SLK/R172: Key recognition problem?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia
2020 GLC 300 4Matic. Missing: SLK 350, Triumph Tr 3 & Tr 250, VW Westfalia
Key recognition problem?
I have a 2013 SLK 350 with 29000 km (18000 miles). It had always behaved flawlessly until recently when I inserted my SmartKey and noticed that the steering wheel did not give its customary key-recognition sound. I turned the key one further position and neither the tachometer nor the speedometer did their customary sweeps. Further turning the key to the start position produced a complete silence: no engine cranking and absolutely no sign of electrical power (other than the P R N D, odometer, time & temperature display that comes on when the door is opened). I removed the key and reinserted it with exactly the same result. I tried using the spare SmartKey with exactly the same result. Both keys would lock and unlock the car from a distance of 10 ft. I waited for about 45 minutes and tried my original key again. Everything worked exactly as it should!
I have tried both keys many, many times over the last days and everything has worked as expected: the steering wheel recognizes the key, the gauges do their sweeps and the car starts and runs perfectly.
The dealership says drive it until it does it again (!) but I really do not want to be stuck somewhere. Any ideas of what might have caused this situation?
I have tried both keys many, many times over the last days and everything has worked as expected: the steering wheel recognizes the key, the gauges do their sweeps and the car starts and runs perfectly.
The dealership says drive it until it does it again (!) but I really do not want to be stuck somewhere. Any ideas of what might have caused this situation?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia
2020 GLC 300 4Matic. Missing: SLK 350, Triumph Tr 3 & Tr 250, VW Westfalia
For the 45 minutes or so that the failure to recognize the key or the immobilizer issue existed, I was lucky to be in my garage and able to repeatedly start the car with either key throughout that afternoon without any issue. I did have the same thought of a weak SmartKey battery so I removed the CR2025 battery--the car recognized the key and started! Apparently, the fob key is passive and behaves like a credit card tap. However, since neither battery had ever been replaced, I replaced the battery in each fob.
About a month or so before the failure, the dealership did an oil change and an unexpected "update engine electronics (ME-SFI) control unit." They noted on the invoice that they lost the injector codes while doing the update and had to put them back in. When I called them about the key failure issue and mentioned that update, they said that this was not related to any electronic issue, so I’m still left wondering what happened.
About a month or so before the failure, the dealership did an oil change and an unexpected "update engine electronics (ME-SFI) control unit." They noted on the invoice that they lost the injector codes while doing the update and had to put them back in. When I called them about the key failure issue and mentioned that update, they said that this was not related to any electronic issue, so I’m still left wondering what happened.
