC205; Mar 1, 2017 at 04:33 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Gold Coast, Oz.
C300 S205 AMG, GLA 45 AMG
also possible to have a battery showing 12.7v static but not be able to provide the CCA to start the car.
Recharge if possible, replace if not.
I have had new batteries under warranty on the last 2 mercs, despite recharging monthly on the wife's car and weekly on mine..
Dash cam's with parked recording timers and battery savers still pull the battery down... which combined with many short trips can bugger them up..
I have had no issues since and maintaining a recharge regime.. (peace of mind really)..
Recharge if possible, replace if not.
I have had new batteries under warranty on the last 2 mercs, despite recharging monthly on the wife's car and weekly on mine..
Dash cam's with parked recording timers and battery savers still pull the battery down... which combined with many short trips can bugger them up..
I have had no issues since and maintaining a recharge regime.. (peace of mind really)..
Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 198
Likes: 2
Benz
I had a similar situation happen but it wasn't as serious as yours. I started my car one night and the Command didn't turn on. I tried to turn it on manually via button and nada. The car ran fine but the backup camera obviously didn't engage cause the screen wasn't on. Audio and climate control worked fine.
I was in a rush, so I drove to my destination and parked. After an hour, I turned my car back on and everything worked fine. Weird..only happened once *knock on wood*.
I was in a rush, so I drove to my destination and parked. After an hour, I turned my car back on and everything worked fine. Weird..only happened once *knock on wood*.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
Oh yea, of course they have Xentry. That's the software suite which interfaces with the car for all things software related to the car modules. They will use a multiplexer (which hooks to the OBD port) and then that talks (mostly wireless these days) to a computer running Xentry Diagnostics.
Most dealers just don't let you peer over their shoulder whilst they use it however because it's done inside the workshop where they don't like folks wandering about. You could ask for a printout of the "Quick Test Log" though (it should be about 8 pages in length, showing each module, software etc, plus not only faults but also 'event' conditions which fall outside of normal parameters and they're all logged in each of the modules). If you want a sample PM me. The problem is that you can clear the fault log to see if anything new comes up when running a new suite of tests. If they do that then you're back to square one and you'll have to wait until your problem occurs again.
Most dealers just don't let you peer over their shoulder whilst they use it however because it's done inside the workshop where they don't like folks wandering about. You could ask for a printout of the "Quick Test Log" though (it should be about 8 pages in length, showing each module, software etc, plus not only faults but also 'event' conditions which fall outside of normal parameters and they're all logged in each of the modules). If you want a sample PM me. The problem is that you can clear the fault log to see if anything new comes up when running a new suite of tests. If they do that then you're back to square one and you'll have to wait until your problem occurs again.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
also possible to have a battery showing 12.7v static but not be able to provide the CCA to start the car.
Recharge if possible, replace if not.
I have had new batteries under warranty on the last 2 mercs, despite recharging monthly on the wife's car and weekly on mine..
Dash cam's with parked recording timers and battery savers still pull the battery down... which combined with many short trips can bugger them up..
I have had no issues since and maintaining a recharge regime.. (peace of mind really)..
Recharge if possible, replace if not.
I have had new batteries under warranty on the last 2 mercs, despite recharging monthly on the wife's car and weekly on mine..
Dash cam's with parked recording timers and battery savers still pull the battery down... which combined with many short trips can bugger them up..
I have had no issues since and maintaining a recharge regime.. (peace of mind really)..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Australia
C250
I had a similar situation happen but it wasn't as serious as yours. I started my car one night and the Command didn't turn on. I tried to turn it on manually via button and nada. The car ran fine but the backup camera obviously didn't engage cause the screen wasn't on. Audio and climate control worked fine.
I was in a rush, so I drove to my destination and parked. After an hour, I turned my car back on and everything worked fine. Weird..only happened once *knock on wood*.
I was in a rush, so I drove to my destination and parked. After an hour, I turned my car back on and everything worked fine. Weird..only happened once *knock on wood*.
There is another difference - I couldn't get audio to work in mine, given its part of Comand. So not sure how your audio was working? maybe your Comand was ON, just not the screen.
Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 198
Likes: 2
Benz
Yeah. It seemed like most, if not all the functions was on/working but the screen wouldn't turn on.
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
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W214 AMG Line
Fire risk after the vehicle not starting has lead to a Worldwide recall :s
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...fire-risk.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...fire-risk.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
Originally Posted by Croc
Ok, but you would think if there is any voltage, the first thing that should work is the hazard light?
