vettebk

Just reporting a strange issue.

My 2007 S600 has push button start "keyless go". Recently, when I push the start button; I get a distinct click like a relay sound, but no crank. If I simply push it again, it starts right up. It has been happening for more than a year. I ignored it, because it always worked on the second push. Strong crank. Good battery. Newish MB starter. Runs really well.

For grins, on the next cold start when I next pushed the button, I held it down. Got the click, but this time after 2 seconds it cranked. So strange.

Anyone ever have this.

JohnLane

My 222 S65 behaves similarly intermittently. The 221 S65 did as well with a battery that was half or more dead. It never did that with a fresh house battery. Start battery died not long after.

BenzV12

Is your starter going bad ? My dad's Cadillac Fleetwood acted that way despite new battery . I know different cars but issue sounds same

kevm14

Definitely sounds like the starter going out. This has actually happened to me a handful of times on my E63...

vettebk

Thank you. I am sure that V12 puts a fair strain on the starter motor. And I would bet a donut when the MB dealer last replaced the starter, it was a rebuilt MB starter and not really a new one.

JohnLane

I have not had a starter fail in any of my Mercedes.... Been driving them since 1994. Three V8’s and three bent 12’s.
The 221 S65 had an alternator die at 120-130,000 miles. I have got to replace batteries in all of them except for my current steed.

nath_h

My starter has a slightly different issue...when I push the go button, I get a turn, slight hesitation, and then it starts up. I bought a new (reman) Bosch starter at Rock Auto on clearance for next to nothing, and thought I'd put it in. It looked easy on YouTube, and on the WIS instructions. Plus, my CL does not even have the added complexity of a 4matic. But, not easy. I don't know how the YouTube guys get to the front of the starter to remove the wiring. I think I can get to the starter bolts, but also tough. Anyone have input on how to get this done? It looks to me like I could only remove the wiring bolts blindly through feel, and who knows if I could mange to get them hooked back up correctly.

english_mike

@vettebk - I have exactly the same symptoms as you mentioned in your initial post with my 2007 S600. Did you ever figure it out? Torn between house battery (2 years old), starter, and Keyless Go module...

vettebk

In my case it was the starter battery. Apparently, when the voltage was low, it would do the click. On the next push, it always started right up. So I ignored it after reporting it. I should have looked at the date on the starter battery because it was Sept 2019. Several weeks ago and on a Saturday night, that battery died at a local gas station while I was refueling. The weak starter battery was talking to me but I simply did not listen. My bad.

There is a separate thread on this site about my battery hassles albeit with a very satisfying happy ending.

Moral of the story. If the Keyless Go clicks, check the starter battery condition. If it is weak (or in my case just old), replace it proactively. Also note, there are multiple batteries that need monitoring in an early S600 W221.

english_mike

Thank you - I will replace all three batteries first (starter - engine bay, house battery - trunk, and aux battery - dashboard) and see if the situation improves. Can't hurt, and easier than replacing the starter. Really appreciate the tip!

BenzV12

Thanks for your feedback, nice to see it was sorted out for good