1999 SLK 230K won't start, won't lock, lights are flashing

[rdlatimer]

Hi, I'm new here, so first of all thanks in advance to anyone who is able to help me...

I bought my '99 SLK 230k a couple of months ago, and haven't had any problems until this morning..

I got in the car and turned the key, but nothing happened. All the warning lights etc came on as you expect (they usually go out shortly afterwards), but no engine start. Also, the interior light flashed 3 times. I didn't have time to do anything about it before work so got out and used my other car. However I did notice that I couldn't lock the SLK either (luckily it's in a secure garage).

This evening I had another go, with no luck. When I turn the key to position 2, the fan comes on. I tried the lights and they came on but the fan stopped. The windows don't work. I turned the lights off and the fan came back on. Then I turned the key to off, and the side lights went crazy and there was lots of clicking. Now, with the key out, the side lights are still intermittently turning on and off uncontrollably. And as before the car doesn't lock.

I tried removing all the lamp fuses one by one to stop the side lights coming on and off but weirdly none of them seemed to stop them operating (am I missing something here).

One other thing, the red lamp to the left of the dashboard display (right hand drive car - I'm in the UK) is also illuminated. Not sure what this is for.

I'm left with very little idea of what to do, reluctant to disconnect the battery with the lights still flashing.
Is this a classic flat battery? I've read through a lot of other forum posts but couldn't see anything quite like this. I'm guessing if it's not flat now, it soon will be with all the flashing and no engine running. Or is it something more complicated? I hadn't run the car for 1 week before this morning, but not had a problem up until now and I'd left it for that period before.

If anyone can shed any light on this for me I'd be hugely grateful.

Cheers
Rich

 

[m2287]

I'd guess at flat battery, my old clk did similar things when the battery was on its way out.

 

[Dec]

Is the Red light like the below?
Remove the fuse for the alarm.
Is the remote control key fob able to lock/unlock the car… it may need fresh batteries.

Dec

Edit, you should disconnect the Negative - terminal of the car battery until you sort something out.

 

[rdlatimer]

Thanks both for your responses.

Dec - no the red light is just an LED all on its own to the left of the instrument cluster. It's not on a button.

The key fob won't lock or unlock the car but when I hold the button down the red light on it does illuminate suggesting the battery is OK. Also I tried the other key fob too and it was the same.
I did also remove the fuse for the alarm but it didn't seem to make any different (although at that point I was just trying to see if the side lights would stop going on and off). I'll have a quick try at removing it to see if it then allows the car to operate. If no good I'll disconnect the battery as suggested...

Thanks

 

[rdlatimer]

To follow up on that, I had another look and the red light itself does actually depress, not sure if it's actually a button or not.

I've just been back out and the side lights were still clicking to try to turn on and off but there was no illumination any more so I guess there's not enough juice left. I turned the key to position 2 (after trying one more fruitless attempt at starting it up) and the main lights did still come on although I think they were probably dim. This time when I turned the lights off and turned the key to 0 the side lights stopped trying to come on and off (which I suppose is nice).

I've now disconnected the negative terminal on the battery until I decide what to do next!

Thanks.

 

[Dec]

When you say side lights, do you mean the hazard lights are flashing?

Dec

 

[rdlatimer]

Sounds stupid, but I'm not actually sure which lights flash when the hazards are on! Could well be though, yes.
I'm off on holiday for a couple of weeks now so the car is going to sit in the garage with the battery disconnected while I'm away and I'll get back on it when I return.
To me it seems likely the battery is flat but I'm wondering whether there might be something else wrong too.

 

[Dec]

If the alarm is faulty it can triggered itself, usually, when an alarm is triggered the siren sounds and the hazard lights (all four Orange indicators) flash, some times the alarm siren doesn’t make any noise and just the hazards flash.

Dec

 

[rdlatimer]

Hi All
Just a quick update to let you know that I finally got a chance to fit a new battery today. Since I did that, everything seems to be fine! Car starts fine, no weird electrical things going on and no warning lights. So fingers crossed things stay this way...
Took it out for a lovely drive this late afternoon, perfect weather for it.
Thanks for your help Dec and M2287.

Cheers
Rich