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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 11:18 PM
  #1  
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From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
Key turns, nothing happens

Stuck in the airport parking lot. Key turns, electrical is fine. I get nothing. No noise, no nothing. I suspect some kill switch? I fiddled with the gear shift lever-no dice, and it would not turn over in neutral or park.

Help? Fuse? Kill switch?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 12:00 AM
  #2  
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E350
Radio plays, windows go up and down at normal speed, headlights bright,etc.?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 06:16 AM
  #3  
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Yes-everything seems normal. Key turns, but no ignition. No sound.
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 08:57 AM
  #4  
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From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
I tried my second key this morning. Still nothing. All electronics work fine, steering wheel unlocks, etc. It's just that there is no starting activity at all.

Does anyone have a fuse chart for a 2007 E350 that might shed some light on this?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 03:23 PM
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'71 Pinto
Based on both keys not working and everything else fine, “may” be starter solenoid (about $70) or worst case scenario EIS ($400, parts.com $288).
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 03:51 PM
  #6  
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From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
I guess I will find out. No blown fuses. Will have to meet the tow truck at the airport, etc-good way to start the week. I guess it could have been worse...

I will report back.

Thanks for the information.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 09:57 AM
  #7  
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03 E500 and Corvette
Originally Posted by konigstiger
Based on both keys not working and everything else fine, “may” be starter solenoid (about $70) or worst case scenario EIS ($400, parts.com $288).
You are right about he part.

To change the part you disconnect battey, pull the belly pan, remove motor mount bolts , Jack engine, remove rt exhaust, remove engine mount, remove wiring from starter and then remove starter.

I recommend NOT replacing the solenoid even if it is bad. The work to get at it is expensive and time consuming. I recommend replacement of total Starter. I just did this very same job for failing starter bendix. It took so much work and effort I want it to work. Therefore I reco. replace the starter for this problem.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 05:34 PM
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From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
Resolved.

Turns out that when the dealer replaced my valve body earlier this year, it cracked a clip that affects the gear selection lever, and it decided to break off on me Friday night. The car thought I was still in gear, so it would not allow the starter to engage.

Fixed, no charge. And no excuses. Pretty good deal, all in all.

Thanks to all who posted. I need all the help I can get.
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Old Jun 28, 2012 | 02:25 PM
  #9  
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W211
i'm shocked that the dealer would be so honest and let you know what the reason was. Most will just give an explanation and bill you the charges! Glad it worked out.
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Old Jun 28, 2012 | 02:31 PM
  #10  
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From: Coastal Georgia, USA
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My dealer is pretty straight up. And it does not hurt that I always try to do my homework on this forum and otherwise about what might be wrong. Being as educated as you can be ahead of time gains you a lot of respect, IMHO.
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Old Jul 28, 2012 | 03:41 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by vettdvr
You are right about he part.

To change the part you disconnect battey, pull the belly pan, remove motor mount bolts , Jack engine, remove rt exhaust, remove engine mount, remove wiring from starter and then remove starter.

I recommend NOT replacing the solenoid even if it is bad. The work to get at it is expensive and time consuming. I recommend replacement of total Starter. I just did this very same job for failing starter bendix. It took so much work and effort I want it to work. Therefore I reco. replace the starter for this problem.
The starter can be seen from underneath? is it mounted on and parallel to the transmission? is it really necessary to "raise the engine" ? last time I was under the car it seemed very easy to get at? Anybody actually done this and taken photos?
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Old Jul 28, 2012 | 05:29 PM
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2005 E500 Spt
Did you use Critz or Brumos?
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Old Sep 25, 2012 | 07:21 AM
  #13  
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From: birmingham uk
c180 (w203)
Question will it fit

Originally Posted by konigstiger
Based on both keys not working and everything else fine, “may” be starter solenoid (about $70) or worst case scenario EIS ($400, parts.com $288).
hi ya i have c180 w203 ,2001 and sam and EIS has gone i been offered all parts off a c180 w203 2003 but its cdi will parts fit mine any help be great thanks gaz
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Old Nov 13, 2012 | 05:56 PM
  #14  
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03 E500 and Corvette
I don't know about you guys, I think my car is reading the forum. Parked at movie theater got in turned key heard clunk for solenoid lights dimmed nothing. Windows still work power still up and batter checks good even jumped with diesel dual bat's no difference.

In any case dead in place hitched a ride home and have tow scheduled in the morning. Bad thing is the starter and solenoid were installed NEW less than 90 days ago.

Minor point car is still in park and won't come out dont' know how that is affected? But I have to get it out of park for flatbed truck. How do I get it out of park? Or better why won't it come out of park?
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Old Nov 13, 2012 | 10:05 PM
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It's just that there is no starting activity at all.
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Old Nov 14, 2012 | 08:01 AM
  #16  
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03 E500 and Corvette
Originally Posted by hostetlgaret
It's just that there is no starting activity at all.
Battery is good and all powers up normal. I have jumped with diesel truck bat and same results.

When the key is in the start (starter to engage) the I hear a low click sound in the area of the starter and all the power drops as if dead short. The dash display also goes away then comes back with random warnings. Release the key and the dash comes back full. I think the starter has failed and locked up internally. I dont' hear the starter drive engage the flywheel. The engine made no unusual (like throwing rod dropping valve crunching) noise when it shut down. All was normal.

The starter is new installed by shop about 1500 miles ago In June

Tpw truck has been called again. I have them on speed dial for the MB.

Last edited by vettdvr; Nov 14, 2012 at 09:25 AM.
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Old Nov 16, 2012 | 08:36 AM
  #17  
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Update. Finally had car towed to shop. The starter is 90 days old and was Bosch reman OEM. It has burned out. The Main bat is not a MB bat, but it is a AGM that meets MB specs for OEM. Shop said new starter failed due to incorrect battery. They say I should use Bosch wet cell from Pepboys. The wet cell has more surge due to design but the AGM meets spec. The only issue I found is the main battery is approaching 5 yrs old and might be low on cranking amps due to age. However at no time did the engine ever turn slow starting. It started immediately everytime I turned the key. The origional starter was replaced due to the starter drive beginning to make noise on disengagement but not for failing to function. The 5 yr old battery worked fine for 4 yrs 9 months on the oem starter. Interesting part is the main battery is still charged enough to start the car when the new starter is installed. I think the shop was trying to provide a smoke screen on the warranty of the starter to point the finger somewhere else and not the starter they installed. However the failure of the starter IMO was due to a defect in the reman of the starter.
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Old Nov 20, 2012 | 08:20 AM
  #18  
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03 E500 and Corvette
Update 2.

Shop found new starter had failed. They said, "we have never seen this type of failure." The starter drive failed in the full extend mode an locked up the starter. They put a new starter charging only for their diagnostic time (fair price) and it was ready to go. I did put in a new Bosch starting battery thought. So total cost was cost of battery, diagnostic, and tow. Why New part failed.
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Old Feb 2, 2016 | 09:23 PM
  #19  
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2001 e430
turn the key and nothing happens

I have a 2001 e430 and the car stopped starting a few weeks ago, the tow truck driver, broke the eis so it turns with any key or even a screw driver, he also broke the shifter and it now shifts into any gear without any key in the eis or brake pressed. etc. i got a brand new battery also before trying anything else. the dealer says you cant use used parts so they will be of zero help for this issue.

At first I didnt know that the parts were married as they are so I got a known good key, eis, tried them and still nothing so then got the ecm still nothing. I also was investigating the brake light switch and disconnected those two connectors to it and tried to start the car seeing what would happen. the dash came up with abs, esp, and bas errors, I plugged them back in and they went away. I read you need the matched shifter as well so I got that yesterday.

long story short after replacing the key, eis, and ecm i checked the fuses (all seemed good and doubled checked that today) and now no dash lights, no blower motor fan even though the climate control lights up, you can select the temp but not fan speed as i could before even without the car starting and a non matched ecm with eis and key. what could be wrong with the car now where the dash doesnt work, the climate control doesnt work, the car still doesnt start. Its worse off than when i started ?!?!?!?!?

Last edited by polygaryd; Feb 2, 2016 at 09:27 PM.
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Old Feb 2, 2016 | 11:57 PM
  #20  
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From: NYC and LI
2004 Mercedes E500, 2008 Mercedes ML350
[QUOTE=vettdvr;5434555The Main bat is not a MB bat, but it is a AGM that meets MB specs for OEM. Shop said new starter failed due to incorrect battery.[/QUOTE]

Total and complete BS.
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Old Feb 3, 2016 | 12:00 AM
  #21  
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From: NYC and LI
2004 Mercedes E500, 2008 Mercedes ML350
Originally Posted by polygaryd
I have a 2001 e430 and the car stopped starting a few weeks ago, the tow truck driver, broke the eis so it turns with any key or even a screw driver, he also broke the shifter and it now shifts into any gear without any key in the eis or brake pressed. etc. i got a brand new battery also before trying anything else. the dealer says you cant use used parts so they will be of zero help for this issue.

At first I didnt know that the parts were married as they are so I got a known good key, eis, tried them and still nothing so then got the ecm still nothing. I also was investigating the brake light switch and disconnected those two connectors to it and tried to start the car seeing what would happen. the dash came up with abs, esp, and bas errors, I plugged them back in and they went away. I read you need the matched shifter as well so I got that yesterday.

long story short after replacing the key, eis, and ecm i checked the fuses (all seemed good and doubled checked that today) and now no dash lights, no blower motor fan even though the climate control lights up, you can select the temp but not fan speed as i could before even without the car starting and a non matched ecm with eis and key. what could be wrong with the car now where the dash doesnt work, the climate control doesnt work, the car still doesnt start. Its worse off than when i started ?!?!?!?!?
Where are you? We might be able to recommend a good Indy. You are spending a fortune on parts when you might not need them. What you need is a good diagnostician who is at least passingly-familiar with Mercedes.
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