Key not accepted - new esi needed?

[NEOPARDY]

I HAVE HAD MY NEW 8 YR OLD C270 CDI FOR 3 WEEKS- LOVE IT, BUT....yesterday it would not accept the key: got in , put the key in , and no response, would not even turn to activate starter motor.

It is an auto , left in 'Park' , so Green Flag flat bedded it on skates to John Haynes, Merc specialist, in Goring west Sussex.
They have warned me, that it might be a faulty key, (evidently not uncommon), or I might need a new ESI.
Can someone tell me what the ESI is?
If needed, is it worth buying a second hand/refurbished ESI?
Is it a costly item, and should it have failed after just 42k miles?
Any help gratefully received.
Kind regards, arthur.

 

[DSM10000]

I HAVE HAD MY NEW 8 YR OLD C270 CDI FOR 3 WEEKS- LOVE IT, BUT....yesterday it would not accept the key: got in , put the key in , and no response, would not even turn to activate starter motor.

It is an auto , left in 'Park' , so Green Flag flat bedded it on skates to John Haynes, Merc specialist, in Goring west Sussex.
They have warned me, that it might be a faulty key, (evidently not uncommon), or I might need a new ESI.
Can someone tell me what the ESI is?
If needed, is it worth buying a second hand/refurbished ESI?
Is it a costly item, and should it have failed after just 42k miles?
Any help gratefully received.
Kind regards, arthur.

Arthur

I think they ment EIS, Electronic Igniiton Switch.

They can be a little tempremantal on MB's as can the keys. Have you a spare key and if so have you tried it? Also the EIS can get dirt on the sensor and a clean can often work.

I believe the EIS is around £250 although I may be out price wise. It is fairly simple to fit but I think it needs coding to the car with the MB Star computer

Goodl uck

David

 

[NEOPARDY]

New eis needed?

THANKS DAVID,
I have a spare key, or at least my wife has, and she is in London until tonight, so I won't know until then, whether it will work.

After some research, it seems this is not an uncommon problem. I have put feelers out for a recon/second hand EIS, just in case, but the new key/reprogramming alone appears to be expensive.
MB say that they have to take my car out of 'drive' in order to get it into the workshop , ('parked' outside) , and this involves removing some of the console.... Costs even before the work is started....
The car has done 42k, the citroen C5 I sold had travelled 110000k (08) and gave me not a moments trouble, in its five years. Very worrying.
I have owned the car 4 weeks, and it has already cost me some £800 to sort out various issues. Its last service cost £1076.00 at 38k, (previous owner). It has covered only 4k miles since then.
Thank you again for the info , I at least know now what the situation is. Kind regards, arthur.

 

[bernie driscoll]

THANKS DAVID,
I have a spare key, or at least my wife has, and she is in London until tonight, so I won't know until then, whether it will work.

After some research, it seems this is not an uncommon problem. I have put feelers out for a recon/second hand EIS, just in case, but the new key/reprogramming alone appears to be expensive.

You need to get Mark the keyman on the case, he can come out and get it all sorted for you, and he should be able to provide you with another key too.

 

[NEOPARDY]

Mark the keyman?

FORGIVE ME , BUT AS A NEW MEMBER I DO NOT KNOW WHO MARK THE KEYMAN IS - CAN YOU ELABORATE?

AND THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE, KIND REGARDS, ARTHUR.

 

[bernie driscoll]

FORGIVE ME , BUT AS A NEW MEMBER I DO NOT KNOW WHO MARK THE KEYMAN IS - CAN YOU ELABORATE?

AND THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE, KIND REGARDS, ARTHUR.

This man here, Mercedes key guru:

Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

 

[grumpyoldgit]

THANKS DAVID,


MB say that they have to take my car out of 'drive' in order to get it into the workshop , ('parked' outside) , and this involves removing some of the console.... Costs even before the work is started....
Kind regards, arthur.

Arthur, To get the car out of 'Park' is easy! All they have to do is to remove is the coin holder from the small storage compartment in the centre console, just in front of the arm rest, then push an ordinary pen forwards through the small hole at the front of the compartment, the gearshift can then be moved freely until returned to the Park position again. A 5 minute job.

It does give instructions on how to do this in the drivers Handbook, in case you ever need to release it in an emergency. Pages 302 - 303.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Gearshift release from Park

Scan from 2005 C270CDI Owners Manual (Handbook) should you not have a copy with your car.

 

[NEOPARDY]

faulty EIS.

Brilliant - I can at least free up the 'park' issue. My warranty covers the ignition system, so things are looking up.
Thankyou for your kind help. Neither of my keys work, so it looks like the EIS.
Best wishes. Arthur.

 

[ivandraganov]

Sounds like you need the spare fob

 

[NEOPARDY]

jUST TO WRAP UP THIS THREAD. THE BILL FOR A NEW ESI WAS £446 - OF WHICH THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM PAID JUST HALF. (HE WOULD HAVE INSTALLED S/H PARTS....) JOHN HAYNES , MERC SPECIALIST OF GORING, WEST SUSSEX, DID THE WORK . HIGHLY COMMENDED, BUT STILL PRICEY.
NOW THE FOOT OPERATED HANDBRAKE HAS GONE WEST , FAILS TO RELEASE, AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT BY LOCAL GARAGE TO CURE IT ALSO FAILED. BACK TO JOHN HAYNES NEXT WEEK. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO HELPED, STILL LOVE THE CAR.ARTHUR.

 

[Alban]

I think it is not necessary to get a ESI, you can try to reprogarm a new car key with auto key programmer.

 

[V12]

jUST TO WRAP UP THIS THREAD. THE BILL FOR A NEW ESI WAS £446 - OF WHICH THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM PAID JUST HALF. (HE WOULD HAVE INSTALLED S/H PARTS....) JOHN HAYNES , MERC SPECIALIST OF GORING, WEST SUSSEX, DID THE WORK . HIGHLY COMMENDED, BUT STILL PRICEY.
NOW THE FOOT OPERATED HANDBRAKE HAS GONE WEST , FAILS TO RELEASE, AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT BY LOCAL GARAGE TO CURE IT ALSO FAILED. BACK TO JOHN HAYNES NEXT WEEK. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO HELPED, STILL LOVE THE CAR.ARTHUR.

Sounds like the Eis fitter has disturbed the release cable and it's somehow worked it's way out.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using MBClub UK