My car does not start with the keyfob, this has been for sometime now although it has never been a big problem due to the fact my keyless start and entry works fine and use the car daily, the thing is i would like the key to work and after reading comments about this it all points to the EIS and that a microchip inside fails, and yes i do know it is fixable by getting the chip replaced but am i wasting my time dismantling the dash and sending the eis for repair when it could be something else, i am sceptical because of the fact it was an intermittent problem somedays it worked and other days not, also i can be driving the car pull up turn it off for five minutes then turning the key would put dash lights on but no cranking of starter motor, surely a microchip fails totally and cannot fix itself after five minutes. anyone any idea?
ps. the keyfob still does open and lock the car.

 

you didn't mention if you have a second key and tested that
then, if both keys do the same you can only be sure what is going on with Xentry/Das

here documentation, hope it will help you

 

Hi
I only have the one keyfob.
i might add that the fob does unlock the doors and when i insert it in the eis the steering wheel and seat move to my preset memory but as said no lights on the dash and i can turn the key all the way to number 3 position and nothing happens. As far as taking out the eis for repair its not a hard to do just it has to be sent away which when taken off the car the keyless start will not work, so they obviously it relies on the eis been in situ for the car to start.
Thanks anyway for sending them details.
Regards

 

really looks like damaged eis to me too

 

Hi
Yes it does but was hoping something simpler, guess i will lay it up a few days and take out the eis and get someone to repair.

 

When you insert the key into the EIS the key is interrogated, and if it is recognized as being correct for your car it is allowed to turn to one of the other three positions. Since you can do this, the key is probably good and your EIS is faulty. Apart from that little bit of analysis, statistically the incidence of failed EIS in this case is overwhelmingly high.

 

Hi Rod
i agree on what you say its just the fact it was doing this on off thing for about a month, i was just puzzled as to why nobody mentioned the keyless start still working like mine.

 

Starting the car via the key includes a mechanical switch while Keyless Go is purely electronic.

You mention getting your EIS repaired...I suppose you've identified a service that charges perhaps $300? That seems to be the market price on eBay, and depending upon where you live you may have someone local to you. I wish you luck.

 

http://www.replacementmercedeskeys.c...r-specialists/

 

The MB guru has spoken

 

Hi
Just had my eis tested and nothing wrong with it, so where to look now?

 

borrow or get a Xentry, you will know in 1 min no choice

 

My opinion of a faulty EIS is so strong as to beg the question of who tested your switch? Was it a business which would have an interest in selling you a repair service? A Mercedes dealership? A friend with a diagnostic system?

And when you state you can not start the car...Does the key turn to position III and not engage the starter? And when you turn the key to positions I and II do you see the typical indications in the instrument cluster? Further, in position II make use of the power windows and a couple of the accessories...Do they all work?

 

Hi
the eis was tested by a business who specifically repairs this item, they verdict it was not at fault.
the key turns to postion 3 but does not engage starter,
when turned to postion 1 and 2 the odometer shows but only about 30 seconds but windows etc do not operate.
fyi i can still drive the car no problems with the keyless go card.

 

I can not recall what accessories function with the EIS in position 1. You can learn which ones do by using your Keyless Go Start/Stop button.

If no accessories function in position 1 using the key, then I do not see how this could be anything but an EIS issue. If this is the case, then you have a dilemma of what to place your faith in. Go to the Benz World forum and contact Rudeney, bobterry99, and bayhas to see what they think.

 

So it has come this far we have to go looking for these guys somewhere else. What a pitty that is.

 

Key now starts the car, it was a fuse but not just any fuse it was behind the subwoofer under the passenger side carpet.
Lord knows why benz thought it was a good idea to put fuses there, pain in the neck to get to them.

 

Thanks for reporting back with the fix.

I presume you replaced the 80-amp fuse. That certainly would explain the lack of functionality with the key in the ignition switch. But I can't work out how everything was fine when you used Keyless Go. All of the vehicle accessories are powered through that fuse, and I don't believe the engine can possibly run if it is blown.

But as someone posted on another thread a couple days ago, the important thing is your car is working properly.

 

Not sure how it worked with keyless go but after i had the eis tested and it been ok i was then looking at the wiring diagram and it showed the 80 amp fuse running to the eis so i checked it and sure enough it was the culprit.

 

Blowing an 80 amp fuse is no small deal. Did you jump start the car?

 

Hi Frederick
yes i have in the past jump started it and i guess from what i have read online this is probably why the fuse blew, apparently later found out you must remove the keyfob befor you do.

 

Could be... unless you had a defect already, causing the need for that jump start.

 

Unless the systems battery is discharged and has caused the battery system to operate in emergency mode, the starter battery is attached to the armature of the starter motor and nothing else. So, the R230 is one M-B which you can jump start with the confidence that there will be no unhappy consequences.

 

Reason for jump starting my car was the starter battery was no good, now have a new one all good for now .

 

Provided, I guess, the ignition is off when you connect the external battery. That would include having no keyless device in your pocket or even (here I risk being laughed at) having a door open.