Ml270 not starting

[jay1983]

Hi all
As title suggests I finished work this morning and my car refused to start. All the lights come on as normal but when the key is turned to start there is nothing. It's not even trying to turn over. Car has now been left on works car park and I was forced to get the bus home.
Apart from emergency running mode the car has been fine and shown no signs of failing up until this morning. I'm thinking it could be starter motor but is there anything else I should be looking at?

 

[Jane270ML]

Bad earth connection from body etc.

 

[jay1983]

Just been reading up on the earth strap which goes to engine mount on os. Is there an easy temp fix to get me home if this is the problem?

 

[Ted]

If it is that, you can clip a jump lead between the engine and chassis as a temporary fix.
Make sure they are clipped to clean metal and clear of moving parts.

 

[jay1983]

When you say engine do you literally mean the block or negative terminal of the battery? Sorry for bein thick.

Also to confirm it is the earth wire (I think!) it's approx 6 inches long with a bolt at either end. 1 side is snapped clean. Is this what is causing the problem?

 

[Ted]

If you can get to the battery negative that will be better than the chassis. So clean bright area on the engine - say a stud, and battery negative terminal. Good luck.
Edit. Also sounds like it is the engine earth strap.

 

[icehockeyjoe]

Have your ruled out the immobiliser? If it has one of course...

 

[jay1983]

I tried a jump cable from negative terminal to the turbo heat shield but nothing happened.
Hope it's not the immobiliser as that's pretty much game over.

 

[panason1c]

When you say engine do you literally mean the block or negative terminal of the battery? Sorry for bein thick.

Also to confirm it is the earth wire (I think!) it's approx 6 inches long with a bolt at either end. 1 side is snapped clean. Is this what is causing the problem?

Yes, that is the cause of the problem.

 

[jamesfuller]

I would remove the plastic cover and put one end of the jump lead on some decent bare metal, injector pipe or something similar! Should be fairly secure and get you home.

 

[jay1983]

Sorry for sounding numb, but if that's the cause of the problem, how come when I put the jump lead from the negative terminal to turbo heat shield it still wouldn't start?

Car electrics are not my strong point lol

 

[Jane270ML]

Is the heat shield an alloy?
Or maybe it's not connected directly to the engine - even Loctite on bolts prevents full metal contact.

 

[Gazz270]

if you can see the broken earth strap try and get the jump lead onto the bolt securing it to the engine,

 

[Gazz270]

where abouts in manchester are you,

 

[jay1983]

I'll take a punt and hopefully buy a new cable from mercedes 2moro. As it's on a private secure carpark I'm not too bothered about it atm.

I'm in South Manchester but the car is in trafford park.

 

[jay1983]

Does anyone know how much the replacement cable is from mercedes?

 

[Jane270ML]

Not from MB, but most car spares shops sell them for well under £10, incl Halfords.

 

[Jane270ML]

Here it is, with p/n, from Inchcape

GROUND STRAP - E Class 1985 - 1994 E250 - Mercedes-Benz Parts, Inchcape

 

[jay1983]

Wow thanks for the link

 

[jay1983]

Well it's finally fixed. Turns out 1 little cable can completely render your vehicle immobile. So pleased it's done now.
Mercedes had to order it in for the next day but I picked it up, paid £15.20 and proceeded to fit it. Very simple repair held in place by 2 13mm bolts. Access is limited but with a good ratchet spanner the job is very doable for even a novice diyer.
Started on the first turn of the key.
I've attached a photo of the new part from mercedes which hopefully shows the part number to help anyone in future who searches this problem.