Clk350 possible starter issue
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: Franklin, MA
2006 CLK 350/. 2009 CLK 350/2005 Both White
Clk350 possible starter issue
So I got into my car today 6° out and it clicked and it clicked and it clicked. I jumped it after 10 minutes. Still collected power pack five minutes still click clicked.
Then I did the old trick where you turn on the headlights and when I turned the key, they did not go dim OK so we got a contact issue maybe or a starter issue maybe
I’ve never done a starter on my five Mercedes. I’ve been pretty lucky any relays or tricks that I need to know before I waste my time jumping underneath. Starters cheap money they’re not that much $80 but I just don’t want to swap out a starter, get back into the car and it’s still clicks.
Plus, the fact that we’re getting 2 feet of snow that doesn’t help now I got until Thursday to come up with a game plan obviously I’m gonna push the car into my garage backwards, but I’m just wondering where I should start poking around first before I go to the starter. Any previous experience info would be great. I used to work on these cars years and years ago, so I know my way around Mercedes just looking for some shortcut tips.Paste
Then I did the old trick where you turn on the headlights and when I turned the key, they did not go dim OK so we got a contact issue maybe or a starter issue maybe
I’ve never done a starter on my five Mercedes. I’ve been pretty lucky any relays or tricks that I need to know before I waste my time jumping underneath. Starters cheap money they’re not that much $80 but I just don’t want to swap out a starter, get back into the car and it’s still clicks.
Plus, the fact that we’re getting 2 feet of snow that doesn’t help now I got until Thursday to come up with a game plan obviously I’m gonna push the car into my garage backwards, but I’m just wondering where I should start poking around first before I go to the starter. Any previous experience info would be great. I used to work on these cars years and years ago, so I know my way around Mercedes just looking for some shortcut tips.Paste
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, California
2015 S63 AMG Coupe, 2003 CLK500, 1986 TVR 280i
A shock to the starter may dislodge the solenoid.
I would go old school on this one. Take a metallic hammer and hit the starter a couple of times.
If you can see it from above the car, you could do this with a pipe or a wooden pole.
sou De crazy, but I’ve done this on some OLD cars with success.
The other suggestion I have for you, is to get some heat in that garage and let the starter warm up. Charge the battery completely.
(If the starter starts working and the car doesn’t start, you may have a bad crank shaft position sensor. Not expensive. Sits on the right side of the engine near the firewall on top of the transmission. Not easy to replace. Best to replaced when you remove the valve cover/gasket, breather hoses and want to clean/replace the MAF and clean the throttle body)
good luck
If you can see it from above the car, you could do this with a pipe or a wooden pole.
sou De crazy, but I’ve done this on some OLD cars with success.
The other suggestion I have for you, is to get some heat in that garage and let the starter warm up. Charge the battery completely.
(If the starter starts working and the car doesn’t start, you may have a bad crank shaft position sensor. Not expensive. Sits on the right side of the engine near the firewall on top of the transmission. Not easy to replace. Best to replaced when you remove the valve cover/gasket, breather hoses and want to clean/replace the MAF and clean the throttle body)
good luck
Last edited by pomchal; Jan 25, 2026 at 01:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 535
Likes: 13
From: Franklin, MA
2006 CLK 350/. 2009 CLK 350/2005 Both White
Yeah, I haven’t had a chance to reply to this. We’ve had snowstorm here. Everything’s breaking on me. My canopy that I have outside covering my boat collapse from too much snow. My pipes froze on my boiler so it looks like I have a short period now it could be a bad battery because it’s been like 4° at night sometimes -2
Now I did the short test where you removed the positive and clip one into the cables and one end of the positive post. But as you know these cars have things running like the clock so I didn’t get a chance to really go deep.
Again with 2 feet of snow it’s gonna have to be a couple of days but I think it’s just a bad battery because after I charged it for half an hour she started right up
Tomorrow, what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna open up the hood and check the voltage and if it dropped from 12 V down to 10 then I have a short
Now I did the short test where you removed the positive and clip one into the cables and one end of the positive post. But as you know these cars have things running like the clock so I didn’t get a chance to really go deep.
Again with 2 feet of snow it’s gonna have to be a couple of days but I think it’s just a bad battery because after I charged it for half an hour she started right up
Tomorrow, what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna open up the hood and check the voltage and if it dropped from 12 V down to 10 then I have a short
