occasional long crank time to start
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 225
Likes: 67
From: West Linn, Oregon
2011 E550 - 4Matic, 2008 ML550
Here is my update - After my Oddessy battery - it basically compensated for a bad starter over the past year or so. I finally took it to the dealer - they confirmed the starter was actually bad- it is only supposed to pull I think like 120 amps and it was pulling over 200. My service contract covered the whole package other than my deductible - and its like NIGHT and DAY starting now...never had the crank no start issue since.
There are some threads about DIY replacements - might be worth considering - I think a NEW OEM BOSCH unit can be found for a little over 100 dollars...if you search...
Cheer
There are some threads about DIY replacements - might be worth considering - I think a NEW OEM BOSCH unit can be found for a little over 100 dollars...if you search...
Cheer
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 862
Likes: 28
2010 e550 coupe
Because the starter in question is one they put in the car that still has warranty. But it was as everyone including myself thought the starter was bad. I went and had an Indy replace the starter and problem is gone. I took the bad starter to autozone to bench test and it passed. I then took it to a starter specialist who took it apart and said the brushes were not making proper contact. The last thing I was told at the dealership was that it wasn’t the starter and that it wound start off at about $600 to figure out what it was. I’m sure glad I didn’t pay them to look everywhere but where the problem was.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
W211
i have a 2008 w211and Im having the same issue long crank/extended crank. I’ve replaced,
fuel pump, fuel filter, crankshaft sensor, Cam shaft sensors, cam shaft magnets, purge valve, canister vent valve, MAF sensor, spark plugs, all coil packs and none of these have resolved the issue, I have no check engine light. Any help is appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
i have a 2008 w211and Im having the same issue long crank/extended crank. I’ve replaced,
fuel pump, fuel filter, crankshaft sensor, Cam shaft sensors, cam shaft magnets, purge valve, canister vent valve, MAF sensor, spark plugs, all coil packs and none of these have resolved the issue, I have no check engine light. Any help is appreciated.
fuel pump, fuel filter, crankshaft sensor, Cam shaft sensors, cam shaft magnets, purge valve, canister vent valve, MAF sensor, spark plugs, all coil packs and none of these have resolved the issue, I have no check engine light. Any help is appreciated.
Did you change the starter?
Last edited by Arrie; Jun 17, 2022 at 12:02 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
W211
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I ran into this starting issue many years ago now and for the first "cure" the dealer installed a new battery for about $400. Car was good for about a month but then the same problem came back. Random long cranks to start the engine.
As a second "cure" I replaced the battery again with a much lower cost battery from AutoZone and again after about a month the same problem came back. This proved to me it is not a battery issue.
Reading these forums I decided to replace the starter. I got a starter from AutoZone and installed it. The starter physical length is a little bit longer than what the car had in it but it fit in and is still in the car. It has been a few years and never had a long crank since.
The thinking is that these starters going bad start pulling so much power at crank that it starves the other components of power and car has trouble to start.
Easy test is charge your battery fully over night and see if it helps the issue for awhile. If not, the starter can still be the issue, but if it helps it is quite sure sign of the starter going bad.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
W211
I have the 2010 E550 with the big engine. I have told my story in this forum before but here it is again.
I ran into this starting issue many years ago now and for the first "cure" the dealer installed a new battery for about $400. Car was good for about a month but then the same problem came back. Random long cranks to start the engine.
As a second "cure" I replaced the battery again with a much lower cost battery from AutoZone and again after about a month the same problem came back. This proved to me it is not a battery issue.
Reading these forums I decided to replace the starter. I got a starter from AutoZone and installed it. The starter physical length is a little bit longer than what the car had in it but it fit in and is still in the car. It has been a few years and never had a long crank since.
The thinking is that these starters going bad start pulling so much power at crank that it starves the other components of power and car has trouble to start.
Easy test is charge your battery fully over night and see if it helps the issue for awhile. If not, the starter can still be the issue, but if it helps it is quite sure sign of the starter going bad.
I ran into this starting issue many years ago now and for the first "cure" the dealer installed a new battery for about $400. Car was good for about a month but then the same problem came back. Random long cranks to start the engine.
As a second "cure" I replaced the battery again with a much lower cost battery from AutoZone and again after about a month the same problem came back. This proved to me it is not a battery issue.
Reading these forums I decided to replace the starter. I got a starter from AutoZone and installed it. The starter physical length is a little bit longer than what the car had in it but it fit in and is still in the car. It has been a few years and never had a long crank since.
The thinking is that these starters going bad start pulling so much power at crank that it starves the other components of power and car has trouble to start.
Easy test is charge your battery fully over night and see if it helps the issue for awhile. If not, the starter can still be the issue, but if it helps it is quite sure sign of the starter going bad.
thank you, I’ll look into replacing the starter hopefully in my case it’s the starter, I did take it to a mechanic shop a few weeks ago and they diagnosed everything, was told it was a fuel pump issue but I told them everything I replaced they held the car for another week and double checked the work I did myself, then I got a call saying as far as the battery goes and fuel everything is good, was told it could be a timing chain issue but I don’t have any performance issues. So I basically paid 175 to get told something that isn’t the problem.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
thank you, I’ll look into replacing the starter hopefully in my case it’s the starter, I did take it to a mechanic shop a few weeks ago and they diagnosed everything, was told it was a fuel pump issue but I told them everything I replaced they held the car for another week and double checked the work I did myself, then I got a call saying as far as the battery goes and fuel everything is good, was told it could be a timing chain issue but I don’t have any performance issues. So I basically paid 175 to get told something that isn’t the problem.
Like I said before, I never had an issue again after replacing the starter. I don't remember exactly when it was but I would say around 5 years ago.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
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W211
I don't know about your car but mine has the "smart" charging system meaning the battery charge goes down from the fully charged battery when I drive the car and my driving is 85% highway so battery should be fully charged but it is not as high charge as you get with battery charger. This is why for awhile everything was fine after battery was replaced and I charged it over night. It just is that after charge drops from the full charge the car would have problems starting.
Like I said before, I never had an issue again after replacing the starter. I don't remember exactly when it was but I would say around 5 years ago.
Like I said before, I never had an issue again after replacing the starter. I don't remember exactly when it was but I would say around 5 years ago.
ok, I’ll get the starter replaced and I’ll post my results once done. Thank you.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
W211
I don't know about your car but mine has the "smart" charging system meaning the battery charge goes down from the fully charged battery when I drive the car and my driving is 85% highway so battery should be fully charged but it is not as high charge as you get with battery charger. This is why for awhile everything was fine after battery was replaced and I charged it over night. It just is that after charge drops from the full charge the car would have problems starting.
Like I said before, I never had an issue again after replacing the starter. I don't remember exactly when it was but I would say around 5 years ago.
Like I said before, I never had an issue again after replacing the starter. I don't remember exactly when it was but I would say around 5 years ago.
Member
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 144
Likes: 72
From: Calverton MD 20705
2013 W212 E350 RWD
My car generally starts without issue or drama. However, on a few occasions in the past few months (very rare), it will crank several times before it roars to life. The CEL does not come on at all. All the other times, it cranks once and fires right up.
For example (and this is the most recent one since it just happened this evening), the car started at home just fine (first crank today) and then took a short drive (10 minutes) to local shops. When I got out of car I noticed I had pulled forward too far into the next space (360 is on wish list for next car). So I jumped back in to restart the car and reverse a couple of feet and it took a few seconds (maybe 4-5) to crank. Other times it's happened that I can recall were in the morning after a short trip and then restarting the car about an hour later. However, more times in the same situation (short drive, an hour later) it starts right up with no delay.
Again I should stress that this rarely happens so it is just something I am keeping an eye on for now. Any advice?
For example (and this is the most recent one since it just happened this evening), the car started at home just fine (first crank today) and then took a short drive (10 minutes) to local shops. When I got out of car I noticed I had pulled forward too far into the next space (360 is on wish list for next car). So I jumped back in to restart the car and reverse a couple of feet and it took a few seconds (maybe 4-5) to crank. Other times it's happened that I can recall were in the morning after a short trip and then restarting the car about an hour later. However, more times in the same situation (short drive, an hour later) it starts right up with no delay.
Again I should stress that this rarely happens so it is just something I am keeping an eye on for now. Any advice?
This is what happened to my car before my low pressure fuel pump failed, to a T.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
As the German engineers must not have made a car with starting issues with battery charge level the car maintains the battery at, it had to be that something is drawing down the power too much during starts and the only thing for that could be the starter.
Do the simple test I already mentioned earlier. Charge your battery fully with a wall charger and see if it helps, it it does it most likely is the starter going bad.
