08 S63 no crank no start situation -- please help!
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Joined: Mar 2015
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S500
08 S63 no crank no start situation -- please help!
I bought a 08 S63 AMG W221 with 120K miles. It was running great upon purchase. The ABC pump was bad and was not building pressure/leaking ABC fluid out.
I work on my cars and have done a lot of repairs on mercedes/bmw/rangerovers but this issue has got me stumped.
Here's what I did to the car after I bought it.
1) Headbolts (one by one method)
2)Tasos method camshaft adjuster pin flip method
2) Motor mounts
3) ABC pump replacement with all high pressure ABC hoses replaced
4) Oil filter housing gasket, lower oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, timing cover gaskets etc.
5) New spark plugs, ignition coils, air filters, oil filter.
6) Replaced both starter battery and rear trunk battery
7) Replaced starter
8) replaced crankshaft position sensor
ALL PARTS ARE OEM PARTS.
I used an M156 timing tool to set the engine at 40 TDC prior to removing the crankshafts. Everything was marked and put back into place properly and torqued down to spec. After I put everything back together, NO CRANK NO START. So I replaced both batteries. Still nothing. I double checked I plugged everything in and put back the grounds that were removed on the timing cover and ABC pump. Next I checked the starter relay/fuses.
So then I gave up and towed it to the stealership. They charged me 700$ for a diagnostic and told me the starter was bad. I towed the car back home and replaced the starter. STILL NOTHING. I took the old starter to Autozone and it passed their test THREE times in a row. It was not the starter. So I contacted the stealership and they just refunded me the 700$ telling me im better off finding a third party shop that can spend some time on it.
In their diagnostic, they did print out that the Driver Authorization system was fine, the key was detected and a start signal was being read. They also said that the EIS ignition system was detecting the key and start mode was enabled.
The swapped around the starter relays and nothing.
The engine turns without issues and is not seized. I did everything to spec and was meticulous with it. I am lost though, I don't know where to look now. I will be checking if the starter is getting voltage when I crank but need 2 people to do that so I can't today.
WHERE SHOULD I THINK NEXT? ANYBODY HAVE A WORKSHOP MANUAL OR WIRING DIAGRAM FOR THIS CAR? All the basic stuff has been checked, I don't know where to look next. Perhaps a front SAM module or the prefuse box (i took apart the pre-fuse box and it checked out fine)
I did power wash the front of the engine. Could the alternator be shorting everything out? Could the timing stop it from cranking? I put fresh fuel in it and hear the pump buzz, and there is fuel pressure in the rails. The starter wont click over. It has to be electrical and mercedes dealership is too costly/dumb to figure it out without charging me for parts that are not even bad. Any help is welcome [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
I work on my cars and have done a lot of repairs on mercedes/bmw/rangerovers but this issue has got me stumped.
Here's what I did to the car after I bought it.
1) Headbolts (one by one method)
2)Tasos method camshaft adjuster pin flip method
2) Motor mounts
3) ABC pump replacement with all high pressure ABC hoses replaced
4) Oil filter housing gasket, lower oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, timing cover gaskets etc.
5) New spark plugs, ignition coils, air filters, oil filter.
6) Replaced both starter battery and rear trunk battery
7) Replaced starter
8) replaced crankshaft position sensor
ALL PARTS ARE OEM PARTS.
I used an M156 timing tool to set the engine at 40 TDC prior to removing the crankshafts. Everything was marked and put back into place properly and torqued down to spec. After I put everything back together, NO CRANK NO START. So I replaced both batteries. Still nothing. I double checked I plugged everything in and put back the grounds that were removed on the timing cover and ABC pump. Next I checked the starter relay/fuses.
So then I gave up and towed it to the stealership. They charged me 700$ for a diagnostic and told me the starter was bad. I towed the car back home and replaced the starter. STILL NOTHING. I took the old starter to Autozone and it passed their test THREE times in a row. It was not the starter. So I contacted the stealership and they just refunded me the 700$ telling me im better off finding a third party shop that can spend some time on it.
In their diagnostic, they did print out that the Driver Authorization system was fine, the key was detected and a start signal was being read. They also said that the EIS ignition system was detecting the key and start mode was enabled.
The swapped around the starter relays and nothing.
The engine turns without issues and is not seized. I did everything to spec and was meticulous with it. I am lost though, I don't know where to look now. I will be checking if the starter is getting voltage when I crank but need 2 people to do that so I can't today.
WHERE SHOULD I THINK NEXT? ANYBODY HAVE A WORKSHOP MANUAL OR WIRING DIAGRAM FOR THIS CAR? All the basic stuff has been checked, I don't know where to look next. Perhaps a front SAM module or the prefuse box (i took apart the pre-fuse box and it checked out fine)
I did power wash the front of the engine. Could the alternator be shorting everything out? Could the timing stop it from cranking? I put fresh fuel in it and hear the pump buzz, and there is fuel pressure in the rails. The starter wont click over. It has to be electrical and mercedes dealership is too costly/dumb to figure it out without charging me for parts that are not even bad. Any help is welcome [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 35
S500
Also, the crankshafts (intake and exhaust) and the valve tappets/lifters looked absolutely perfect!!!!!! I was surprised as they showed close to zero wear. That means the engine was taken care of. I just replaced the headbolts because I was already in there and they were the old ones. To be honest, they did not look all that bad. I think the headbolt issue is a little played out. But after doing all this work on the W221, I am bummed that its not even cranking. I have time to let it sit while I figure out what's going on. I am going to go back under the car and make sure nothing got pinched while doing the motor mounts. But its not even cranking. which is the crazy part. If it cranked and there was issues thats a different story. But when I turn the key all the way to start it doesn't do jack. I do hear the fuel pump buzzing.
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
W221 S63 AMG (2007)
Hi JP,
I have a question, can you tell me if changing the starter is a difficult job, i have a seized starter and wonder if it is just a straight simple change?
When a engine mount has to be removed then i would have to bring it to a workshop.....
Thanks in advance!
Greetz Dimitri
Note: With help from BenzNinja found out that with Xentry and WIS (which i both have in my posession) everything is documented and literally discribed in there!
So i am done and can go to work!
I have a question, can you tell me if changing the starter is a difficult job, i have a seized starter and wonder if it is just a straight simple change?
When a engine mount has to be removed then i would have to bring it to a workshop.....
Thanks in advance!
Greetz Dimitri
Note: With help from BenzNinja found out that with Xentry and WIS (which i both have in my posession) everything is documented and literally discribed in there!
So i am done and can go to work!
Last edited by dim70; Jan 18, 2023 at 02:57 PM.
