Another no crank mystery!
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Joined: Jan 2010
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Another no crank mystery!
Hi all
New to me is a 2002 CLK 430 convertible. I picked this up for cheap because it’s got the weird no crank no issue. Here are my symptoms:
I have two keys, both of which make the click sound when inserted into the EIS. I assume the EIS is good based on this.
When I turned the key to position two I get dash lights and the radio operates. The gear selector field is hashed out and does not display park.
The gear selector is stuck in park and can only be moved by triggering the manual detent release.
When the gear lever is moved to neutral, the Dash intermittently displace the correct gear selection.
When the brake pedal is depressed, the gear selector field is immediately hashed out again, and the lights go dim. As if it resets something.
when the brake pedal is depressed, I can hear a ever so slight click in the shifter solenoid, but as noted it does not release the shifter out of park.
There is an ABS pump whirring.
When the key is turned to start position, there is only a click behind the headrest/roll bar switch.
The battery that was in it measured 11.7 V because of a CD that was stuck that was like likely running it down.
I also got this from a guy who bought it from a buy here pay here place. I have not yet opened up the Dash to go look for any GPS tracker/starter interrupted device devices but PO did not think it had that installed.
So my three culprits are the shifter, K 40 relay and brake switch possibly.
What else?
New to me is a 2002 CLK 430 convertible. I picked this up for cheap because it’s got the weird no crank no issue. Here are my symptoms:
I have two keys, both of which make the click sound when inserted into the EIS. I assume the EIS is good based on this.
When I turned the key to position two I get dash lights and the radio operates. The gear selector field is hashed out and does not display park.
The gear selector is stuck in park and can only be moved by triggering the manual detent release.
When the gear lever is moved to neutral, the Dash intermittently displace the correct gear selection.
When the brake pedal is depressed, the gear selector field is immediately hashed out again, and the lights go dim. As if it resets something.
when the brake pedal is depressed, I can hear a ever so slight click in the shifter solenoid, but as noted it does not release the shifter out of park.
There is an ABS pump whirring.
When the key is turned to start position, there is only a click behind the headrest/roll bar switch.
The battery that was in it measured 11.7 V because of a CD that was stuck that was like likely running it down.
I also got this from a guy who bought it from a buy here pay here place. I have not yet opened up the Dash to go look for any GPS tracker/starter interrupted device devices but PO did not think it had that installed.
So my three culprits are the shifter, K 40 relay and brake switch possibly.
What else?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,132
Likes: 792
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
No signs of water in the passenger side kick panel where the TCU lives
No evidence of a piggyback or sneaky starter interrupter device around the Dash wiring
Brake light switch does not illuminate brake lights
Brake light switch triggers reset of Dash.
i’m swapping out for a new brake light switch and we’ll see what That does if anything.
No evidence of a piggyback or sneaky starter interrupter device around the Dash wiring
Brake light switch does not illuminate brake lights
Brake light switch triggers reset of Dash.
i’m swapping out for a new brake light switch and we’ll see what That does if anything.
Last edited by Max Blast; Jun 19, 2026 at 12:06 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,132
Likes: 792
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Short test in X century results in the usual low-voltage garbage store stored faults. The only active and current fault is BAS because of steering angle sensor, not initialized.
Could not establish communication communications with the electronic selector module or the transmission control unit.
Could not establish communication communications with the electronic selector module or the transmission control unit.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,132
Likes: 792
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
The engine rotates freely
With the brake/Cruz control circuit breaker pulled, I regain free movement of the gearshift lever and corresponding indicator in the Dash
With both tail lamp circuits pulled at the brake lights, and the breaker back in I get the same behavior.
I think I have a short in the brake light circuits, but it still doesn’t crank. Batteries at 12.7.
With the brake/Cruz control circuit breaker pulled, I regain free movement of the gearshift lever and corresponding indicator in the Dash
With both tail lamp circuits pulled at the brake lights, and the breaker back in I get the same behavior.
I think I have a short in the brake light circuits, but it still doesn’t crank. Batteries at 12.7.
