SL/R129: Electrics all die
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 5
From: Nelson NZ
17 E220d all-terrrain, 92 SL500, 16 C250D Wagon, 16 A200 (wife)
Electrics all die
Hi, a recent problem is occasional instant dying of all electrics - while driving, usually just after doing a km or so, but did it in the garage today, so can confirm its not anything to do with the motor running, its pretty much total loss of 12V (not sure of every circuit, but motor and cluster just flame out entirely!)
It looks like a simple ignition switch fail, as if I turn the key on and off a few times the instrument cluster livens up and it will go again. In the power out stage the starter still winds over, but engine wont fire as no ignition.
My question is - could this be one of the modules which control the electrics such as Overvoltage relay which can control many circuits in the car? My reason for questioning it is physically pushing on the key while its going never seems to cause a problem, which I would expect for a dodgy key contact.
Once going for a few minutes, it never dies in spite of corners, bumps and such. Comments appreciated.
Greg E, 92 SL500, 155kms
It looks like a simple ignition switch fail, as if I turn the key on and off a few times the instrument cluster livens up and it will go again. In the power out stage the starter still winds over, but engine wont fire as no ignition.
My question is - could this be one of the modules which control the electrics such as Overvoltage relay which can control many circuits in the car? My reason for questioning it is physically pushing on the key while its going never seems to cause a problem, which I would expect for a dodgy key contact.
Once going for a few minutes, it never dies in spite of corners, bumps and such. Comments appreciated.
Greg E, 92 SL500, 155kms
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8
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2000 CLK 320
Hey Grege did you ever figure out what was the cause? I thing i have a simalr issue on my 05 CLK 500. See description below
2005 CLK 500 Convertible with 115k miles.
One of my light bulbs (the one that stays lit at night after turning of the car) burned out and I replaced it with a similar looking bulb before going to work.
On my way to work as I’m driving all of a sudden my instrument cluster shut off (the outside temperature and odometer still displayed but was not updating the miles driven). Also my radio shut off but I was able to turn it back on. I also heard the fan (believe it’s the radiator fan) working really hard since there was a lot of noise coming from the engine. I shut of the car and restarted and everything was back to normal.
On the way back from work the same thing happened but the car did not start right away. The key would not want to turn as if there wasn’t any electrical power at all. It eventually started on the 3rd or 4th try.
I came home and removed the light bulb I installed. The next day (day 2) the car worked without and problems.
Today (day 3) I took the light bulb from the good headlight and placed it in the burned out headlight and it worked. I also took the spare light bulb that I had previously tried to install to see if it would work one more time but it did not and I took it out. On my way to work the same thing happened as on the day 1, but this time it happened 2 times and when I arrived at work and restarted the car the check engine light came one.
I must also mention that for a while my info center on the instrument cluster has been displaying that I have several malfunctions associated with lights being either out or working when they are not supposed. I visually inspect it they all work fine, but it keeps telling me side markers lights are out or that the backup light is on when in actuality the side marker lights are on and the reverse light is not on.
Does anyone know what could be causing this?
2005 CLK 500 Convertible with 115k miles.
One of my light bulbs (the one that stays lit at night after turning of the car) burned out and I replaced it with a similar looking bulb before going to work.
On my way to work as I’m driving all of a sudden my instrument cluster shut off (the outside temperature and odometer still displayed but was not updating the miles driven). Also my radio shut off but I was able to turn it back on. I also heard the fan (believe it’s the radiator fan) working really hard since there was a lot of noise coming from the engine. I shut of the car and restarted and everything was back to normal.
On the way back from work the same thing happened but the car did not start right away. The key would not want to turn as if there wasn’t any electrical power at all. It eventually started on the 3rd or 4th try.
I came home and removed the light bulb I installed. The next day (day 2) the car worked without and problems.
Today (day 3) I took the light bulb from the good headlight and placed it in the burned out headlight and it worked. I also took the spare light bulb that I had previously tried to install to see if it would work one more time but it did not and I took it out. On my way to work the same thing happened as on the day 1, but this time it happened 2 times and when I arrived at work and restarted the car the check engine light came one.
I must also mention that for a while my info center on the instrument cluster has been displaying that I have several malfunctions associated with lights being either out or working when they are not supposed. I visually inspect it they all work fine, but it keeps telling me side markers lights are out or that the backup light is on when in actuality the side marker lights are on and the reverse light is not on.
Does anyone know what could be causing this?
