My 96 SL320 has 96,000 +/- miles now and suddenly it does not want to crank when the key is turned to the appropriate position. Once started it's normal, runs great.
Haven't been under it yet, just happened yesterday... I was able to get it home so I can check it out...
Possible bad connection at the starter, or neutral safety switch problem, or key switch problem ???
Battery is fine, not a voltage problem...

Also, once in a while it will crank but not start instantly, I apply the foot feed 1/2 way and retry and it always starts but sounds like it was flooded... any thoughts about that???

Now it doesn't crank at all so I will need to address that first for sure... also we've just had a couple of days of rain where it's been very dry for some time...

Any thoughts here will be greatly appreciated.

Do a real load test on the battery.
Then I'd check connections all the way to the starter.
Then I'd check NSS.

Battery is relatively new and with full capacity...
I bugged a jumper wire to the starter for emergency starts, it works... and at this point am looking closely at the connection to the recent rain events and the NSS...
Started yesterday in neutral but not in park... the nss is out there in the elements 24/7 and it is conceivable that this is the original switch.

Thanks for the input

What's the story on the V-12 car you're selling???

Is the engine block perforated, what was the failure?

I have a 1995 SL320 and just had a similar experience. ( see my post ),anyway I took it to an experienced Mercedes mechanic who runs his own independent shop. It took him about 15 hours to find the problem in the anti theft relay,or the starter lock-out relay module, which he by passed temporarily ( the relay is under the center console apparantly ), and routes to the supply pump in the trunk. About the same time as the start problem occured I noticed the power antenna wasn't going down, and the keyless door locks weren't working all the time. Intially he thought it was the ignition module which he changed to no avail. Anyway my local Mecedes service department says the by pass will cause no harm. I hope this helps, good luck.

Thanks for the note on this... I'm shooting in the dark with the Neutral Safety switch, it's a logical solution but if not then the lock out relay does fit with the problem for sure... will know shortly.
Appreciate the information...

Just put new tires on the car, the technician switched the wheels around and not knowing the dust shields are different front to back destroyed on of the rear shields by putting it on the front and then driving it... I like the shields keeping the brake dust off the wheels...

My battery die on my 95 Sl320 Mercedes and now it won't start with the key but I can touch the starter with a screwdriver to the solenoid and it will start so what can fix to get it to start with the key...all my light come on when keys on then when I start it all the lights go off but light one and red light under the starter is on. But put it on a Diagnostic reader and nothing comes up on it...I had my car rewired and when the guy did it he ask me why my car key switch 30pin goes to lighter pin# and I said I don't know well it was a year and my car battery die and my starters wires were Burt up so I put a starter in it and new wires in it to put it won't start unless I use a screwdriver to start it it don't make no since at all so what do you think could be wrong with it...could it be the anti thrift Relay or the starter 'relay module can you by pass it and how....can it be connection to t he starter neutral safely switch or key??? I am trying to get back on t he road for this summer

When your car was rewired was it a custom job or did the follow Mercedes wiring diagrams ect?

If you suspect the neutral safety switch depending on its location you can temporarily bridge the switch and see if that makes a difference or you can test the switch or both. If the car starts with the safety switch removed and the connection bridged replace the switch then continue trouble shooting til you make sure that was the only problem.

Use wiring diagrams from alldata or some other site for reference and use different color hi lighters to mark ground connections power ect for easier reference and troubleshooting

My Mercedes will start with a push button to the starter and it drives great we found our that the enishenswich has power going into it but the wire it sends the angel to the starter don't get no power in it at all is they a way to get power to that line to make sure it the only wire it not working all the rest of them get power in them it takes special tool to take that out so I was wandering if I could get so power to that one wire to make sure it the only one it not bein mg any power at all to is they a way to get power to that line to see if it start with the key in staff of the push button to the starter...This wire I found out they was no power goon mg into that line was from the alarm I flow the line tell I found one it did get no power in it and that the only one when you turn the key it won't start tell you use the push button...when you try to start all the lights come on then when you start it with the push button all the light go out and you have to the key in the enegen to start it with the push button so my qustion is there a way to get power the that wire to see if the car start with the key so I know that the only thing it not working I found out when I tested all my wires it the wire the sends the single to the starter from the key...