I have some strange behavior with the keyless entry on my 2006.

I am no longer able to unlock the driver's door with the remote in my pocket.

The keyless go start works perfectly, as do all the other doors and the trunk. I've taken to opening the rear door first, which unlocks the other doors.

Could this be something as simple as a battery needing replacing, or should I take it to the dealer?

 

i replaced the battery and it fixed my opening. But I have a similar problem where I have to hit the button on the back door to lock the car.

 

Hello ownersite,

Replacing the battery is a simply DIY that you could try. Since your Keyless Go still works fine along with the keyless door opening on the rear door, I suspect you have a 'bad' sensor or receiver for the front door. My car did this a while back and needed a receiver (I think?) to get it going. I let the dealer do that job so I don't have many details to share. Anyway...I bet it's more than just a battery in your remote that is failed.

/Sparticus

 

Thanks for the replies. Not sure why I didn't check this before posting, but I tried the other key fob to see if it was the battery, and it still does not unlock the driver's door. Off to the dealer it seems...

 

I posted on the same subject a few months ago. EXACT same issue. You need to take the car in to get fixed. The dealer will handle. I believe it is indeed the sensor.

 

Hey ownersite, i had this issue when i first got my car and did lots of research on the subject. If "only" the driver's door does not unlock when you pull the handle yet all remaining doors and trunk work, then its the switch in the driver's door handle. These break quite often as i learned (which makes sense since its the most used handle on the car).
Also i'm convince you have the same problem as i did with these symptoms before because the driver and rear door handle on the driver's door both share the same sensor for the key so if the backdoor is working, that rules it out.
I grabbed mine at genuinemercedesparts.com (~$150) and the replacement took me less than 20 minutes. Hope this helps.
BTW i also drive an 06.

 

Looks like three different people with 2006's have had the same problem. I sense a pattern here. (either that, or people without 2006's read the thread title and moved on)

I have to admit, that while I am a technical geek, I am not mechanically inclined. I hope the repair is covered under my CPO warranty.

 

I am curious as to why isnt there a recall for this issue yet..!! I've got a 2004 and have the same issue.

nanayaw6, do you have the part number handy?

 

Just went thru on my 08. Drivers door sensor had to be replace. Note they are usually not in stock and need to be ordered. Thought it would be something I could wait for and end up being 3 days...

 

Same thing happened to mine. Just had it fixed at the dealership, it was a bad door handle sensor.

 

I changed the battery in my SmartKey yesterday, and that didn't solve the issue. It works on all of the other doors, but not the driver door. Quite annoying.

BTW, I've got a 2004.

 

I have an 05 with the same issue. Mine started doing it intermittently around feb, and later it became permanent. All other doors/trunk/start operations work fine so I know the keyless system is functioning properly. I'm pretty sure it's a bad door sensor, havn't gotten around to replacing it yet.

 

mine did the same thing yesterday, I had to open and lock with read driver door. Now it works perfectly. Go figure.

 

I had the same problem. I was told bad circuit in door handle. Covered with my Chrysler Warranty.

 

By chance, do you still have the part number of the sensor?

My is an '04 and the driver door doesn't work, the other three doors work fine.

 

I had the dame behavior.

I had to replace the driver's side front door handle because the switch failed. It's a common problem with keyless go. The dealer told me I got the last Tectite Grey one in stock. MB discontinued the color in with the 05MY.

 

Change the battery :P I had the exact same problem and it solved it with the new battery

 

Guys, can anybody post the part number for the front side door handle switch??

Mine locks from all doors and unlocks from all besides the driver side door and it looks like it might be the switch.

 

The part number listed on my work order is 211-760-11-70-9189. Thankfully, the replacement was covered under the CPO warranty.

 

Looks like its ~$140 at parts.com. I'm thinking my 2006 has the same issue with the switch. I've been using the rear door to lock and unlock the car for a while now. Kind of annoying.