Help!W124 E280 Infrared Remote Control not working.

[neilrr]

I've bought an E280 fitted with option 880 - closing system with infrared remote control (с 01.02.1988) fitted to the boot & driver's door & it doesn't work.

The batteries in the 2 keys were a long time dead when I bought the car & I installed new batteries, reviving one key. I tried re synching the key as per the Owner's Manual & http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26218&highlight=Remote+Central+Locking but that didn't make any difference. The central locking works perfectly on the key in both the passenger & boot locks.

Neither the driver's door nor the boot IRC seems to respond. It strikes me as odd that both sensors / receivers are dead at the same time. I believe this option 880 includes an immobiliser which seems to be turned off - at least it has no effect on the starting or running of the car which is otherwise perfect.

Does anybody have any experience with these IRC thingies or a clue as to where to start?

Any help MUCH appreciated.

 

[grober]

Do you have leds in the driver's door handle and below the boot and do they flash green or red at all?

 

[neilrr]

Yes,

I have the red & green things in the driver's door handle & next to the boot lock but they don't seem to do anything. The surface has gone sort of milky / opaque but even at night I can't see any flashes.

 

[grober]

There may be a problem with the alarm/ immobiliser which is tied to the remote locking and the previous owner may have disabled it. If the led detectors are faulty then the remote locking wont work and the alarm wont arm. This is probabaly best because the alarm may immobilise the car and then refuse to disarm again.

 

[neilrr]

Thanks. The previous owner says he never used the IRC, so I guess he locked it at the boot all the time.

I was at my local scrapyard earlier & they have an E220 with this option 880 fitted. I managed to get the boot sensor from that car (the driver's door one was already gone) & could probably get the control unit / brain box too, but I haven't a clue where it's located on an E280 Estate. Any idea?

Would this help do you think or are they individual to each car?

Alternatively, could I swap doorhandles or lock barrels over from the passenger side & just use an old fashioned metal key to lock the car?

 

[grober]

Pm Sent!

 

[neilrr]

Actually, I should have asked where the IRC brain box is located on an E220 saloon, not an E Estate.

 

[grober]

PM sent.

 

[ET4]

The c/locking on my old E320 didn't work. The fault was the key. The buttons go in them. You didn't say whether the fob works from the boot ?

Mercedes want your car, your V5 doc and £127 for the privilege of a new key.
I've been down this new key, new unit etc It used to drive me mad locking the car from the passenger door.

Best thing to do is get an alarm fitted. £99 gets you extra security, 2 fobs, all the c/locking working fine and probably a discount on your insurance too

 

[neilrr]

ET4,

No, the fob doesn't work on either the boot or the driver's door.

I hadn't thought about just leaving the MB system as is and getting a new alarm fitted. I was going to investigate getting an old fashioned lock fitted to replace the IRC in the driver's door, but the local MB dealer said they couldn't supply a driver's door lock as the car didn't come with one when new.

Seemed a pretty weak response to me.

 

[kth286]

neillrr

Whats the problem with just locking the car from the passenger door lock with the flip key.

The central locking should not be affected and all the doors and boot will automatically get locked.

You just will not have the alarm on.

As far as the alarm is concerned, as a temporary measure, you can either get a blinking red led for a few pounds or get a steering wheel imobiliser for overnight security.

 

[500E]

When the car is locked with the IR setting, does the alarm become activated? I have the same option on my E280 and its worked fine since I owned the car (29k miles).

However, the original Merc alarm does not work, even though I have changed both batteries on both alarm fobs. I used to lock the car normally because I didnt even know about the IR setting back then!

Funny, we didnt, nor did the dealer know how to function the electric seats, we spent about 10 minutes looking for handles to move the seat forward!

 

[Jorge Cordero]

I had a similar problem with my E320 T and the solution was

I received the remote from the previous owner, change the batteries and nothing happened.
What I do was to open the sliding door of the battery compartment, after that with a flat screwdriver opened the remote (put the tip over the o-ring and gently turn the screwdriver to open the remote).
I found that the two pins that connect the batteries to the small electronic board inside the remote had a broken joint (maybe too many drops?) The fix was to resolder the pins to the board, if you don´t know how, any electronics fan can do it in a minute.
After that put all the stuff together, press the remote button for more than one second and the red light (inside the remote) blinks.
Went to the car, test it and it works flawlessly.
Hope it helps.

 

[Dave]

Re synching

I had a problem resynching a key for my E220 estate.
Following the instructions in the handbook didn't work but advise from this forum did the trick.
1. With the car locked
2. Point and press the button at the driver door sensor for 5 seconds
3. Go around to the passenger side and unlock the door using the key.
4. Back at the drivers door press the remote button and the door should unlock.

 

[neilrr]

I've tried everybody's suggestions but nothing has worked.

I even bought a door sensor & control box from a same year 124 at a junk yard & that didn't have any effect at all.

I met Talbir Bains last weekend when I saw his cars (FANTASTIC BTW) & he suggested just forgetting about it & buying a new alarm. It does all the MB system does & more & is Thatcham Cat 1, has a warranty, is modern technology & will cost about £100. ONE door sensor from MB is £132 + VAT.

 

[Gilja]

Hi guys, I have a similar issue with my W 124 300D, remote fob will not work and when I take the whole Mercedes W124 IR Door Control Module and the key from another w124 it works. Unfortunately, I cannot swap the modules between cars so I need another one. Does anybody know what the prices are? I found one for 250 pounds and it seems a bit steep for me.

 

[andy27168]

Hi
Do you have the Pt.No.?
Looked for a second hand part? or is the price you quoted for a second hand item?
Have you looked on e-bay?

 

[Onetwofourtwo0two]

Hello, my similar problem started this week at the beginning of the week it failed on the boot sensor but continues to work on the door. Can’t get the spare fob to work at all? Any advice would be appreciated