Maizeandbrew

Last time I drove car - started right up, drove it very briefly - came back appx 24 hours later to drive car, and will not even crank.

Steering Wheel is locked, does move up and down, but does not move down on entry per usual.

Checked with both keys - no message to remove key etc - but also nothing happens when I turn key.

Disconnected battery and re-connected to no avail?

Anything else to check?

sunnys14

If you can’t hear the steering wheel unlock when you’re turning on the ignition then the ESL is dead.

Cwagon

Plenty of info here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...lots-pics.html

Airspeed1

Hello. I just replaced motor in my esl last week but was fortunate enough to get the steering unlocked and disconnect battery to do the repair the easy way.

Hopefully your problem is intermittent and esl is not 100% broken. Tap the steering (may help to give it a last attempt at opening) and if the car starts do not remove key when you turn off.

leave key in ignition and disconnect battery. This is allow you to remove the esl without having to take out entire steering rack and cut out bolt for esl. Unlike a lot of threads that suggest you need to remove cluster, airbag, steering wheel and rack, this is not necessary if you are able to disconnect battery with steering lock open.

I can walk you through the repair process if you like, cost me $46 vs dealer of over $2k in repairs.

Maizeandbrew

Thanks for the tips everyone.

I think either my ESL is not 100% broken or I over reacted -- I changed the battery in the keys and tried the spare key and she fired right up...

Airspeed1

[QUOTE=Maizeandbrew;8050277]Thanks for the tips everyone.

I think either my ESL is not 100% broken or I over reacted -- I changed the battery in the keys and tried the spare key and she fired right up...[/QUOTE

Dont wait for complete failure, most likely its the little motor in the ESL going bad. You can listen to the motor when ir unlocks and may hear a grinding noise.

good luck

W220BossDon

Pull up the carpet on the passenger side under the dash, and unscrew the plate. Check all of these connections, they are most likely your issue.