1998 C140 Won't Start - "Drive Error"

[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

Disaster!

Went out last night (short trip fortunately) and bizarrely there was no AC fan blowing - the system thought it was working as in the display was all good but no air coming through at all no matter what the fan speed was. Strange.

Parked up and then went to leave where I was again an hour or so later. Got in, turned the key and noticed the AC display was completely dead. Started her up and just a chugga chugga chugga and "Drive error" appeared on the dashboard. Everything else seemed to be Ok.

RAC man came out about 45 minutes later and after an hour and a half had to admit defeat. He suspects there could be some corrosion somewhere from the water leaks I had owing to the sunroof issues previously, but they were sorted 3 weeks ago now.

Interestingly I found the following - exact same symptoms to the letter...

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I've found a Mercedes Specialist in Ware that are going to take her and the RAC can recover me over there for free as I left the car where the breakdown happened so going to get it over there Thursday morning.

Hoping the above is indeed the cause, but I've also seen other things around immobilizer and key issues so we shall see what happens...

Anyone else had similar experiences and can share some input?

I'll update the thread when I know more....

Thanks in advance.

TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

Sorry, should be Start Error, not Drive Error.

Can't see how to edit the post!

TMW

 

[DSM10000]

Once posted you cannot change the title. Ask Admin to change it for you

Sorry, should be Start Error, not Drive Error.

Can't see how to edit the post!

TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

Well, she's gone to the doctors...



TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

Had a call this morning from the garage and she's working again.

Whilst initially still displaying the symptoms as seen with no start etc. they have been over her and reseated all electrical connectors / fuses / relays etc. and now they cannot get her to fail at all - starts every time and they have done several journeys of varying length as well with stop-starts to make sure it's holding. She's being left for a few hours and then they are going to try her again and see what happens but, at this time, it's looking positive.

They are changing the serpentine belt for me whilst they've got her as the RAC guy pointed out it will need doing soon (and I agree having seen it) but all being well I should have her back in the next day or so.

Strange though how / why it happened. But at least she's happy again now.

TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

Still all good - collecting Saturday morning.

TMW

 

[zipdip]

Good result for you,at least if the car does it again you can give all the relays and fuses some attention.

 

[tmwsccsh]

Definitely. Fuses we did go through with the RAC guy initially but relays and connectors weren't visited.

Looking forward to getting it back on Saturday now.

TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

And she's back - went and got her a day early.

All is well.

TMW