bruceinc

Got in my car to try starting it. Starter cranked once and now won't turn over at all. Last few days I noticed it was taking a few extra cranks for the car to start. Had an appointment scheduled to take it in on Friday but didn't quite make it. Jumping the car didn't seem to help at all.

2010 e550

Any ideas?

Car started fine this morning while cold.

thefisch

Original battery? So you couldn't jump start it and but then it started the next day anyway?

KEY08

Battery. Don't screw around with jumping, trickling, etc. You will be chasing it forever. Buy a new battery and be done with it.

bruceinc

Og battery. First time I'm having this issue. Last few days I noticed the starter was taking a few extra cranks to start the car. Today in the morning it cold started right away with no issue. I drove it for about an hour. Parked it for an hour or so. Came back to start it up again, starter cranked once and now won't crank at all. Tried jumping it, but it made no difference. Now sitting in it waiting for roadside assist to take it to the shop. Dash lights up, headlights, ac and radio seem to be working fine, but when you turn the key to start the engine nothing happens.

homeofstone

Could just be a bad loose wire to the starter.

bruceinc

I am fairly confident it's starter related. I even stopped by my mechanic today in the morning and mentioned the slow crank to him. Was supposed to drop it off with him on Friday

thefisch

Given the age of the battery that would be my first guess too. However, not being able to jump start it means it's likely something else like the starter. Of course it depends on what you were using to jump start it. I have jump started my E550 more times than I care to admit and often I had to wait several minutes with the donor car running and connected before it would take.

Airmousam

I'm voting battery is junk...good luck

bruceinc

Just heard back from my shop. Battery is fine. The starter is getting sufficient power but it's completely seized. As I initially suspected the car needs a new one.

Will the exhaust need to be removed to gain access to the starter?

thefisch

Let us know the damage.

KEY08

wow. that is a pretty rare failure. I don't know what has to be removed to get at it.

konigstiger

272, 273 4matic procedure left catalytic converter is removed see here:http://workshop-manuals.com/mercedes...ce_and_repair/

bruceinc

It doesn't seem that rare. First time I noticed the slow crank I did a bit of digging around the web. This is not a super common issue but it's not unique to my vehicle. There are at least half dozen threads even on this forum mentioning the slow crank. Most of the time people blame the position sensor or battery, but there are few posts where the problem was traced back to the starter. ill let you guys know what this is going to end up costing me :/

thefisch

Interesting that it is seized. In my experience with electric motors (like a starter) is that when they seize they stay that way. In your case, it seems that it would be seized at some points and then other times it worked. Perhaps it was just right on the cusp of failing.

KEY08

The slow crank is common on the 550 with a Battery going bye-bye and has also been attributed to a bad starter in at least one thread that I am aware of. I don't hear about too many failed starters, though as a general rule. They seem to be pretty bullet proof. I hope it is an easy swap.

Ders

Sounds eerily similar to the W204 EIS/Steering lock failure

Tonycpa

The most useful poster of all time.

Every new member should be required to send $20 to this guy via Paypal.

I've been a member for about a week and I have seen this guy help over a dozen people already

belarus27

if its not the battery rhen its the starter.

bruceinc

Thank you, sir

Ferris_E550

Truly thank you konigstiger. When I see your reply to any post I know that you have the answers. Good to have you with us

bruceinc

$850 later I have a new starter. The bolts were pretty rusted and snapped during the removal so that cost quite a bit more in terms of labor. Pretty odd that the bolts were so rusted since the rest of the undercarriage is completely rust free.

As an added bonus the jackass who was towing the car to the shop bent one of the rear control arms because he strapped the car down improperly. New one will be installed tomorrow, but the towing company will be covering the expense. Only silver lining is they get to pay for an alignment as part of the replacement... Sigh... It's been a rough week haha

homeofstone

Bad news about the bolts. I restore old cars as a hobby and always have rust blaster on hand and a torch to tackle rusted bolts. I found that an over night with blaster coated on a bolt frees most from the rust. But sometimes a bolt still snaps. Glad its fixed and no other electrical problem was found and thanks for the update.

Julian TheMan

For mine to my surprise was the starter. I've had Mercedes replace the battery a couple of times before when I would hear a drag in the starter thinking that was the problem, considered a fuse or relay but after checking with volt ohm meter with someone behind the wheel found out that the starter was the problem. Haha go figure it's out of warranty and Mercedes wants 4 hundred something for the starter and that's not new. Found on rockauto.com brand spankin new for 99.00. Can't beat new.

bruceinc

It was the starter. Had it replaced next day. About a month later and it runs/starts like clockwork.

Went with BOSH. I like their free towing policy that comes included with every starter/alternator purchase

Julian TheMan

No need to drop exhaust only the undercarriage covers also don't forg to take off battery terminals and start with the negative