What the *&%@!?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
1999 CLK 430
What the *&%@!?
So, I'm in my 430, starting it up and low and behold, if doesn't fire. The starter turns but it either is starved on fuel or not sparking. After it sits for about 20 minutes, it fires right up. I take it to my independent MB mechanic and of course, it starts right up every time. Their computer can't find a single error code. So off I go. The next day I pull up to a destination and the car dies and won't restart. I leave it for about an hour and it fires right up. I stop for dinner and it dies and won't refire. I come out from dinner and it fires right up. The next day I'm on my way to work, doing about 85 on a beautifully winding canyon road to my office and it dies at full speed. I call AAA but the car starts before the tow comes. I drive a few more miles and it dies again. This time I wait for the tow. They take to my mechanic and...you guessed it. Starts right up, no code errors, runs like new.
So, what the @#%!? It doesn't get more frustrating or confusing than this. Anyone have a diagnosis?
So, what the @#%!? It doesn't get more frustrating or confusing than this. Anyone have a diagnosis?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Used to be a CLK430
Sounds like the infamous crankshaft position sensor. Mine did the same thing for over 5 months. MB Dealer couldn't find anything, but an independent found it very quickly. Get it taken care of ASAP, you are putting unnecessary drain on your battery when you try to start it and it hesitates.
Good luck!!
Good luck!!
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: houston
CLK 430 - Magma RED, 1999
crankshaft sensor - hot start symptoms?
I think I'm experiencing something similar, it seems like after using the car in hot conditions, with external temp above 100F, the car seems to crank but either starts after excessive cranking or refuses to start. I seem to have survived being stranded by leaving the heater on for about 10 mins on full and typically after the temo gauge has dropped to closer to 80C it seems to fire up as if all was well.
No engine codes etc. have ever shown up nor does it demonstrate this symptom when its at the garage.
I will have the independent mechanic check the crankshaft sensor in any case, any other thoughts?
Thanks
No engine codes etc. have ever shown up nor does it demonstrate this symptom when its at the garage.
I will have the independent mechanic check the crankshaft sensor in any case, any other thoughts?
Thanks
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Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: California
CLK320
An alternative theory
The same thing happened to me 3 times. It would start after waiting a while. I actually called MB Roadside assitance once. Of course, by the time they came it started up without any problem. He aslo suggested that it may be crankshaft position sensor and told me to take to MB Dealer for service (he checked my battery, and there was no problem with the battery.)
I took it to MB dealer, they ran a complete diagnostic and could not find a problem. Couple weeks later I had the same problem again.
The only thing that I noticed happened all three times also was that I used the cigarette lighter to charge my cell phone while driving just before I turned off the engine and found that it could not start again. After I stopped using the cigarette lighter to charge my cell phone it never happened again. It is almost 3 months.
This is just my pet theory and may not be related at all, but I was wondering whether anyone of you used your cigarette lighter to charge your cell phone when your had this problem?
I took it to MB dealer, they ran a complete diagnostic and could not find a problem. Couple weeks later I had the same problem again.
The only thing that I noticed happened all three times also was that I used the cigarette lighter to charge my cell phone while driving just before I turned off the engine and found that it could not start again. After I stopped using the cigarette lighter to charge my cell phone it never happened again. It is almost 3 months.
This is just my pet theory and may not be related at all, but I was wondering whether anyone of you used your cigarette lighter to charge your cell phone when your had this problem?
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