C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

Washed engine, now car won't start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 12-09-2010, 10:26 PM
  #1  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
Washed engine, now car won't start

I washed my engine last night, I did use the hose but did not get too much water on there.

Car sat over night until this afternoon, I go to start it and nothing. Car doesnt turn over, or even make any noise for that matter.
Alternator is new.
The lights work and the key works to unlock the doors and stuff so I am assuming it is not the battery or the key.

Any one know what it could be? Could I have gotten water somewhere it shouldn't be somehow?

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon to try to start it again..
Old 12-10-2010, 12:24 AM
  #2  
Member
 
Njamg55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New jersey
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
c55 amg
thats horrible
Old 12-10-2010, 12:51 AM
  #3  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
ohlord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,170
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Never assume

it is not the battery mb's are high draw starters and even lights or doors are no indication of charge. When it drops below a set voltage it just won't turn over at all.
Charge the battery key out via the underhood charging post and a good clean negative connection to the chassis.
Then try to start.
If it starts you will most likely have abs esp warning lights but just turn the steering wheel all the way lock to lock and back a few times to reset the steering angle sensor.
Old 12-10-2010, 02:00 AM
  #4  
Super Member
 
wally AMG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 921
Received 35 Likes on 28 Posts
MB
Old 12-10-2010, 02:48 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
559EVO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
2005 C55
I never hose down my engines, I hope everything works tommorow.
Old 12-10-2010, 11:46 AM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
my brother called me and said the alarm is now going off, I'm not going to be home for another 6 hours so I'm sure the battery will be dead by the time I get home since I have both sets of keys
Old 12-10-2010, 12:47 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
alumar's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Troy, IL (near St. Louis, MO)
Posts: 725
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
2019 E63s AMG
Wet coil pack, grounding it out maybe ...

pull intake off, yank the plug wires and make sure all dry ... sounds like an ignition issue
Old 12-10-2010, 12:53 PM
  #8  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Klinh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,632
Received 149 Likes on 123 Posts
C63s Cabriolet, BMW M4, Civic
You always start the engine right after you wash it to dry out the water. Trying using the air hose to blow out all water and moistures left over night.
Old 12-10-2010, 01:10 PM
  #9  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
ohlord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,170
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Wet coil pack

or water in the plug recesses is not going to prevent a M112 from turning over not at all. Don't waste time pulling the intake and packs and drying plugs. They are not the issue. Charge the battery. Start there.
Old 12-10-2010, 03:42 PM
  #10  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Gramma_Benz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Bay, Bay Area
Posts: 2,000
Received 20 Likes on 16 Posts
2002 C32, 2012 S550
If the alarm is going off, it means the battery's dead
Old 12-10-2010, 04:37 PM
  #11  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
TemjinX2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Corona, CA
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
the grounds for the oem harness are in the valley of the engine where the intercooler is, so if theres a lot of water build up there, the car might not be turning on to prevent a short to the ecu. But try the battery but try to check for excess water in the valley. Its really easy for water to be trap there and there no real way of draining the water there short of letting the engine burn it off.
Old 12-10-2010, 08:36 PM
  #12  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
Thank you guys for all the help!! Much appreciated!

So I got home and the siren was going off, since the battery had died and the alarm stopped working. I charged the battery and jump started my car, and it worked. So far it's been good

So maybe the water wasn't the issue? I did start the car after I washed the engine, but then it sat after that....

Not sure how to battery could have died, I didn't leave anything on or why the alarm randomly went off
Old 12-10-2010, 08:46 PM
  #13  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Newzchspy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,165
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
PLAID
Originally Posted by C_DirtyTwo
Thank you guys for all the help!! Much appreciated!

So I got home and the siren was going off, since the battery had died and the alarm stopped working. I charged the battery and jump started my car, and it worked. So far it's been good

So maybe the water wasn't the issue? I did start the car after I washed the engine, but then it sat after that....

Not sure how to battery could have died, I didn't leave anything on or why the alarm randomly went off
** Next time, don't wash your engine, I've heard this happening many a time **
Old 12-10-2010, 09:26 PM
  #14  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
Yeah, I've never had an issue with it before, but now I'm going to stick to wiping it down with a damp microfiber that's for sure!!
Old 12-10-2010, 09:35 PM
  #15  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Gramma_Benz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: East Bay, Bay Area
Posts: 2,000
Received 20 Likes on 16 Posts
2002 C32, 2012 S550
Make sure you charge your battery with a battery charger and not your alternator.
Trust me, if you overtax your alternator, it will die soon too.
Old 12-11-2010, 12:45 AM
  #16  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
i charged it by jumping it and letting it run. By letting it run is that charging it by using the alternator? My alternator is pretty new
Old 12-11-2010, 12:50 AM
  #17  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
raymond g-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle WA
Posts: 5,905
Received 164 Likes on 149 Posts
99 E320
the point is that alternators were never made to charge a deeply discharged
battery, but only to provide supplemental charging. one should determine
the degree of battery discharge before selecting the method needed to
recharge. if the battery is below ....mmm....12 vdc, you really should go
with a trickle or 10 amp charger.

Last edited by raymond g-; 07-03-2017 at 08:08 PM.
Old 12-12-2010, 01:42 PM
  #18  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
jturkel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,856
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
02 C32 AMG
Originally Posted by C_DirtyTwo
i charged it by jumping it and letting it run. By letting it run is that charging it by using the alternator? My alternator is pretty new
NEVER JUMP YOUR CAR! it will blow your rear SAM. in the future, use a trickle charger
Old 12-12-2010, 03:11 PM
  #19  
Super Moderator Alumni
 
ScottW911's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 4,539
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Originally Posted by jturkel
NEVER JUMP YOUR CAR! it will blow your rear SAM. in the future, use a trickle charger
Urban myth. I've had MB roadside jump mine before and they confirmed that this is a myth. The C32 can be jumped with a proper jump system.
Old 12-13-2010, 12:03 AM
  #20  
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
 
C_DirtyTwo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County
Posts: 1,657
Received 20 Likes on 13 Posts
a land yacht.
I jumped mine with regular jumper cables, it's been working fine ever since. Next time a trickle charger will be a better choice, but let's hope there is no next time
Old 07-03-2017, 10:35 AM
  #21  
Junior Member
 
Zippity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
C32
I did the exact same thing and now have intermittent battery failures. Any luck finding a proper diagnosis?
Old 07-23-2017, 07:29 PM
  #22  
Super Member
 
boohooramblers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 925
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Not an AMG :(
Originally Posted by Zippity
I did the exact same thing and now have intermittent battery failures. Any luck finding a proper diagnosis?
If you've ruled out the issues discussed above in this thread (and you know your battery is good), then it's time to think about battery-draining problems in this car: the first thing I'd look at is the seat control modules which are quite commonly defective.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Washed engine, now car won't start



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:08 AM.