Key won't turn
 

ARGH!!! I was trying to turn the key on and it'll won't turn, like it was locked out. I thought maybe I blew a fuse, on the ignition switch or something. So I tried a different key and it won't move. I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with it, after researching that something called EIS could possible failed. Anyone can chime in what that is or what it is. Recomendation??? This car served me well for 7 yrs and now it's rolling 136k and starting to have some problem, I'm not ready to part with it since there's no car like it on the market today this is a 09 Mercedes E350 and it does not have a keyless go btw.

IM have battery issues, if the battery is dead same thing happens to me, key wont turn

Battery is good and fully charged as far as the key fob battery has nothing to do with the ignition switch so I’m having the switch removed and send out since I noticed when I stick the key in you would hear steering lock disengage, it was not doing anything so likely the EIS went bad

How did you open your car? Using the key fob, or using the mechanical key?

Check the locks can open and close, the interior light is working with the door open, and the trunk opens remotely (driver-side door switch). If those fail to work, the main battery is dead.

They work fine it’s the IGNITION switch is what it will not turn

https://www.car-auto-repair.com/how-...nition-switch/

easy go ✌️
 

These cars are well built to be repaired, once you have removed the EIS onto your bench, go ahead open the snaps and take 20mn to fix it.

Nice & easy: zero coding necessary.
:zoom:

what is that 20 min fix?

As with any device there are multiple failure modes, for example

choices are to repair or replace ...
 

Perfectly intelligent "can-do" video, thank you Juan
:urock:
EIS module comes with different incarnations, complete with easily repairable Easter eggs.


> DIY vs. for profit:
Repairs involve time and skills with distinct priorities:

• DIY is ... "Do it once, do it right!"
• For profit is... "Please, come again soon"

> EIS Overall :
The Pro has no interest to go beyond fixing the main issue once he discovered the loose connector solders.

It's no-picnic to work under the dusty dashboard to extract the defective EIS... so personally, I want to overall each and every defects all at once.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d2e0fb8f8a.jpg
A B C tags...

Tag A was the main issue with broken solder joints. Tech is fixing that with confidence repair will be complete! The connector should be epoxy glued! Solders are really not supposed to hold components onto the board.
👏

Tag B + Tag C: questionable connection pins - The video shows reliable pins that appear to be normally soldered. Some EIS models use unsoldered pins that develop CAN bus chaos with poor connections, high retransmit, limited bandwidth, data traffic-jams...

Take the whole module apart and diagnose what you see - If you can't, post circuit board pictures we'll help you pick out issues with regard to :

• electronic circuits
• mechanism lubrication
• cleaning contacts

✌️

t
ty very much

I’m looking at it and I don’t even know what I’m looking for so I took pics
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...178deba67.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...42d0093ed.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c731ebf60.jpeg

I noticed they are not the same as on E class

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4241ac05b5.jpg
solder side: good!

The solder-side looks all right.

Your problem maybe found on the components-side then.

@CaliBenzDriver , do you recall the sequence when the key is inserted?

Once the key is inserted the EIS check the key, communicates with ECU, and ESL. When all agree, next.

Question: next can be either of
1- key is verified and the ESL activate electric motor and unlock steering column. If fails to unlock, prevents key from turning
2- allow turning of key, once key is turned to position 1, steering is unlocked.

i believe it is (1). Therefore, the little electric motor within the ESL can be damaged and if it fails to unlock, the key cannot be turned

:popcorn:
Update
======

Here is a device, did not know exist. It can be used for diagnosis of the ESL, though I would not use it permanently.

https://abkeys.com/products/mercedes...w210-w639-3244

yes, I'd side with #1 logic.

I don't know which way the handshake between EIS/ECU/ESL goes... use a scanner to see what is failing the security logic.

+++++ electric rack / ESL / EIS :
On vehicles with electric steering rack, the ESL is no longer located on column.

The stiff rack acts as a lock and as described in the video under post #17:
EIS key can turn unrestricted but power is not available: no dash, no crank, nothing happens.

Nice infomercial video

yep, I discovered it was the ESL and man what a pain in the ass, someone I was having a conversation about my car and he told me get a mallet and give a few whack on the ESL then try again with the key, low and behold it turned, it was my ESL so I managed to get the ESL off while it's unlocked position and pull it off and try to see what caused the problem but it's seal so I called round to have it sent for repair. So instead, I went bought. brand new one coming in and I'm sending it out along with my old one and EIS and key to get it program. Gosh those ESL was unknown to me are know to fail on a lot of Mercedes especially I saw a lot of W204 on YouTube, I was like yikes.

The ESL usually needs maintenance of the gear lubrication. The original grease dries and hardens making it difficult for the small motor to turn. Eventually it burns out. You should be able to open it, and replace the grease. Sure, the motor has already been tortured, but an extra part ready is not a bad idea

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6935313

Got my ESL replaced and it working great, only costed me $278 bucks, I found there a guy from YouTube, from Mercedes Benz Specialist out of Whittier, CA. This guy was great! Fixed my issues , for anyone who want more info about it. Michael Guzman 562-233-0989 this guy is truly a Mercedes Specialist and does a lot of programing so if you need website this is https://mercedesbenzspecialist.net/about-us. I highly recommend it.