E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

E500 HIT BY ELECTROMAGNETIC RAY GUN

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jun 25, 2013 | 08:16 PM
  #1  
fdk110's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Mercedes E500
E500 HIT BY ELECTROMAGNETIC RAY GUN

A few days ago, my 2003 E500 abruptly shut off while I was driving on the highway and despite repeated attempts, it did not start back up.

I had it towed to a shop where they determined that the fuel pump was dead. Since it has two pumps, the recommendation was to change both. One day after picking up the car, the same thing happened again.

Towed the car again and this time the scanner showed a defective mass air filter. And now the radio was also comatosed. It did turn on and "Mercedes Benz" appears on the screen but no sound. Pressing the silver button that opens the CD changer cover, does not do anything. Almost as if it has no power.

After changing the mass air filter, the car appears to drive OK but the radio is still dead and the shop could not figure it out.

All of this sounds like as if the car got hit with an electromagnetic ray gun which blew all of these components.

Additional information I can offer is that the guys at the shop are not the most advanced, but honest to a fault. I think they really believed that the pump was dead.

My question is has anyone seen anything like this? And any ideas on what could be wrong with the radio?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2013 | 09:29 PM
  #2  
Shifter's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 4
E55, SL63, ML550
Lol. Ur car only has one pump on the passenger side. Lack of education. The drivers side is a sender unit.

Your audio system "most" ring is down causing the issues. Need that properly diag to figure the cause as it could be a variety of things.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2013 | 10:15 PM
  #3  
JP500's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: New York City
2003 E500 sport (sold), 2009 GL450, w213 E63 (waiting for ordering guide)
how many miles on your E500?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2013 | 10:16 PM
  #4  
fdk110's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Mercedes E500
It has 142K miles.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2013 | 10:30 PM
  #5  
JP500's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: New York City
2003 E500 sport (sold), 2009 GL450, w213 E63 (waiting for ordering guide)
damn, so there was no warning signs before you got on the highway that the fuel pump was going to die? like any loud ticking sounds or something... just curious because I have the same car as you do and im headed on the freeway in about 45 minutes, lol.. I do only have 70k miles on it though, but still just curious if you noticed anything strange when you started the car and then when you accelerated afterwards.. thanks for help
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2013 | 08:45 AM
  #6  
vettdvr's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Just because the pump doesn't work doesn't mean it is the pump. There may be no power to the pump. CPS signs a signal to the BCM that engine is running to power relay that turns pump on. It could be one of many items that prevent the pump from running. Does the pump come on for 5 to 10 sec when the key is first turned on? It should to prime the fuel rail and powered by the Control Module which has a relay. There are also fuses that power the system.

The fact that the radio is giving issues could also be a power supply issue.

You might need to take a deeper look at the definition of "bad pump" Did they run after taken out of the tank. Those pumps are very reliable and to fail two is very improbable.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2013 | 12:33 PM
  #7  
vettdvr's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Originally Posted by Plutoe
Remember-------" I can offer is that the guys at the shop are not the most advanced, but honest to a fault. I think they really believed that the pump was dead."

I know this is all in hind sight and the kid has already pooped in his pants----however here we go again-------Oh I can diagnose and fix that mentality---expensive to the owner, but BS Billy loves you-all!!---honest to a fault---lets take the same hill twice
A pump is dead if it doesn't run. There are many causes for not running.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 11:13 PM
  #8  
fdk110's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Mercedes E500
Nope. This all happned in a few seconds. No warnings. No check enginge lights.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 27, 2013 | 11:33 PM
  #9  
fdk110's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Mercedes E500
As a follow up, I took the car to the dealer and had it scanned. Everything was OK. As far as the radio was concerned, the worksheet said that they "performeed a hard reset of the command. Performed a restart of the wake up line. Cleared codes." And it is working fine now.

In response to the comments that the root cause may have been in the power system, I did question the guys at the shop, and especially after they said that the MAF was also defective. They said that prior to changing the pump they did not see any fuel coming out of the pump and that was their validation that the pump was bad. When the car died a second time (due to the MAF filter), they claimed that they checked the pump again and this time fuel was coming out.

I am still at a loss that what could had caused all this. If there are any electronics circuitry in the pump and MAF filter my eletromagnetic ray gun theory may not be far off.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2013 | 09:05 PM
  #10  
ozusa's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 244
Likes: 4
From: PA, USA
2004 E320 4matic Sedan
A comment on terminology

MAF = Mass Airflow Sensor. It is not a filter. Although it does have mesh at one end to stop tree trunks getting sucked into the engine if they make it past the air filters.

A car can run pretty roughly with a bad MAF. But it probably will at least run.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:55 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE