CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

CLK starting issues

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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 03:03 PM
  #1  
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Angry CLK starting issues

Happy Saturday to all. I apologized for this new thread. I would like your expertise. Prior to starting, I hosed out the leaves and debri from the overnight rain. That's when I noticed that the driver side headlight, kept turning on and then off. Upon starting, the vehicle hesitated, then went dead. The Cluster, gauges, seat belts etc are all fictional.
battery is at 12.3. It's dead, even when jumping. battery was recharge, blew out engine compartment to ensure no moister. Battery dropped from 13.5 to 12.3 when reinstalled, still nothing, neither a crank or hesitation. What got wet or blown?
Does anyone knows or have experience these symptoms with their MB?

Respectfully and valued
arjuana
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 10:32 PM
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late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
First suspect is the battery. At 12.3V it is only accepting approx 70% charge. If you jump start without disconnecting the battery negative terminal it will just suck up much of the available voltage.

Have the battery load tested by a battery shop first. Once you know you have a healthy battery we can diagnose any remaining issues. These cars are very voltage sensitive.
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 11:09 PM
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Thanks once more for your expertise. original battery was tested at an auto shop it came back as good with 12.8 .original battery was reinstalled still no crank or any hesitation to start and it read 12.3. Original battery was was replaced for it was under warranty. New battery was installed read 12.4. still no hesitation no cranking. will check and verify fuses, as you have mentioned. What are your thoughts on water getting into the air filters?
Respectfully and valued our
Arjuna
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Old Aug 11, 2019 | 03:10 PM
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Good afternoon. Fuses number 31 (20A), 52 (20A) and 57 (5A) are all fine.
Still getting nothing when I turn the keys.

Respectfully Arjuna
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Old Aug 11, 2019 | 06:56 PM
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"When the engine suction fan runs at high speed with the key in position 2, it is a symptom that the ECU is not functioning. Check fuses and wiring harnesses. "

I saw this post by Rudney, in another forum. And this car is experiencing the fan suction. Can you explain what else I should be looking for? Since the 31/52/57 fuses are good

Respectfully Arjuna
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Old Aug 11, 2019 | 10:13 PM
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It sounds to me like you may have gotten water into the e-box when you hosed out the leaves. The box contains the front SAM (which controls the front headlights among other things) and the ECU. I'd check for water in there and if so, remove everything and thoroughly clean and dry it all
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Old Aug 12, 2019 | 12:59 AM
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Thank you. I will.
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Old Aug 15, 2019 | 11:32 AM
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Good morning gurus, It's day 7. There's wasn't any visible signs of waterin the front Sam. I blew it out with a leaf blower and checked all the fuses, which are all good. I didn't check the relays. I didn't attempt to remove the components from the Sam, since I don't know how to. i am positive that I got water somewhere. The battery is now at 12.1 and th fan goes on when the key is in position #2. Are their any other suggestion?

respectfully and valuedg
arjuna
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Old Aug 15, 2019 | 10:58 PM
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Definitely the ECU and fan are not communicating. How does the wiring from the e-box look? Any chew marks?
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Old Aug 16, 2019 | 11:19 PM
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The wiring both inside and out looks fine. Are they any reset that I should be doing since I changed out the battery? Should I also check the relays and the fuses in the interior sam box? Are they any drain holes in the sam box? Only to justify, that water may have entered and left the box, prior checking.
Initially the vehicle hesitated to start, right after I hosed
out the leaves and I left it alone hoping it will correct itself, like it once did 2yrs ago. Would a "service b" message in the cluster has anything to do with this?

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 09:09 PM
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There are no resets that would affect or fix this. I would check fuses. Maybe the ECU fuse is blown.

Here's a fuse diagram:

http://benzbits.com/w209/FrontFuses.pdf

And not, the Service B" has nothing to do with this.
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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 09:52 PM
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Thank and most appreciate all you offer and serve here. I will check fuses and relay, tomorrow and report back you.

Respectfully and valued
arjuna
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Old Aug 18, 2019 | 07:02 PM
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I have a clk350 that did the same thing. Sometimes it would start up just fine, other times it wont. The starter, battery, and fuses and everything was replaced recently. It came to a point where starting the car was rolling the dice. And I got stranded somewhere. So I waited sometime, then started the car again and took it straight to a indy mechanic. He said it was the timing chain/balance shaft problem. Sounded wrong to me, because my engine was outside of the scope of affected engines.

Then when I tried starting the engine up that last time, the pistons seized and it sounded like everything in the engine locked up and literal smoke came out of the hood.... needless to say at that point I just replaced the engine (very expensive)

My suggestion is to not use the car, tow it to the dealership and spend however much it costs to get it PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. Otherwise, you might end up paying more money chasing problems
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 06:14 PM
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Wow. Thanks for sharing. I can relate to your passed frustration. If this is what am experiencing, then I would rather not have to.

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 06:22 PM
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Monday evening greetings.
The fuses and relay were all checked and are good.There are no break or damages to the harnesses in the sam.
Should I trace wires to another component? Or am I looking at an engine replacement?

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 10:50 PM
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Not engine replacement - at worst, ECU replacement. But before you start throwing parts at it, you need a proper hands-on diagnosis. My recommendation is to find a reputable indy shop in your town that specializes in MBZ service. Avoid the dealer at all costs.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 07:15 AM
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Thank you. It's a viable suggestion.
In my state of fare, I an convincing myself that's is something very smile. Due to the recollection of events.
The worked fine the day before.
This all started, after a wash.

Do you(Rudney)recall, I mentioning, that the driver side headlight, kept turning on and off while I was hosing off the front grill and headlight.
I knew then, that I may have gotten some component wet.
What do you make of that?
I was thinking, the alternator or some other electrical component.
Forgive me for going circles. I am just so scared, if it's the ECU.
Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 09:14 AM
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That really sounds like you got water into that e-box where the front SAM and ECU are located. The front SAM controls (among other things) the front lighting.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 10:59 AM
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Thank you.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 11:31 AM
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Forgive me, I want to point out that under the ebox/sam, that theirs always water collected there. It's never empty in the raining season. Is that normal? In e209 design? And do you if the area is free of any electric outlets?

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 27, 2019 | 09:04 PM
  #21  
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*****update******
Greetings Gurus and Members.
It's week 3, and still not a crank.
I have performed the following steps, respect and appreciation to
Rudney, SRToroto and Mostafaberg.
. Checked fuses(good)
. Had relays check by a technician (good)
. Removed all fuses and relays
. Air compression clean the entire Sam.
. Sprayed CRC electrical cleaner into-
Fuses and relays sockets
Harnesses connections.
ECU connections and sockets.

I didn't notice any water residue in the Sam.
The new battery have since, dropped in voltage to 11 2 due to nonactivity.
What are the next thier of suggestions?

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 27, 2019 | 10:56 PM
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The battery should not drop that low just because the car is not used for three weeks. You may have a short somewhere. What;s the amperage drain at rest?
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Old Aug 28, 2019 | 12:34 AM
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Thanks as always for responding.
I don't understand what you are asking.
It's a new battery, when installed on 8/12 it was at 12 4
I will check again in the morning
Also, prior to this no start. I did notice that windows were not automatically going up all the way, when locking/closing the doors.
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Old Aug 28, 2019 | 04:17 PM
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Greetings and good afternoon.
The vehicle is totally out of power. Remote won't lock/unlock doors. Windows are lowered to compensate the soft top.
Keys doesn't turn ignition.
I bridge the battery with another vehicle, to turn ignition on, to check battery reading from the cluster. It read 11.2, when connected with jumper cabels.

Respectfully and valued
Arjuna
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Old Aug 28, 2019 | 04:31 PM
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******Update***"*"
I also noticed the climate tempreture reading in the cluster as 180 frienheit.
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