dodgersnbolts

Hi can anybody help me with this one. I've just walked into my car like any other day did not special before getting in. I put the key in the ignition and it wouldn't turn at all, it made a sound like it's locking. When i remove the key it makes the same sound again. I tried sevral times removing and inserting the key and even trying the spare key but got notthing no turn of the key. I get no lights on my dash board but the lights on the car turn on and radio turns on i can open the doors and trunk of the car any ideas.

1998 clk 320

loungn14

check your battery voltage...some times when low it wont turn the ignition but has enough voltage to run stereo and stuff..

dodgersnbolts

ok thanks, I'll check for that. Any other suggestions before i try this?

whoover

Sounds like the EIS. Only the dealer can deal with that.

dodgersnbolts

Is it posible that the battery voltage is low and is the cause of this issue. I took my battery about 2 months ago to an auto zone to have it recharged. Whoover what do you think?

whoover

It's possible of course. Do your headlights come on fully? If so, you probably have enough voltage to power the EIS, but if won't hurt to check your battery if you're not sure. If it's not a dead battery, it sounds like the EIS.

dodgersnbolts

well I'll have to check if the lights come on fully, of course it had to happen this morning while on my way to work. I sure hope it's just the battery. Can you give me a brief discription of EIS and what it dose not my vechicle?

whoover

Electronic Ignition Switch. It's the thing your key plugs into. It communicates with the key using a very secure protocol. Only the dealer can get one programmed to work with your keys. They keep those procedures very closely managed for security.

dodgersnbolts

Thank you for your help in this matter. I'll let you know my end result to this....

dodgersnbolts

Well what can i say here....Yesterday evening i arrived home went to my vehicle put the key in the ignition and it fired up as it normally would. I drove around went to a couple stores, turned on/off the vehicle serveral times to ensure that there really was no issue...This morning it happend again!....the key will not turn, i just keep hearing a locking sound (EIS) i assume. Is there a way for me to reset this(EIS) maybe using a ODB-II reader or removing the battery away....please help, i want my very last resort to be going to the dealer ship.

whoover

It really sounds like your EIS is flaky. I think the dealer is your best bet at this point.

dodgersnbolts

I've contacted the a service department at a Mercedes dealership and was told that it's most likely the battery that is very weak, why it happens in the morinings is because thats when the battery is at its weakest point from not being used after a long period. I guess the heat in my trunk gave my battery enought juice to start it yesterday evening. i guess i'll try again when i go home today from work. I'll post tommorrow....

vettdvr

Put a volt meter on the battery. Turn on the headlights and if the voltage is below 12 V you probably have a weak battery. If you turn the ignition to the start position to energize the starter motor and the voltages drops below 10.5 V the battery does not have enough power. My guess is your battery needs replacing. There is however the possibility that the car is an issue with the switch / and or alternator not charging. But,,,, I would replace the battery if the voltage is not holding up during the start test.

If you don't have a voltmeter, Radioshack has them very cheap that will work for this test. The fact that it does it in the morning really sounds like a weak battery. If the key switch were defective it would be random and occur at any time. The battery will always be weaker in the morning.

dodgersnbolts

I don't even know if this makes any sense but here it goes...I replaced my battery yesterday evening with a brand new one, oh by the way before replacing my old battery the car turned on again. I went to auto zone with it bought the new battery came back home and switched it out. After switching the battery out i drove it around for a good 30 minutes. This morning my car wont start again, the key in the ignition will not turn. For the third day in a row only in the morning my car will not start. When i get home around 5 pm PST, and try to start my car it starts with no problem. I guess my only option now is to go to a dealership and have it checked out. If anybody reading this can help please do so i would really appreciate it. By the way Whoover when i spoke with the dealship yesterday they said it's not EIS, cause if it was my car would never turn on and would have to get it towed in...

dodgersnbolts

To Vttedvr: Will this even work since my key in the ignigtion wont turn at all....up,down,left,right....the key is stuck and the steering wheel makes a locking sound, i cant put it in starting position, it wont click over even once...

raymond g-

does your model car use the smartkey?

dodgersnbolts

This vehicle dose not use a smart key...1998 CLK320...infrared key to ignition, i also have tried the spare key, with no luck...

whoover

If your battery is running down overnight, you could have a battery drain. The most common cause is a bad door or seat module that keeps the CAN B (the network that controls lights, etc.) from sleeping when you turn your car off. These are hard to diagnose unless you have the right equipment and training.

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic030538.htm

Sometimes taking the car to the dealer is the cheapest way. If you have an electrical drain and not a bad battery, you just wasted some money already.

dodgersnbolts

good article whoover thanks for that, I've always been the kind to fix my own vehicle but this time im beat...I guess i'll take it in....I'll post the fix when ever i get it fixed...

vettdvr

I would still do voltage checks and have real data to know what is happening. The seat module could be a problem but without knowing voltage we can't tell. But since you are taking it to the dealer,, let us know what they found.

dodgersnbolts

I don't think its the keys since the i have a spare i have rarely used and is in very good condition and that also dosen't work. Well its Saturday and for the last four days in a row my car will not turn on only in the morning. Yesterday evening i was driving it around all evening, i went to dinner and a movie and it worked fine. I wanted to get an early jump this morning by taking it to the dearlship this morning but couldn't get it to start....I never mentioned that this vehicle was in a minor accident...Somebody ran into it while it was parked on the rear driver side, visually you can only see paint damage and a broken tail light, can this be an issue of why this is happening? dose anybody know...The issue begun to happen after my car was hit...

epmills

As said before, its the EIS... I've replaced a few now due to the same problem.

RichardM98

Harbor Freight has a 'float charger' (Part No. 42292) for $5.97. Hook it up and it'll maintain the battery voltage at 13.6v overnight. If you have parasitic current drain (from damage during the accident), it will enable the car to start in the AM.

AH1W-COBRA

had our EIS replaced awhile back,what a nightmare for the poor dealer to troubleshoot.below 40 degrees all accessory functions were intermittent.as soon as the temp increased ,all was fine.i had to video the car first thing in the morning to get the SA enough ammo to convince the techs that the car had a problem.it took them 10 days to pinpoint and a new EIS to repair.the EIS does so much.make sure you bring all keys to the dealer,they are tough on the security aspect of replacing this component.

dodgersnbolts

Thank you all for your replies to this post. It has been very helpful in making my decision to take it to the dealership...