I'll try and keep this short.

I ran a few errands earlier today and my last stop was to Walmart. Upon leaving, my 2002 CLK 55 Cabriolet decided that it would not start - no crank at all.

The last time that I started the car 45 mins. previously, I noticed a short hesitant crank before the car started, which was weird as this car had always started effortlessly even after a week of sitting in my garage.

Anyway after seeing the Battery/Alternator malfunction message on the dash, the first thing that I looked at was the battery even though all of my lights looked good, and the dash display was fine too. I had a battery booster pack in the trunk and hoped that it was charged enough as it had not be plugged in, in over 6 months. Tried that and still no crank, could hear the fuel engage though. Since I was at Walmart, I decided to head in and buy a new battery booster pack wondering if mine was in need of a charge. I opened 2 boxes and purchased the one with the highest charge. Tried that and still no dice. I even disconnected the battery fully and waited 15 mins to "reset". Still nothing.

By this time, numerous ideas were going thru my head as to what it could be:
- Voltage Regulator/Alternator recall issue.
- Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS)
- MAF Sensor
- Starter
- Iginition
- Bad Key
- Neutral Safety Switch
- Engine CPU
- Fuses
- Funky battery, etc.

I checked evry fuse by pulling them all out 1 at a time from the trunk and engine locations. All were fine.

I decided to take a break and headed into the Walmart Mickie Dees to clear my head, grab a bite and let the CPS cool down hoping that that was the issue. Let's just say that I know every Walmart department very well now.

After about 2+hrs, still no crank. A guy actually offered to help claiming to be a mechanic who used to own a CLK430. We tried jump starting it in neutral but couldn't gather enough speed to get the car moving enough = fail. He said that he thought that it was the neutral safety switch or a bad key. He had his wife and kid with him and said that he lived close by, would drop them off and come back to see what he could do. I never saw him again.

I then decided to use my Blackberry to Google how to pull trouble codes using the climate control module as I remember reading that once here before. My thinking was that if the car stored a code relating to the CPS or Alternator, I would erase the code and maybe it would work as I had disconnected the battery and not attempted to start it again. The only code retrieved was 1227 which was related to the Outside Temp sensor. This was painful as it took soooo long to retrieve tat that my Blackberry battery died - used the booster pack to charge it.

I pretty well gave up at this point, after trying the whole disconnect the battery, wait, and crank method. 3.5+ hrs at the Walmart parking lot, stranded, tired, confused, etc. I had found the Mercedes Service/Towing # and contemplated calling them. I then decided to head into the store and get cab phone numbers. I negotiated a flat rate for one of them to take me home with my melted groceries, thinking and hoping that if I returned the next day, that the car would start (still thinking that it was a CPS issue). I told the driver that I'd call him back on his cell.

I had put everything from my car/trunk into large Walmart bags to take with me as I was going to leave the car there after speaking with the Manager who said that they have the night crew arriving so there is always someone around.

Then for some reason, I decided to use my flashlight again and looked at my fuses under the hood, that lead to me aimlessly look at other areas with the flashlight, and I don't know how or what made me do what I did next, but I somehow noticed that a ground strap was broken off of the washer type metal thingy. That was a total fluke as it was dark and hidden. Wow, could that be it I thought???

I got lucky as I like to keep a small set of tools including latex gloves in the Mercedes pouch and 1 deep socket which just happened to be the 10MM (or maybe 3/8) socket that I needed to loosen the bolt. Used those tools to disconnect the battery as well. Could my long night be looking up???

Luckily for me the bolt was not tight to the point where I couldn't get it off and also luckily, I had just enough play in that broken ground wire to attach it to the bolt and broken washer piece - squeezing the wire between the bolt and washer. I was also lucky that I keep box cutters in the car and used that to cut the plastic around the wire. Walmart was already closed by this time, so I would not have been able to buy tools - sockets, new washer type strap connector, etc. I just had to use what I had.

The area of the broken ground strap was near the driver's side headlight near the power steering lines. I don't know what component that it bolts up to - may someone here knows what that is and share it with us. I had to remove the driver's side intake tube and top cover to gain better access. The space was very tight, but doable.

So, to end this long story, after attaching the wire, crossing my fingers and reconnecting the battery wires in the trunk, I jumped in and turned the ignition. Viola, she started up as quickly and effortlessly as she almost always does.

I hope that my 5 hour ordeal stranded in a Walmart parking lot helps someone one day - CHECK GROUND STRAPS if battery lights seem fine!

I cannot express how good it felt to fix it myself, get my car "back" and could drive it home without blowing the bank. Plus, I didn't have to tow it to the Stealership and rack up transportation charges to and from. I originally thought that this issue would cost me $500+ easily.

Note: To access trouble codes and erase follow these instructions (do at own risk):
- Turn ignition to position 2 where the dash lights turn on (the position before starting the car).
- Set left climate control to HI setting and Pass. side to LO.
- Press the EC and REST buttons at the same time while holding both buttons until the Recirc button flashes.
- Then press the Pass. side AUTO button until the codes appear. i.e. "EB1"......"227" - signifies trouble code "1227".
- Then, press and hold both "AUTO" buttons until the screen reads "ff" on the left to delete the codes. Turn the key to "Off".

Cheers.

 

Glad it worked out for you!

 

Thank you sir!

 

Wow you have much patience! McGuyver of MB

Glad you got her home.

 

Thanks. I'll take that as I'm sure that I've been called worse.

 

Where I come from it's a compliment Cheers