CLK Couped

Hi, Everyone!

Tonight, I drove over an hour straight in extremely hot temperatures (car thermostat read 100 degrees). After reaching my destination and turning off the car for 45 minutes--it would not start again. It cranked but would not turn over. All interior and exterior lights plus the radio were fully functional. So I waited 20 minutes and restarted the car. It turned over and started right away. However, the check engine light is now on. My suspicion from reading this forum is my crank position sensor is going? The car is a 2002 CLK 320 with just 48k miles. As an aside, I recently drove the car 1,200 miles with few stops two weeks ago--again in very warm weather.

Any insight you can provide would be helpful before I take it
in and be told it needs everything including the kitchen sink.

Thanks much,

CLK Couped

fkhan2

I had a similar problem except it occurred only during winters and every time I'd fill up, and eventually started happening during the summers as well. I changed the battery, crank shaft position sensor, MAF, took it to about 5-6 mercedes "specialists" who did various bull**** fixes to no avail (the problem was intermittent so the car worked fine in their garage). After having an engineer look at it, he found that the computer behind where you stick your key in was fried (not sure what its called sorry)--its the computer that reads the laser emitted from the key. The part itself was 900 dollars, but now it runs like a charm.

CLK Couped

Whoa! Thanks for your reply. Was your check engine light on through all of this? I'm hoping what you describe is not my issue. Yikes!

MarcusF

CLK Couped, you may want to consider dumping the codes. You could guess and change a lot of expensive parts before stumbling across the correct one, or take 5 minutes and read what the ECU thinks is wrong.

fkhan2

Nope, my check engine light was not on. good luck bro

CLK Couped

So I took my ride to the Advanced AutoParts store this morning and used their scanner, for what it's worth. The scanner read "Crankshaft Position Sensor Malfunction at Circuit A." Naturally, I called up my indy shop and asked for an estimate. They have quoted me $$350 for part and labor. Does that sound high, guys? I thought I had read online elsewhere it should be about $100-150 less?

Thanks again for the replies! I'll update once I have the issue addressed.

C43AMG

Autohaus.com - 20 minutes to change out.

fkhan2

I ordered mine from autohausAZ for about 70 and had someone change it for 70...350 sounds way too high.

dlbehrns

It is an easy DIY if you are so inclined. It is located on the bell housing drivers side just behind and down from the valve cover. It is a bit difficult to get to because of its position but definitely doable. Do a Search on the DIY thread where you will find pictures to guide you. $350 is probably what the mechanics flat rate books at including the part. Shouldn't take more than 15-30 mins max.

MarcusF

Here's a DIY with good photos

A subpar one with photos by crayola can be seen here.

cindyclk

Marcus' DIY is very good. I would recommend using a 1/4 driver. When doing it myself, my 3/8 torx driver would not squarley fit over the bolt. I struggled for 2 hours in every possible configuration. When I got a 1/4 driver and short extension, it took 5 minutes.

CLK Couped

Hi, All:

Just a quick update that my issue was indeed the crankshaft position sensor. I took it the car in last week, had it scanned for codes and was told both the crankshaft and cam sensor codes were present. Unfortunately, I am not the least bit mechanically inclined so I forked over $350 to have the crank sensor replaced. I was told it can set off the cam erroneously so to wait and see before replacing it. Only been a few days, but car is starting up and not cutting out on me in four-lane traffic, so I have no complaints.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Until next time,