w202 c240 starting problem

[gaz.thomas]

Hi all,
I tried to start my 2000 'w plate' w202 c240 this morning and it let me down. The remote central locking was working, the lights and horn were also fine but when I turned the key to start the car the starter motor clicked (sounded noisier than just the solenoid - I'm assuming it's engaging the bendix) but the engine wouldn't turn over.
I'm a fairly recent convert to the mercedes marque and I thought that, what with all the complicated electronics, the immobiliser may have confused itself, so I disconnected the battery negative lead and went back inside for a cup of coffee.
It looks like a gust of wind shut the boot lid for me and, as I'm sure you've guessed, the mechanical key has thus far refused to let me back into the boot (although it works on the door).
From searching here I'm fairly sure I can use the under-bonnet positive terminal to attach another battery to open the boot but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what may be causing the start problem?
I realise that these cars are a bit fussy about the level of charge in the battery so I'll probably pick one up this evening (assuming public transport can get me home before the shops shut!) but is there anything else I should be looking at first?
Thanks,
Gaz

 

[BlackC55]

There is three things I can think of.

1. battery flat (there is a positive terminal under a small black box on the left of the engine bay)

2. Starter is knackered.

3. The ring gear needs lubricating (very common problem a few years ago)

 

[Dieselman]

Battery is the no1 hit.

As for the boot lock, just spray with lube and keep working the key, it will eventually work.

 

[gaz.thomas]

Thanks all,
I found the under-bonnet positive terminal (although the cable attached to it was black so I was, shall we say 'a bit nervous' as I connected the big red jump lead to it!) but it opened the boot and allowed me access to the battery.
The battery was indeed a bit flat, but I took it out for a half-hour run (with everything electrical switched off) and it seemed to start ok this morning.
I think I'll pop into kwik-fit (or similar) on the way home for a 'battery check', assuming of course that the check is more sophisticated than my multimeter...
Thanks again,
Gaz

 

[Shude]

I am experiencing the same problem as the OP!

Car unlocks fine, turn key and there is just a click from the engine bay that sounds like a solenoid, nothing more. While the key is turned the comand diagnostics page records a voltage drop from 12.4v to about 11.8v.

My initial thought was that the immobiliser was stopping the engine from starting due to an overhead storm that had set off a few car alarms in the street. I set off the alarm a couple of times to see if it would reset but that's not made a difference.

Anyone got any clever ideas? My car has only been fixed for a week!

 

[recycled]

tell me about it. happened to me on tuesday. alarm beeping timidly, car would not start. remote control could not unlock the car. after jumping the car and warming up the abs light came on. Drove to mb and got a new battery £69.99 completey sorted. Kwikfit said they do not do that battery size and varta was about £90.00

 

[Shude]

tell me about it. happened to me on tuesday. alarm beeping timidly, car would not start. remote control could not unlock the car. after jumping the car and warming up the abs light came on. Drove to mb and got a new battery £69.99 completey sorted. Kwikfit said they do not do that battery size and varta was about £90.00

The battery was installed in March this year after the previous one gave up after 8+ years of excellent service.

Do we think that it's the battery then?

 

[recycled]

march is a bit short. mine lasted two years. could be the starter motor.
try starting it with a donor car/battery .if it starts it may be the battery but then you will have to find out what is running it down.if it does not could be something else.

 

[Shude]

march is a bit short. mine lasted two years. could be the starter motor.

I like to think that if the starter motor was broken it would show signs of problems before giving up, rather than just working one day and not the next.

try starting it with a donor car/battery .if it starts it may be the battery but then you will have to find out what is running it down.if it does not could be something else.

Cheers. The car hasn't been driven since Sunday and it often goes a whole week or longer between trips. I wonder if something is leeching off the battery, it never used to give me any trouble when I did 25k per year in the thing!

 

[recycled]

not really mate. they do give up without any warning. it could work in the morning and be gone int he afternoon sometimes

 

[Shude]

not really mate. they do give up without any warning. it could work in the morning and be gone int he afternoon sometimes

Oh ok. I bet the starter isn't cheap to replace!

 

[Shude]

normanr: I see you are reading this thread! I checked out your own post on this subject Starting Problem but there is no conclusion posted on that thread! What was the outcome please!

EDIT:
Just read that it was your ECU

Let's hope it's not that.

 

[diy_dan]

if you hardly drive it then the battery isnt getting a full charge, when you do drive it is at night or in the day? if its at night the lights are using the power that would be recharging the battery especially if you only making short trips, give the battery a full charge every 4 weeks, that should sort it

 

[Shude]

if you hardly drive it then the battery isnt getting a full charge, when you do drive it is at night or in the day? if its at night the lights are using the power that would be recharging the battery especially if you only making short trips, give the battery a full charge every 4 weeks, that should sort it

I don't do short trips, all journeys are at least an hour on the motorway covering 50miles+

 

[BlackC55]

The first thing you must do is get the battery tested then go from there. Check basics first then delve in deep.

 

[Shude]

The first thing you must do is get the battery tested then go from there. Check basics first then delve in deep.

Mr Walker is going to pop around tonight with a big box of assorted hammers and a spare battery. Hopefully that will sort it out

Will update later.

 

[normanr]

Thought I better put this on this thread as I meant it to carry on from the last thread of non starting.
As Shude has said and a link to my outcome I hope it is not what I had which was the ECU quite honestly I doubt it because I was very unlucky by all accounts to have mine pack up, it was not a common fault.

Good luck I hope it is a cheap fix for you

Norman

 

[Shude]

Just to update.

Yesterday evening Ian Walker popped around to look at my car and after a few mins of head scratching a lightbulb visibly illuminated over his head and he hit the floor as if diving for cover. With an arm under the engine bay and his shoulder up to the sill he announced that he'd found a broken cable that was supposed to be attached to the starter motor.

He's going to order me a new one and fit it on Wednesday, what a pleasant chap .

Hopefully that's it.

 

[Shude]

Conclusion: The cable has been replaced and the car now starts fine.

I have some pictures of this to post but they're still in my camera. In the meantime if you want to imagine a gaunt-looking gentleman, with appearance not unlike an elf, hammering away under the car while muttering to himself then you've pretty much got the scene covered

Thank you Ian

 

[Shude]

Here are the pics.

1. "The Merc Whisperer" prepares to start work on the beast
2. A blurry picture shows where the cable has broken at the terminal
3. The terminal wouldn't come off so Ian had to get at it from the other side