Urgent Help Please! Can't Start The Car

[Westy]

Hi all,

Not been on the forum for a while as all has been well and not done anything to the car for a bit!

Vehicle: E230 Saloon on an N Plate (W210 I believe)

OK, problem started to day when I arrived at a customers some 40 miles from home. Car would not lock with the fob. Slight panic set in as by this time the immobiliser had cut in, but did my job and, fortunately, when I came to leave about an hour later the car locked and unlocked!

Got back to my home town and stopped to do another quick job, car would not lock! Did the job, came out, still wouldn't lock!

As I was literally in the road where I live, I walked back and tested the fob thangy! Red light comes on when you press it for a few seconds, both batteries tested at 3.02V, which I guess is OK - but changed the batteries anyway.

Back to car and tried re-syncing the fob by pressing button briefly twice, turn key to position two then point an press once - still NADA!

So the car is stuck in a school zone, outside a customers house, blocking his and his neighbours driveway, OOPS!


I have checked the fuses, which seem OK, the drivers mirror lights flash like they are supposed to if you try to start it with the immobiliser armed.

However, I think the central locking might be stuffed as when the drivers door button is pressed down none of the other doors lock (I pressume that they are supposed to!)

Any ideas where to start please? Really have got to get the car shifted toute-suite!

 

[television]

You could listen to see if the Pump runs when you try and lock, pushing down the button would do

 

[Westy]

Hi Television,

No noise from any pumps (or whirs, knocks, clicks etc.) if the button on the drivers door card is pressed! And the fob thing is doing diddly-squat presently!

 

[television]

I do not know much about these alarms, or immobilisers

The locking section is in the link and I think that the pump is under the rear seat (if wrong someone please correct)

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...509722.605&CT=F&cat=45P&SID=80&SGR=045&SGN=03

 

[Dieselman]

The door button doesn't actuate the central locking, it's done by the dash switch.

Not sure but isn't the alarm box under the passenger footwell carpet.

 

[jaymanek]

these systems are rubbish... put the car in neutral and push it somewhere safe..

You will probably need te AA or someone to get you to a garage who can strip out the crappy original alarm/immobiliser and put a proper one in..

 

[Westy]

The door button doesn't actuate the central locking, it's done by the dash switch.

Not sure but isn't the alarm box under the passenger footwell carpet.

I forgot about dash button Dieselman, thanks.

 

[bolide]

these systems are rubbish... put the car in neutral and push it somewhere safe..

You will probably need te AA or someone to get you to a garage who can strip out the crappy original alarm/immobiliser and put a proper one in..

Exactly

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Westy]

these systems are rubbish... put the car in neutral and push it somewhere safe..

You will probably need te AA or someone to get you to a garage who can strip out the crappy original alarm/immobiliser and put a proper one in..

I've got a tow organised now.

But do I really want to got to the expense of a new alarm/immobiliser when this could be something quite simple!?

Have i got the fob re-sync procedure correct or do i need to do something with the passenger door lock?

 

[jaymanek]

A new alarm is around £200 for a cat 2, it will be much more reliable than these mid 90's mercedes ones that are always going wrong..

where in the country are you?

 

[Westy]

Hi jaymanek,

In North West Essex.

Maybe you are right, but was going to trade the car in soon, would rather not spend more than I have to!

 

[television]

Someone posted a few days ago on a 210 where the sync was done the same as a 202 and borrowed from the other forum

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=26895

And it worked for them

 

[Westy]

Someone posted a few days ago on a 210 where the sync was done the same as a 202 and borrowed from the other forum

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=26895

And it worked for them

Thanks Television, I had seen that and tried it - but to no avail unfortunately.

The lights on the mirror don't respond to the fob, just flash alternate red/green when you turn the ignition to position 2.

The fob is working, as you can see the light through a digital camera!

Just seems that the car is not receiving the signal or the re-sync procedure is wrong!

 

[Diesel Benz]

Just seems that the car is not receiving the signal or the re-sync procedure is wrong!

The car would see the key if the key turns. The key is then authorised.

If it doesn't turn, did you check if the key-hole is dirty?

 

[Westy]

The car would see the key if the key turns. The key is then authorised.

If it doesn't turn, did you check if the key-hole is dirty?

Sorry, me no comprende?!? Authorised?

Key turns fine, clean as a whistle!

 

[Westy]

The car would see the key if the key turns. The key is then authorised.

If it doesn't turn, did you check if the key-hole is dirty?

Does the key have a transponder? I thought that the alarm, immobiliser and central locking were all functions of the IR between the fob and the receiver in the mirror.

 

[gbjeppm]

Not trying to be clever, but have you tried the other key?

 

[Westy]

I wish it was that simple, I don't have another key!

But thanks anyway.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Does the key have a transponder? I thought that the alarm, immobiliser and central locking were all functions of the IR between the fob and the receiver in the mirror.

I'm not sure which model year an N-plate car would be but you mentioned you had checked the IR transmitter from the key. If it has an IR transmitter, it would communicate over IR with the EIS. This communication is powered by the RF field from EIS, like on other cars (no key battery needed) but MB doesn't respond with an RF signal.

I remember someone explaining that the IR lens at EIS had simply collected too much dirt and that made it work randomly. Of course there are other malfunction options, but not that many equally easy to rule out (by cleaning the IR lens).

I would suggest a poll on owners who only have one key for the car, it is surprisingly common.

 

[MBManInKen]

I'm not sure which model year an N-plate car would be

According to this site N = 01 August 1995-31 July 1996.