~Engine Won’t Start~
Car has been running solid lately. No problems. I drove the car last night without any problems. Woke up this morning to start my car and it will not crank. All the lights are bright and it appears the battery is fully charged. (Replaced Mercedes battery on Nov. 28 2008) The car will not even try to turn over. I tried to jump start it and had no luck. For everyone thinking it’s the CPS (Crank Position Sensor), I replaced that on June 19, 2007. Any suggestions before I get rapped again at the Dealership. Around here they show no love at the Dealership. See prior posts from me.
Last edited by jasonowens32; Mar 26, 2009 at 01:13 PM.
Also, CPS can be bad from stock or faulty quite often, would not rule that out. However, when CPS ****s, itll normally 'try' and crank. Good luck.
In my mind a bad CPS should just make the engine not fire up when cranked, or more difficult to fire up and run badly if it does fire up. The CPS should not make the engine not turn over at all.
Please correct me if i'm wrong.
In my mind a bad CPS should just make the engine not fire up when cranked, or more difficult to fire up and run badly if it does fire up. The CPS should not make the engine not turn over at all.
Please correct me if i'm wrong.
If the battery is good, I'd check the starter and the ignition switch.
Trending Topics
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
So Marcus do think when water got inside through the sunroof that it messed up something electrical? It really wasnt that bad when I started to dry everything. Water did leak into the gear shift. Guess we will see what happens.
Last edited by jasonowens32; Mar 31, 2009 at 04:26 PM.
The car had been acting up changing gears (P into D/R, etc) for a while, then one day it just didn't want to start.
Replaced the CPS, replaced the battery (just in case) and it's now sitting on my driveway waiting for me to figure out what else to try.
I love the car, but considering what it's worth, I hope it's not that expensive of a fix.
-- edit:
And yes, I checked all the fuses and even took out the passenger side carpet and checked the TCU as well. I was hoping it would be just an electrical short or moisture in the TCU, but it looks good as new.
Last edited by viguera; Mar 31, 2009 at 09:36 PM.

As an addendum, the last person I heard of to change their own TCM still needed a trip to the dealer. The codes are cleared with a STAR box.
Last edited by MarcusF; Apr 1, 2009 at 01:09 AM.
Thanks again
I let the car sit for a couple of days. I started up later on and it work just fine. I have been driving it for about a week now and not one problem. I guess it was wet somewhere and it dried out. It's running solid now so we will see what happens in the future. I refuse to take it to dealer if everything is running right.
I have had this issue as well (no fluid/rain got in my car tho). Somebody else posted a while back (Dec?) about coffee being spilled in the cupholder compartment and exhibiting similar issues.
I first noticed it happen to me when i got in (after an overnight sit) and I attempt to crank it, especially after a good rain. There would be a slight delay before the engine actually turned over. This delay would tip me off that the transmission 'issues' would surface. Meaning, I could put the car in park, it would drive in 1st GEAR ONLY. It would NOT shift into second. Then, it also would NOT go back into park without turning the car off, putting it in park and trying again. After a few of times of cut off and back on, the car would then shift into gear ok (also, the shift indicator in my dash would stay blank...never indicating 'D' or 'P').
Then I was in the shop for something minor and my indy mechanic told me about some kind of shift linkage he wanted to change for me. This linkage connects to the transmission and that water/moisture had a tendency to get in there and wreak havoc on elecrical systems related to the transmission if not sealed properly (sound familiar?). I scoffed at first. Thought he was trying to get me to do some useless repair when it hit me....I hadn't even told him about my tranny issue! So we talked about it and I had him change this linkage/seal out (about $200). I have not had a problem with the trans not going out of gear since then.
I'll call him and see what that part name/# was.
I let the car sit for a couple of days. I started up later on and it work just fine. I have been driving it for about a week now and not one problem. I guess it was wet somewhere and it dried out. It's running solid now so we will see what happens in the future. I refuse to take it to dealer if everything is running right.
I have had this issue as well (no fluid/rain got in my car tho). Somebody else posted a while back (Dec?) about coffee being spilled in the cupholder compartment and exhibiting similar issues.
I first noticed it happen to me when i got in (after an overnight sit) and I attempt to crank it, especially after a good rain. There would be a slight delay before the engine actually turned over. This delay would tip me off that the transmission 'issues' would surface. Meaning, I could put the car in park, it would drive in 1st GEAR ONLY. It would NOT shift into second. Then, it also would NOT go back into park without turning the car off, putting it in park and trying again. After a few of times of cut off and back on, the car would then shift into gear ok (also, the shift indicator in my dash would stay blank...never indicating 'D' or 'P').
Then I was in the shop for something minor and my indy mechanic told me about some kind of shift linkage he wanted to change for me. This linkage connects to the transmission and that water/moisture had a tendency to get in there and wreak havoc on elecrical systems related to the transmission if not sealed properly (sound familiar?). I scoffed at first. Thought he was trying to get me to do some useless repair when it hit me....I hadn't even told him about my tranny issue! So we talked about it and I had him change this linkage/seal out (about $200). I have not had a problem with the trans not going out of gear since then.
I'll call him and see what that part name/# was.
Please let me know the part number when you get it.
Wiring plug housing (from the MB website)
Transmission adapter plug
Transmission cable adapter plug
Here is a picture: http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...ber=2035400253
The part number is 2035400253
The way my indy explained it to me, the connectors O-rings can fail and allow moisture to seep into the electrical section of the part, causing weird problems related to the trans.
Again, I have to stress this SEEMS to have fixed the issue for me but I don't drive my CLK everyday plus the symptoms can pop up so sporadically (did it rain the day/night before you had your issues?). I can say the problem has not occurred since the part has been changed tho. The part is only like $15, a rather cheap way to 'find out' I'd say. Also, this doesn't account for the accidents of coffee being spilled in the center console *lol*. Good luck and let me know how yer comin on it. I'd like to hear what happens for you.
After the gasket changes, the mechanic scanned using MB Star. There is one EGS 135 fault Sporadically fault in CAN communication with: Motor electronics.
He removed the electrical connector and got a little transmission fluid leak on plugs.
It can cause that error? changing the 2 connector can fix it? P/N I think are; A2035400253 and A0015409981.
Thanks for any help.








