SL/R129: Car won't start, need help
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
'87 W124, '95 R129, '04 G35
Car won't start, need help
Well, the weather finally drops to the low 80's here in Maryland so I decided to take the roadster out today. Well, I put the key in, turned, nohting!!! All the lights on, but the car wouldn't turn over 
Not a single crank.
I put a trickle charger on the battery this evening, as I remember reading something about not to jump this kind of car. Am I correct? As I mentioned, all lights are on when I turned the key. What about the starter? How do I know it's a bad starter? Please help!!
Not a single crank.I put a trickle charger on the battery this evening, as I remember reading something about not to jump this kind of car. Am I correct? As I mentioned, all lights are on when I turned the key. What about the starter? How do I know it's a bad starter? Please help!!
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi,
Try to start it in neutral, if that doesn't work, let roll a bit on neutral (2-3 feet), hold the brakes, put it bak in park, then try start it again then remove uor foot from the brakes so that it rolls a bit when you're trying to start it.
If any of that works, you might have a problem with the crank shaft sensor. I'm having the same problem now.
good luck.
Sargoun
Try to start it in neutral, if that doesn't work, let roll a bit on neutral (2-3 feet), hold the brakes, put it bak in park, then try start it again then remove uor foot from the brakes so that it rolls a bit when you're trying to start it.
If any of that works, you might have a problem with the crank shaft sensor. I'm having the same problem now.
good luck.
Sargoun
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: far west chicago suburbs
There may not be enough power...
... in the battery to even crank the starter. Take a voltmeter across battery terminals and measure voltage. There should be anywhere from 12-13 volts. If less, continue to charge battery.
97 SL500 tri blk
sport pkg 1
28k miles
97 SL500 tri blk
sport pkg 1
28k miles
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
'87 W124, '95 R129, '04 G35
Battery is good. The roll bar button has two blinking lights lit up that I don't recall ever seeing, and there is a beeping as if the car is telling me something is disabled. I am beginning t o think a senor is bad and thus stop the car from starting. Any suggestions?
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
'87 W124, '95 R129, '04 G35
OK. Car is fixed!!! Mercedes Roadside Assistance came to the house, the guy turned the car on, popped the hood and went straight to the fuse box. Wiggled one of the fuses, and the car started right up.
Moral of the story --- don't think big, start with the small stuff first, no matter how small.
I feel like a complete idiot. I checked the fuses last night but did not think about wiggle any of them.
Moral of the story --- don't think big, start with the small stuff first, no matter how small.
I feel like a complete idiot. I checked the fuses last night but did not think about wiggle any of them.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
From: bay area, CA
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
Originally Posted by elau
OK. Car is fixed!!! Mercedes Roadside Assistance came to the house, the guy turned the car on, popped the hood and went straight to the fuse box. Wiggled one of the fuses, and the car started right up.
Moral of the story --- don't think big, start with the small stuff first, no matter how small.
I feel like a complete idiot. I checked the fuses last night but did not think about wiggle any of them.
Moral of the story --- don't think big, start with the small stuff first, no matter how small.
I feel like a complete idiot. I checked the fuses last night but did not think about wiggle any of them.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
1994 SL500
I realize this is an old thread but it helped me out today so I thought I'd post my experience.
My '94 wouldn't start yesterday. At the same time, the central locking system went out. I checked the fuses under the hood before calling Mercedes Roadside Assistance. Turns out there is another small cluster of fuses in the trunk, and it was a blown one back there that was the source of my trouble.
I'm probably the only 129 owner that didn't know about the second group of fuses, but I can still take comfort in the fact that it took the technician 20 minutes to figure out that one of those was the one causing the issue.
My '94 wouldn't start yesterday. At the same time, the central locking system went out. I checked the fuses under the hood before calling Mercedes Roadside Assistance. Turns out there is another small cluster of fuses in the trunk, and it was a blown one back there that was the source of my trouble.
I'm probably the only 129 owner that didn't know about the second group of fuses, but I can still take comfort in the fact that it took the technician 20 minutes to figure out that one of those was the one causing the issue.
Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
I realize this is an old thread but it helped me out today so I thought I'd post my experience.
My '94 wouldn't start yesterday. At the same time, the central locking system went out. I checked the fuses under the hood before calling Mercedes Roadside Assistance. Turns out there is another small cluster of fuses in the trunk, and it was a blown one back there that was the source of my trouble.
I'm probably the only 129 owner that didn't know about the second group of fuses, but I can still take comfort in the fact that it took the technician 20 minutes to figure out that one of those was the one causing the issue.
My '94 wouldn't start yesterday. At the same time, the central locking system went out. I checked the fuses under the hood before calling Mercedes Roadside Assistance. Turns out there is another small cluster of fuses in the trunk, and it was a blown one back there that was the source of my trouble.
I'm probably the only 129 owner that didn't know about the second group of fuses, but I can still take comfort in the fact that it took the technician 20 minutes to figure out that one of those was the one causing the issue.
D'OH!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 341
From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
Had a similar issue last summer. Toyed with the fuses, nothing. The car would run fine, then not start up after I turned it off. The next day, ran fine. This repeated a few days later, since I did not have time to get the issue diagnosed. Well, it turned out to be the module, $700 in repairs after all the diagnostics run, the part itself, and also the installation. I have to say, my faith in the drivetrain remains strong, but the electrical components on these R129's can be a real PITA at times. 
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
'87 W124, '95 R129, '04 G35
You all want to know something? I believe there is something in my car killing the batteries I had. The one in there now is brand new, and is hooked up to an expensive battery tender with readouts and lights. I notice couple days after the car was driven, the battery starts to drain. The readout will drop from 100% to 85% (today's reading). I am not sure why the tender has not kicked in and start recharging the battery automatically. But I can press a button to start the recharge at any time. I am actually wanting to see how much lower it will go before I manually recharge it.
There is absolutely no after market things in my car. I am beginning to suspect the wiring harness may be the culprit as I have not changed out the old one yet. The insulation may have crumpled enough that the wires are touching each other. I can think of no other cause, can anyone of you?
There is absolutely no after market things in my car. I am beginning to suspect the wiring harness may be the culprit as I have not changed out the old one yet. The insulation may have crumpled enough that the wires are touching each other. I can think of no other cause, can anyone of you?
