Last Saturday afternoon I drove to the supermarket about a mile from my home to pick up something for dinner, and of course locked the car. When I returned to the car the door did not unlock when I grabbed the door handle, but the key fob was able to do so. However, when I pressed the start button, the dashboard lit up but the engine did nothing at all, literally northing. I fiddled around with it for a few minutes before deciding to call AAA for a tow, but stupid me had left my cellphone at home. So I borrowed a phone from one of the store managers and was able to reach AAA. It took about 90 minutes for the truck to arrive, but the driver was unable to do anything even though he tried to jump-start the car. He said it was probably a problem with the engine's computer (?). However, because the rear wheels were locked, he couldn't tow the car and told me I needed to request a forklift tow truck that could raise the rear of the car before towing it. He then drove home to get my spare key Fob, but that didn't work, either, so he brought me back home and I called AAA once again, explained the problem, told them I needed a forklift truck, and that I was at home and the driver should pick me up there before going to the supermarket's parking lot. I waited for another two hours and then called AAA to see what was going on. The agent told me that they had been unable to locate a forklift truck and "no one is searching for one." I had a hissy fit and they agreed to keep looking. I got a call back about 30 minutes later and was told they had located one and it was on its way. Again I told AAA to have the driver pick me up at my home. After about another half hour I got a call from the driver of the forklift. When I reminded him to pick me up at my home, he said AAA never told him to do that, but he agreed to come by for me. He did so, and he was able to get my car and prong it to my home, putting it in the garage. On Monday morning I called AAA again and requested a tow to the local MB dealer, reminding them that I needed a forklift truck. Tow truck #3 arrived, quickly hooked up the car, and towed it to the dealer about 6 mile away. However, they were very busy and the mechanic wasn't able to get to it until Tuesday morning. He managed to find the problem and fixed the car. Here's what he reported:

"17125 software update of the EZS required. Performed function test, found vehicle would not crank. Circuit 15 and 15R were not engaging. Performed short test, no relevant codes found. Performed drive authorization test, found vehicle failed test with one key. Performed DAS test with second key, found test passes and engine cranked and started. Checked for service bulletins and found none pertaining to customer concern. Checked tips cases, found similar cases where EZS was updated to remedy this issue. Updated EZS software. Found after update, both keys were starting the vehicle okay."

FWIW, here's we are happy to he wrote about the specific fix:

"D Campaign 2025010006 update distrain control unit with software cause: Open Campaign.
029334 update control unit software (with xentry/DAS connected)
1452 WM8
024762 star diagnosis system
(SDS) connect/disconnect
1452 WM8
025058 connect/disconnect battery charger
1452 WM8"

BTW, they had to recharge the starter battery as it was nearly dead from all of the failed attempts to start the car.

Hope this helps anyone who encounters a similar problem, especially since MB apparently never issued a service bulletin pertaining to this issue. Oh, yeah — dealer charged me $590.99 for this, plus another $189.99 for charging the battery. Having had no choice, and having feared a much more expensive repair (i.e., replacing the computer the truck driver mentioned), I didn't ***** about it.

 

$189 to charge the battery is insane. You could just buy a new one for that.

And $600 to hit “update”?