04 S55 IGNITION KEY WONT TURN
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
04 S55 IGNITION KEY WONT TURN
Been a while since Ive been here but Ive ran into an issue that has me stumped......my car (04 S55 W220) had been sitting for a while and my battery went completely dead (I suspected it was flaking out anyways) so I replaced it with a new one. Problem is the ignition key would insert but would not turn at all. I left it in the ignition overnight and still no luck. I have checked ALL my under hood fuses and the fuses on passenger side dash end and the fuses under the rear passenger seat. All are good. I moved the gear lever to neutral but still no turn of the key. I thought my EIS (ignition switch) was bad so I had another one cloned with my current switch information, installed it but no go. At this point I "think" Ive tried everything. I have 12v on both middle pins of the large plug on the ignition switch so the switch has voltage but it just wont turn. Does anyone have any ideas? Have I missed some fuse/s somewhere? Everything else works, lights, radio, fan, etc. Dash lights up with door open. Where should I look? My STAR system cant get codes unless the ignition is on an car started so thats no help. Ideas?
SOLVED......apparently my key and switch were fine AND were getting +12v to the switch BUT was not getting a signal from the front drivers side fusebox (broken cable perhaps) so I ran a cable from the OBD port and she started. All is now working fine.
SOLVED......apparently my key and switch were fine AND were getting +12v to the switch BUT was not getting a signal from the front drivers side fusebox (broken cable perhaps) so I ran a cable from the OBD port and she started. All is now working fine.
Last edited by pumpedTSI; Mar 18, 2019 at 10:42 PM. Reason: SOLVED
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
Have you let the battery charge up all the modules overnight WITHOUT the key in the ignition? The only time I've seen this is when my battery died BECAUSE I left the key in overnight. But after I charged the battery again (key out of the car), it was fine. Leaving the key in the ignition keeps all "sleeping" modules "awake" and drawing power (my layman's explanation). Battery out gives the modules time to charge up, so they respond properly to recognizing the key. Do the lock and unlock, trunk open functions work YET with the new battery? Once those start working again, your key should work as well.
maw
maw
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
Maw, I never actually left the key in when I charged the battery at first. I suspected the battery was going out so I just replaced it. I only left the key in the car for a few hours (with new battery) to see if the car "learned" the new key but no go. The door unlock/lock function does NOT work with old EIS or the new one. I'm kind of stuck with this one....the car was fine until the existing battery went completely dead. Now I have a brand new battery and nothing will do ****. All my fuses are good, full charge battery, etc. Ive been disconnecting the battery after trying the key until next time I screw with it. Should I just leave the battery connected and try it again next day? If it matters I bought an EIS coil "test" device, works on BMW, Mercedes, etc. I tried it on my BMW......it works by reading the coil voltage in the key when you insert it and an led comes on to let you know your key and switch are good. I tried it on the S55 and get nothing with both keys. Not sure what that means....Im stumped here...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
maw...Should I just leave the battery connected and try it again next day? If it matters I bought an EIS coil "test" device, works on BMW, Mercedes, etc. I tried it on my BMW......it works by reading the coil voltage in the key when you insert it and an led comes on to let you know your key and switch are good. I tried it on the S55 and get nothing with both keys. Not sure what that means....Im stumped here...
GL, please report back.
maw
Last edited by maw1124; Feb 11, 2019 at 09:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
It DOES get frustrating and what youre saying sounds like common sense. Ill try the full charged NEW battery hooked up overnight WITH the trickle charger.......sounds like solid advice. I'll let you know. Thanks for chiming in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
GL
maw
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
Maw............tried your method over the weekend and nothing....still the same. Left it on trickle charge (battery connected to car) overnight and tried key the next day.....same crap. Key goes in but wont turn. Where do I go from here?
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
maw
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
This is the cloned EIS module......no, the key wont do anything (locks/alarm/etc and never did even before I cloned the EIS......to clarify...the key will NOT perform any remote function...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
maw
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 367
'06 MB S55 AMG; '04 Audi Allroad 4.2; '05 BMW M3 Conv.; '92 MB 500E
I got nothing here. New batteries everywhere and the car doesn't recognize the key. There's some module that's malfunctioning. Let's both review that module list.
maw
maw
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 175
Likes: 17
BMW E31 Dinan Stage 3 TT 625Hp on 93 pump............. 00 BMW E38 750iL.....03 S55 Alabaster white
All this **** started when the car sat for a month and the battery went completely flat......maybe I do have a dead module but which one...
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
2003 E500
Is you get some time, try disconnecting the cpu in the passenger side fusbox. Its the main ecu for the car. Unplug all the wires and plug them back in. Sometimes they jist need a wake up afyer sittong for so long. That ecu works in correspondemce with your key.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 46
Likes: 5
From: Indiana
2003 S55 AMG
Will try that as well, with fingers crossed.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 269
Likes: 93
From: Las Vegas, NV
2003 S55 AMG, 2005 C320 Coupe, 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
I'll throw in my 2 cents to add to the title of this thread. I feel like I'm not out of the woods yet with my issue.
*Car sat for 2 weeks and the temperature is dipping into the high 30's at night, car is garaged. I say that because it seems to coincide with cooler weather and I've never had this problem before.
*The key would intermittently not want to turn in the ignition, but the PSE system was still functional and lights would flash when unlocked by the FOB.
*Key FOB eventually quit unlocking the car and the lights would no longer flash
*Replaced FOB batteries although they still had 3V ea, still no results.
*Opened key FOB, wiped off the IR lenses with a dry Q-tip, was clean anyway.
*Still no turn inside ignition, no unlock.
*Checked fuse 78 on the passenger side of dash for the EIS and it was good. Also checked with a multi-meter to be 100% sure it wasn't blown..
*Key still wouldn't turn inside the ignition, no unlock.
*Decided to randomly check all the other fuses on the passenger side dash, didn't find anything blown.
*This time the key turned, car started and my locks started working again.
*Battery voltage was also at 11.87V prior to the car starting. Yes, I need to put it on a trickle charger since it sits a lot. Battery is less than a year old.
*I then drove the car for about 5 miles, no issues.
*Tried starting it a couple hours later and the key hung up again before it finally turned. I'm suspecting the EIS is on it's way out?????
*My bootleg XENTRY crapped out a year ago and I haven't replaced it to help troubleshoot the issue.
*Car sat for 2 weeks and the temperature is dipping into the high 30's at night, car is garaged. I say that because it seems to coincide with cooler weather and I've never had this problem before.
*The key would intermittently not want to turn in the ignition, but the PSE system was still functional and lights would flash when unlocked by the FOB.
*Key FOB eventually quit unlocking the car and the lights would no longer flash
*Replaced FOB batteries although they still had 3V ea, still no results.
*Opened key FOB, wiped off the IR lenses with a dry Q-tip, was clean anyway.
*Still no turn inside ignition, no unlock.
*Checked fuse 78 on the passenger side of dash for the EIS and it was good. Also checked with a multi-meter to be 100% sure it wasn't blown..
*Key still wouldn't turn inside the ignition, no unlock.
*Decided to randomly check all the other fuses on the passenger side dash, didn't find anything blown.
*This time the key turned, car started and my locks started working again.
*Battery voltage was also at 11.87V prior to the car starting. Yes, I need to put it on a trickle charger since it sits a lot. Battery is less than a year old.
*I then drove the car for about 5 miles, no issues.
*Tried starting it a couple hours later and the key hung up again before it finally turned. I'm suspecting the EIS is on it's way out?????
*My bootleg XENTRY crapped out a year ago and I haven't replaced it to help troubleshoot the issue.
Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 162
Likes: 15
'03 S55 AMG / '09 E550 4-Matic / '08 E350 4-Matic
I'll throw in my 2 cents to add to the title of this thread. I feel like I'm not out of the woods yet with my issue.
*Car sat for 2 weeks and the temperature is dipping into the high 30's at night, car is garaged. I say that because it seems to coincide with cooler weather and I've never had this problem before.
*The key would intermittently not want to turn in the ignition, but the PSE system was still functional and lights would flash when unlocked by the FOB.
*Key FOB eventually quit unlocking the car and the lights would no longer flash
*Replaced FOB batteries although they still had 3V ea, still no results.
*Opened key FOB, wiped off the IR lenses with a dry Q-tip, was clean anyway.
*Still no turn inside ignition, no unlock.
*Checked fuse 78 on the passenger side of dash for the EIS and it was good. Also checked with a multi-meter to be 100% sure it wasn't blown..
*Key still wouldn't turn inside the ignition, no unlock.
*Decided to randomly check all the other fuses on the passenger side dash, didn't find anything blown.
*This time the key turned, car started and my locks started working again.
*Battery voltage was also at 11.87V prior to the car starting. Yes, I need to put it on a trickle charger since it sits a lot. Battery is less than a year old.
*I then drove the car for about 5 miles, no issues.
*Tried starting it a couple hours later and the key hung up again before it finally turned. I'm suspecting the EIS is on it's way out?????
*My bootleg XENTRY crapped out a year ago and I haven't replaced it to help troubleshoot the issue.
*Car sat for 2 weeks and the temperature is dipping into the high 30's at night, car is garaged. I say that because it seems to coincide with cooler weather and I've never had this problem before.
*The key would intermittently not want to turn in the ignition, but the PSE system was still functional and lights would flash when unlocked by the FOB.
*Key FOB eventually quit unlocking the car and the lights would no longer flash
*Replaced FOB batteries although they still had 3V ea, still no results.
*Opened key FOB, wiped off the IR lenses with a dry Q-tip, was clean anyway.
*Still no turn inside ignition, no unlock.
*Checked fuse 78 on the passenger side of dash for the EIS and it was good. Also checked with a multi-meter to be 100% sure it wasn't blown..
*Key still wouldn't turn inside the ignition, no unlock.
*Decided to randomly check all the other fuses on the passenger side dash, didn't find anything blown.
*This time the key turned, car started and my locks started working again.
*Battery voltage was also at 11.87V prior to the car starting. Yes, I need to put it on a trickle charger since it sits a lot. Battery is less than a year old.
*I then drove the car for about 5 miles, no issues.
*Tried starting it a couple hours later and the key hung up again before it finally turned. I'm suspecting the EIS is on it's way out?????
*My bootleg XENTRY crapped out a year ago and I haven't replaced it to help troubleshoot the issue.
I sent both to a locksmith in RI and
got my S55 straightened out, for
around $100
A locksmith in CO quoted $1,400
to $1,700. 🙄
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 269
Likes: 93
From: Las Vegas, NV
2003 S55 AMG, 2005 C320 Coupe, 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 89
From: Hollywood, CA
W209, W124
Carefully pull the key circuit board out. They sometimes get gummed up from cracked buttons and/or moisture intrusion. If circuit board shows signs of water ingress, post images here and we can help.
