W208 CLK55 won't start - advice please
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
W208 CLK55 won't start - advice please
The hits just keep on coming with this car....constant repairs.
Anyway - here the latest. Car won't start. The battery is brand btw. Key turns, you can here the steering wheel whoosh / release sound, everything lights up but starter does not engage. From the research I have done I'd suspect EIS/ECU issue or the starter. What is strange as this has happened sporadically the last few months. But usually on the 2nd try it would start. Yesterday morning it was very cold and it took 5 tries. Today I tried 8x at least and nothing. I feel like whatever is wrong might have failed slowly over time.
Here is the weird thing and might be the biggest clue. The key for my W211 E55 does the same thing in this car. Yes, I insert the E55 key into my CLK ignition and it will turn all the way and release the steering wheel, all the dash lights light up. It's like it cannot tell if I am using the correct key. So maybe its the EIS or starter or maybe its the key?
thanks for reading and any advice.
Anyway - here the latest. Car won't start. The battery is brand btw. Key turns, you can here the steering wheel whoosh / release sound, everything lights up but starter does not engage. From the research I have done I'd suspect EIS/ECU issue or the starter. What is strange as this has happened sporadically the last few months. But usually on the 2nd try it would start. Yesterday morning it was very cold and it took 5 tries. Today I tried 8x at least and nothing. I feel like whatever is wrong might have failed slowly over time.
Here is the weird thing and might be the biggest clue. The key for my W211 E55 does the same thing in this car. Yes, I insert the E55 key into my CLK ignition and it will turn all the way and release the steering wheel, all the dash lights light up. It's like it cannot tell if I am using the correct key. So maybe its the EIS or starter or maybe its the key?
thanks for reading and any advice.
Last edited by j-mo; Dec 11, 2019 at 11:47 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 169
From: Portland, Oregon
2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera
It sounds like a classic description of a failing starter/solenoid. Not sure about why the E55 key would even turn in the CLK's ignition. I'll have to try that when my car is back together and see if mine does that too.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
@JoeJErnst and @Clk552001 thanks. I am hoping it is the start as I think that will be cheaper that EIS. I will try the wipers etc this evening.
Last night I got home and it was about 25 degrees out. (it was 14 degrees in the morning when it wouldn't start). It started right up on the first try. This morning it started on the 2nd try.
I am taking it into my indy tomorrow. I am hoping they can see what is slowly failing and fix as opposed to me getting stranded when it fails 100%.
thanks again.
Last night I got home and it was about 25 degrees out. (it was 14 degrees in the morning when it wouldn't start). It started right up on the first try. This morning it started on the 2nd try.
I am taking it into my indy tomorrow. I am hoping they can see what is slowly failing and fix as opposed to me getting stranded when it fails 100%.
thanks again.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
Ok interesting, thanks. I had them test the battery but hey are also the ones that installed it. I will get an independent test from a different indy. It continues to do the same thing. It takes 4-5 tries every morning but then starts right up.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
Nope. I turn the key, the dash lights come on, the normal pre-start beeps, everything is normal. But when I turn the key nothing happens. It is like the starter isn't getting engaged. After several tried it fires right up. My hunch is that the starter is going. Not sure how long they last but I have had the car since 2008 when I bought it with 53K on it. I don't think the original owner changed it and I now have 126K miles.
thanks
thanks
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
I really hope its not the EIS....I think that is a like a $1500 fix.
any info on checking EIS or solenoid?
thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,053
Likes: 398
From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
Everytime turning the key, you should hear click when the starter solenoid engage the armature,
also, you have to use meter to see if there is an input power or not,
about EIS, you have to use MB/SDS, to see if EIS code will shows up,
you can access the EIS, and turn the key on/off 5 times, to see if there's a faulty sequence signal will saved in EIS events memory,,
after that, try to reset it, then see if it will work properly..
-;-ZAYED-;-
also, you have to use meter to see if there is an input power or not,
about EIS, you have to use MB/SDS, to see if EIS code will shows up,
you can access the EIS, and turn the key on/off 5 times, to see if there's a faulty sequence signal will saved in EIS events memory,,
after that, try to reset it, then see if it will work properly..
-;-ZAYED-;-
Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 249
Likes: 44
From: San Antonio, TX
2005 C55 AMG
For what its worth, when the starter failed in my C55, at first I thought it was a bad battery. Everything would work, but very slow crank when warm. This continued with the new battery (I should've had it tested first). When it finally failed, everything lit up, but not even a click when I tried to start. I really didn't want to do the job, so I checked the entire electrical system (sans STAR). Test probed all the fuses in the ignition - all good. Swapped and checked the ignition and starter relays, all good. Used my thermal imager for active relays - everything that should be active was. I begrudgingly got under the car and went about removing the exhaust system and pulled the starter and sure enough that was it. EIS would be a nightmare - as bad as the starter is to get to, I'd check that out first as it's much cheaper.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Mercedes clk 55
Hello again...
Mate all the symptoms your experiencing I had with my clk.
The intermittent starting.. I replaced the Bosch starter motor and nothing changed.
I managed to get the number of a technician from Mercedes through a friend and he literally diagnosed it over the phone..he said it's coman fault where the signal from the ignition passes through the Sam unit and then to the start motor..
They corrode inside and wear out over time...
I replaced the Sam unit with a second had unit costing £80 and never has an issue again.
That was 3 years ago...
Won't let you release the gearbox in to neutral when the cars not running so you can tow it...!
wipers not working with the ignition on..!
These symptoms of a faulty Sam unit..!
Mate all the symptoms your experiencing I had with my clk.
The intermittent starting.. I replaced the Bosch starter motor and nothing changed.
I managed to get the number of a technician from Mercedes through a friend and he literally diagnosed it over the phone..he said it's coman fault where the signal from the ignition passes through the Sam unit and then to the start motor..
They corrode inside and wear out over time...
I replaced the Sam unit with a second had unit costing £80 and never has an issue again.
That was 3 years ago...
Won't let you release the gearbox in to neutral when the cars not running so you can tow it...!
wipers not working with the ignition on..!
These symptoms of a faulty Sam unit..!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 286
Likes: 12
From: Chicago, IL.
2006 E55 AMG, 2019 BMW M240I xdrive coupe, 1969 Mach 1 Mustang
Just wanted to thanks everyone fro responding. I have no news other than the car starts perfectly now and has for at least 2 weeks. Before that it was happening constantly and not just when the car was cold. If I stop at Walgreen and came back in 5 min it would take 5-10 tries to start. I was starting to get worried. Now it is perfect. So odd....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 421
05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I have this same issue on my car and ive had it forever but its worse now.
The difference in mine is that it makes a clik as it wants to start but it doesnt.
Steering unlocks, I can put shifter in neutral but car takes sometimes ten tries to start.
Key is less than two years old, battery doesnt show indications of being bad although I havent measured it.
SAM unit would be a k40 relay right?
The difference in mine is that it makes a clik as it wants to start but it doesnt.
Steering unlocks, I can put shifter in neutral but car takes sometimes ten tries to start.
Key is less than two years old, battery doesnt show indications of being bad although I havent measured it.
SAM unit would be a k40 relay right?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2001 CLK55 AMG / 2018 GLC300 4MATIC /2017 CLA250 4MATIC
Possibly
If the break light is out it will not start, but it could also be the key is not programed or has been canceled in the system. Seriously doubt it is the starter or any thing electrical. I have owned mine for 19 years and never had a problem with anything. But every time I had a new key programmed I had the lost one de activated from the system and that's what this sounds like unless like I said you have a break light out.....
