SLK230 dashboard codes?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
1999 SLK230 (Japanese import)
SLK230 dashboard codes?
So I'm new here, and have a hard time finding any info. on the car I bought 5 years ago.
it is a 1999 SLK230 (Japanese import), when I got it 5 years ago it only has 72K on it, so it was like new.
It has been very reliable for quite some time and I like it alot.
Lately I have had issues though.
Once last year, while driving over a bridge, the engine just stopped. I let it roll, put it in Neutral, and started it again. no issues. This never occured again, so I dismissed it.
Now in Feb. 2018, I stopped at a gas station, filled the tank that was really low, then when I went to get back in & start it, it would not start at all. it would not even try to turn over, nothing.
All of the dashboard lights came on, put a meter on the battery, it measures 13.2V just fine.
So my only choice was to get it towed to a garage near my home. After the, we tried to start it and voila! it started - very frustrating that I wasted $180 for a tow that served no purpose.
The next day I brought it to a local shop that specializes in Merc's; they did a battery and charging system test and they could not find anything wrong!
So I dismiss this problem as well,
Now in July 2018 (nice summer day) I drive to work no problems.
When I get back in to my car to head to a meeting it would not start again.
I can see on the dashboard a flashing '66' next to a wrench icon - does anybody know where I can find a list of these dashboard codes? I searched all over online and could not find any.
After reading online, I can see that this seems to be a common problem with SLK230's and similar cars.
I read almost every post I could find on the topic, some referenced the K40 (K4D) relay & relay board module, then other posts indicated that this relay does NOT prevent the 'start' signal.
Then I found the 'Enabling Engine Control' diagram to find that the issue might be the transponder inside my key?? I have found my key to be very touchy and have poor range when trying to lock/unlock my car - could it be as simple as a low battery in my keys?
This diagram also shows an transponder coil (L11) that receives the keys' transponder signals and passes them to the Infrared DAS control module, when then passes CANbus data to the Engine Control module.
Without knowing mode about what code '66' on my dashboard is, I will never know where to start looking? Any idea's?
If I try my ODBII reader, can I get more codes that might point me to the issue?
Essentially: my battery appears fine, may key seems to be read since I can turn it and dashboard lights flash & blink and other electrical equipment starts, but nothing sends a signal to the engine to turn the starter.
What other sensors can prevent turnover? Some people have indicated a wire harness on the ABS unit? Some have had issues with the CPS (Crank Position Sensor), others have said to look at the Fuel Filter? (can the fuel filter really prevent starting really?). Where to start troubleshooting to find the cause?
This is frustrating because there seems to be no indication to why it will not start and most posts I have found each seemed to have a different item that resolved their similar issue.
it is a 1999 SLK230 (Japanese import), when I got it 5 years ago it only has 72K on it, so it was like new.
It has been very reliable for quite some time and I like it alot.
Lately I have had issues though.
Once last year, while driving over a bridge, the engine just stopped. I let it roll, put it in Neutral, and started it again. no issues. This never occured again, so I dismissed it.
Now in Feb. 2018, I stopped at a gas station, filled the tank that was really low, then when I went to get back in & start it, it would not start at all. it would not even try to turn over, nothing.
All of the dashboard lights came on, put a meter on the battery, it measures 13.2V just fine.
So my only choice was to get it towed to a garage near my home. After the, we tried to start it and voila! it started - very frustrating that I wasted $180 for a tow that served no purpose.
The next day I brought it to a local shop that specializes in Merc's; they did a battery and charging system test and they could not find anything wrong!
So I dismiss this problem as well,
Now in July 2018 (nice summer day) I drive to work no problems.
When I get back in to my car to head to a meeting it would not start again.
I can see on the dashboard a flashing '66' next to a wrench icon - does anybody know where I can find a list of these dashboard codes? I searched all over online and could not find any.
After reading online, I can see that this seems to be a common problem with SLK230's and similar cars.
I read almost every post I could find on the topic, some referenced the K40 (K4D) relay & relay board module, then other posts indicated that this relay does NOT prevent the 'start' signal.
Then I found the 'Enabling Engine Control' diagram to find that the issue might be the transponder inside my key?? I have found my key to be very touchy and have poor range when trying to lock/unlock my car - could it be as simple as a low battery in my keys?
This diagram also shows an transponder coil (L11) that receives the keys' transponder signals and passes them to the Infrared DAS control module, when then passes CANbus data to the Engine Control module.
Without knowing mode about what code '66' on my dashboard is, I will never know where to start looking? Any idea's?
If I try my ODBII reader, can I get more codes that might point me to the issue?
Essentially: my battery appears fine, may key seems to be read since I can turn it and dashboard lights flash & blink and other electrical equipment starts, but nothing sends a signal to the engine to turn the starter.
What other sensors can prevent turnover? Some people have indicated a wire harness on the ABS unit? Some have had issues with the CPS (Crank Position Sensor), others have said to look at the Fuel Filter? (can the fuel filter really prevent starting really?). Where to start troubleshooting to find the cause?
This is frustrating because there seems to be no indication to why it will not start and most posts I have found each seemed to have a different item that resolved their similar issue.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
1999 SLK230 (Japanese import)
So an update on this post - argh!!!
After 2 hours I went to my car and sure as hell it started with no problems!
I went to Canadian Tire and bought 2 x CR2025 replacement batteries for my key fob and changed them out.
I do seem to get better range and the old batteries in the key fob were dated 1998, so they likely needed to be changed anyway.
Considering it started even with the old batteries in my key fob, I am still confused at this intermittent issue (the worst type to track down).
Just for the heck of it, I took the 2 x CR2025 batteries completely out of my key fob and tried to start the car and it did!!
I still, however have error code '66' flashing on my dashboard when I start it! hat is this '66'??
What on earth is the Infrared on the key fob for it it works even with no keys in it?? Does it get power from the L11 transponder coil and not the batteries???
I am baffled here and have no idea where to look to find this very annoying intermittent issue???
I am also at a loss where to find a list of error codes that appear on the dashboard on an SLK230 - nowhere online could I find what this flashing '66' indicates??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
After 2 hours I went to my car and sure as hell it started with no problems!
I went to Canadian Tire and bought 2 x CR2025 replacement batteries for my key fob and changed them out.
I do seem to get better range and the old batteries in the key fob were dated 1998, so they likely needed to be changed anyway.
Considering it started even with the old batteries in my key fob, I am still confused at this intermittent issue (the worst type to track down).
Just for the heck of it, I took the 2 x CR2025 batteries completely out of my key fob and tried to start the car and it did!!
I still, however have error code '66' flashing on my dashboard when I start it! hat is this '66'??
What on earth is the Infrared on the key fob for it it works even with no keys in it?? Does it get power from the L11 transponder coil and not the batteries???
I am baffled here and have no idea where to look to find this very annoying intermittent issue???
I am also at a loss where to find a list of error codes that appear on the dashboard on an SLK230 - nowhere online could I find what this flashing '66' indicates??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
