2006 ML350 No Crank/No Start
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2006 ml350 (W164)
2006 ML350 No Crank/No Start
Hello,
I'm new to the forums and hoping that these forums can help me get my sister's car back on the road. She doesn't have the money to pay a mechanic and I'm pretty handy/work on my own cars as a hobby. This is first MB I've really dealt with however. The car started early in the morning last week and she stopped at the gas station to get gas and now she is getting a No Crank/No Start. Sometimes the key will turn on radio/lights/etc, but sometimes it won't. Battery was tested and is good (recently replaced). I've tested the starter relay and it is good. I just got a scanner in to test codes, but was hoping someone could help with learning curve. I'm assuming I want to test spark, fuel delivery, codes? Could something possibly be wrong with the key (one of the original's no longer worked)? Should I just skip straight to starter replacement?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm new to the forums and hoping that these forums can help me get my sister's car back on the road. She doesn't have the money to pay a mechanic and I'm pretty handy/work on my own cars as a hobby. This is first MB I've really dealt with however. The car started early in the morning last week and she stopped at the gas station to get gas and now she is getting a No Crank/No Start. Sometimes the key will turn on radio/lights/etc, but sometimes it won't. Battery was tested and is good (recently replaced). I've tested the starter relay and it is good. I just got a scanner in to test codes, but was hoping someone could help with learning curve. I'm assuming I want to test spark, fuel delivery, codes? Could something possibly be wrong with the key (one of the original's no longer worked)? Should I just skip straight to starter replacement?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 499
Likes: 66
From: N.Y. L.I.
04 E55 AMG BLK/BLK(MyDD), 06 CLK 500 (wife's) 07 ML500, 2012 C300(son's)
No reason to check spark and fuel if she won't crank...
No crank with plenty of battery power.... Do you have power to the starter @ the starter? (Check fuses and relay's) If yes then I'll point to the starter it's self (or ground).
[QUOTE[color=#333333] Sometimes the key will turn on radio/lights/etc, but sometimes it won't. ][/QUOTE]
what about the secondary battery? Check\ clean battery posts and grounding strap.
No crank with plenty of battery power.... Do you have power to the starter @ the starter? (Check fuses and relay's) If yes then I'll point to the starter it's self (or ground).
[QUOTE[color=#333333] Sometimes the key will turn on radio/lights/etc, but sometimes it won't. ][/QUOTE]
what about the secondary battery? Check\ clean battery posts and grounding strap.
Last edited by Pmarino; Dec 9, 2023 at 01:51 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 442
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Firstly, youll need to scan it, but that might not give you much without the engine running.
I'd be checking current to the starter when you turn the key. As you've said, the battery is OK, so best to eliminate the starter and work back from there. Relays and fuses as well.
After that, you should search the forum for EIS failure being the Electronic Ignition Switch - its the module you insert the key into and it sits behind the fascia. This is a very common failure on W164s. A solder connection breaks in the module and the car won't crank. It can be intermittent. From memory (i might be wromg and others will correct me), the dash.lights will still come on with an EIS failure. Youtube has a few videos and if your handy with a soldering iron, it could be a DIY. If it is that, whatever you do, don't take it to MB. They will rip you off. There are places that fix these independently, and it's not that expensive.
I'd be checking current to the starter when you turn the key. As you've said, the battery is OK, so best to eliminate the starter and work back from there. Relays and fuses as well.
After that, you should search the forum for EIS failure being the Electronic Ignition Switch - its the module you insert the key into and it sits behind the fascia. This is a very common failure on W164s. A solder connection breaks in the module and the car won't crank. It can be intermittent. From memory (i might be wromg and others will correct me), the dash.lights will still come on with an EIS failure. Youtube has a few videos and if your handy with a soldering iron, it could be a DIY. If it is that, whatever you do, don't take it to MB. They will rip you off. There are places that fix these independently, and it's not that expensive.
Last edited by BlackML550; Dec 10, 2023 at 03:45 AM.
