2000 W210 E280 Avantgarde- Electrical mayhem...urgent! Please help.

[ontheball247]

Thanks guys.
Thing is, if it were the battery, then a number of attemps to start the car wouldnt eventually start it, until i jump start it, right? But the car does eventually start after a few attempts of turning the key. But also, dont forget (if knowing this is of any use) sometimes it will start and cut out again immediately.
As for the alternator, if it were that, then i suppose the battery wouldnt recharge properly. But it does, and then everything goes back to normal for a week or so.
Which leaves us with the mechanic's theory...a sticky starter. But then as someone mentioned earlier, the starter solenoid cant drain the battery enough for the faults mentioned to start happening.
And olly isnt back from holiday till saturday, which means i wouldnt be able to see him till next monday.
I guess i could try simply changing the battery for now then (since i dont know how old the current battery is anyway)....unless something else being faulty could then damage that?
Finally, as for the load test, i need to do that when im having starting issues. Because if it is a case of the battery losing charge when the car's off (still not sure how to go about checking this- as advised earlier) and then charging up when the engine's running, then it'll be charged by the time i get to a place that will charge it for me, anyway. Gona check if i can borrow a load tester from somewhere, or if these are cheap, I'll just buy one.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Hello its just a shame belgravia are so misleading and time wasting.

Baz, I'm really sorry to hear this, especially as it was me who recommended you try them. It's completely unacceptable that you were misled and messed about like that, and I hope you're going to complain and at least seek reimbursement of your C-charge (not that you should have to waste more of your time doing this).

It's particularly annoying as I used them myself a few times when I had my C Class, and they were always very professional (though I only ever had dealings with their place in Belgravia), and I have friends who still use them regularly and speak highly of them.

 

[ontheball247]

Hi, not a problem mate. Please dont apologise for someone else's mistake.
And as you've said, the guy at the belgravia branch (said he was the director) was very professional and tried to be understanding. But it was the woman who advised me in the first place, and the guys at the chelsea branch, as mentioned. Reason I wouldnt go to belgravia place either now, is out of principal....when speaking to the director, he blaitantly refused any responsibility when i mentioned to make a complaint and be reimbersed (only for the C-charge, mind you). I didnt even mention any compensation (i felt this would be going a bit far) or petrol costs (which i should have).
I eventually ended the call at the time, out of frustration, and to call them back now to be reimbersed for £8 would be wasting more time, tbh. But to not admit their fault when i went through all that to give them business, over £8 says enough to me. Although Im sure normally they're very good at the Belgravia branch (as i mentioned, up until he showed his ignorance, the director seemed like a nice guy and professional).
But anyway, still appreciate youre help. Nothing to apologise about.
Baz.

 

[jaymanek]

you have a battery drain and the subsequent problems are all due to the battery being low and things needing "normalising"...

Anyway, a star isnt always the best tool in this case, you need someone with a good ammeter who can test which circuit is draining the power.... If you have electric seats it could be the seat module... Otherwise door control units are the next favourite.... and after this the Front Sam (front fuse box to you and me), after this maybe the ignition switch....

Olly is your best bet otherwise any good auto electrician.

 

[ontheball247]

thanks. I think olly's the word.lol.
there's another mercedes specialist near me, who also suggested the key may be faulty and giving out the wrong signals. also the non start issue being a sticky ring gear on the starter, which is aparently common in these, and its the 2nd mechanic to tell me this.
but im still guessing with that. will try get round to olly wen he's back next week.
I appreciate the help, guys. I thought there maybe some cheap(ish) fixes i could try first, but considering how much all the possibilities seem to be adding up to, seems i should hav given up trying to find a short cut and just got a proper diagnostic from olly, since he's so well recommended....wen will i learn lol
Baz.