S211 320 CDi starter problem

[Fly_Boy_Rez]

Hey folks,

I stopped at a shop on the way home today, gone about 5 minutes and on return the car won't start at all. Symptoms are as follows:-

1. Turn the key after glow light and nothing. No cranking, no clicking
2. Try again in N and P, no change
3. No error messages on the OBC display.

RAC called out. Both the little and large batteries test fine. 12v applied direct to the starter and it instantly cranks but the engine won't fire at all.

The engine management light has been on about a week but as it came on after a particularly aggressive jet wash when the PDC briefly fritzed out I assumed the two were related and hadn't got around to getting the codes read. Mr RAC read the codes and got "Starter Control 2521" but when he read through that he didn't seem to think it was a helpful code.

I've researched this and have read of similar issues where ESP warnings were displayed at the same time as the non starting... Well my ESP warning only came on when being towed home (along with lots of angry red warnings about brakes and battery as I'm being towed!)

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Rez

 

[GordonTarling]

The only way to find out for sure is to get the car hooked up to a Mercedes STAR machine - fault codes on their own aren't the whole story. There's probably a starter inhibit switch linked to the gear selector that could be faulty, but STAR is the only way to be sure.

 

[blue gnome123]

I had similar symptoms with an old citroen auto. It was the starter inihiting switch on the gear selector too. I waited for 3hrs and it took the AA guy about 30secs to clean it

 

[Fly_Boy_Rez]

Issue Resolved

The non-starting has been resolved by Mertrux in Derby.

Turns out the linkage rod joining the gear selector to the gearbox had become dislodged and hence the car refused to start...Phew, I feel like I dodged an expensive bullet there!

Till next time folks!

Rez