w203 not starting

[holodram]

hi to you all

i am having problem starting my car first thing in morning
once it starts it is fine for the rest of the day

its a c class coupe c220 cdi 2004 facelift

i put key in , turn it , all lights come on dashboard EXEPT the glow plug light (curly yellow light) i have to keep turning the key in the ignition on and off for about 10-30 minutes then all of the sudden the glow plug light comes on and everything is perfectly fine from then on

before it comes on while the key in ignition on 2 position with all the lights on EXEPT the glow plug light (curly yellow light) .. the cooling engine fan will come on full speed...

can some1 help please???

thank you all for reading this

 

[jonathanc]

Bit of a guess but perhaps there is an issue with a temperature sensor ? If it reads too high the car will assume that it is warm and therefore doesn't need the glow plugs on and instead turns the fan on to cool the car. When it doesn't start what does the coolant temperature on the dash display read?

 

[holodram]

Bit of a guess but perhaps there is an issue with a temperature sensor ? If it reads too high the car will assume that it is warm and therefore doesn't need the glow plugs on and instead turns the fan on to cool the car. When it doesn't start what does the coolant temperature on the dash display read?

thank you for your response

the coolant temperature on the dash display reads normal and its on zero before and after the engine starts but obviously when the engine starts the temperature starts going up gradually to reach the middle mark.

as i say the problem is starting the car but once it starts its perfectly normal for the rest of the day

 

[jonathanc]

I think that the only way to really diagnose this will be to put it on a STAR machine and find out what is going on. There maybe two temp sensors, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to confirm. The engine fan coming on might not be related as it maybe controlled by the A/C. There is probably a relay for the glow plugs as well, although I don't have any info on this.
Hopefully my ramblings are helpful but I think the bottom line is get it to a specialist with a STAR machine, sorry.

 

[SKIPPERDOG]

try the spare key. the fan runs non stop when its not comunicating to the engine ecu or a fault in the airmasss meter

 

[holodram]

thank you for your responses and here are the things that i have tried so far:

- put a new Varta (silver edition) battery in
- tried both keys
- checked all fuses boxes and swapped relays over with respect to their colour (black with black and yellow with yellow etc..
- checked the front SAM box for dampness and its dry and well sealed

however the car was parked for 4 months in a locked up garage and since then the problem started ... i had to use jump leads to start the car thinking the battery was flat.. the car started but if left parked for over 8 hours it becomes dead (engine does not turn over at all ) then i have to do the procedure of turning the key in the ignition on and off for 10-40 minutes before the glow plug light appears then everything is working perfect after that

i could hear the relay clicks tho and fuel pump noise upon turning the key but nothing (engine not turning at all)

i was advised by someone to measure the voltage on fuse 53 and 54 in front SAM box while ignition is on and see if any current is running through


could not do it today as it is raining and didnt want any rain getting into the SAM box

 

[jonathanc]

This isn't a faulty battery problem is it? Just occurred that sitting all that time assuming the battery wasn't being trickle charged maybe it has failed and the resulting lack of voltage is causing issues. There are a number of threads on here where spurious electrical gremlins are the result of failed or failing batteries. Maybe the car is protecting the battery as it knows if it uses the glow plugs there wont be enough juice left to crank the car.

 

[holodram]

This isn't a faulty battery problem is it? Just occurred that sitting all that time assuming the battery wasn't being trickle charged maybe it has failed and the resulting lack of voltage is causing issues. There are a number of threads on here where spurious electrical gremlins are the result of failed or failing batteries. Maybe the car is protecting the battery as it knows if it uses the glow plugs there wont be enough juice left to crank the car.

i had a good battery in but still bought a new one just in case yur theory is right and also the alternator is a year old and was checked last week and was charging the battery

my problem might be an ECU issue i might need a new one but am only guessing

hope you folks could help me fixing the problem

thanks in advance

 

[SKIPPERDOG]

youll have to check power supply to the igntion switch and the steering lock get a muilti meter remove the lower cover and see if your getting 12v volts at the 2 big red wires going to the igntion switch does the steerin lock work fine ?
i wreckon its the ignition switch or the steering lock the both give trouble but you'd need to put in on a star diagnostic machine to see whats happening properly

 

[holodram]

youll have to check power supply to the igntion switch and the steering lock get a muilti meter remove the lower cover and see if your getting 12v volts at the 2 big red wires going to the igntion switch does the steerin lock work fine ?
i wreckon its the ignition switch or the steering lock the both give trouble but you'd need to put in on a star diagnostic machine to see whats happening properly

everything works fine , once the car eventually started i took it for a diagnosis on a STAR machine they found no faults at all

i run a hot hair dryer on the ECU this morning (cold weather) for 40 -50 seconds and after warming the ECU up the car started with no problems

so now i need a new or maybe a used ECU ....

could i use different ECU or does the model number have to be exact?

thank you

 

[SKIPPERDOG]

you cant swap over the engine control unit by itself you have to swap the ignition switch plus steering lock and engine ecu and the key from a donor car make sure its a diesel or get a new ecu and get it coded too the car. but you need 2 put the star machine on the car when its not starting 2 to see whats no commincating.is there any water damage in the front sam ?

 

[holodram]

you cant swap over the engine control unit by itself you have to swap the ignition switch plus steering lock and engine ecu and the key from a donor car make sure its a diesel or get a new ecu and get it coded too the car. but you need 2 put the star machine on the car when its not starting 2 to see whats no commincating.is there any water damage in the front sam ?

can a used ECU be coded to my car rather then buying a new one?

 

[holodram]

problem is still there

now if i take the ECU out warm it up at home on radiator then put back in car ... it starts str8 away ...

any suggestions would be great

thanks

 

[RRZ]

Sounds like a bad connection on the ecu board. You can have them what is called `remanufactured` u basically send it to a specialist who does this and they service your unit, no probs then with compatibility- guide cost about £100 - down side - away for about 1 week.

 

[meirelinhos]

i have exactly the some problem with my C220 cdi estate from 2006 dont know what to do, please help

 

[holodram]

very late reply but problem solved
was an ECU problem ... sent it to ECU doctor and repaired it for me

£270 lighter but car starts with no problems now

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Could you post up the details of who you used and how long it took to do in case anyone else has the same problem.

 

[holodram]

yea sure

this is his website : The ECU Doctor

and adress:

The ECU Doctor Limited
Hemerdon Lodge
Boringdon Road
Plympton
Plymouth

PL7 4EA

Phone/Fax 01752 346437

Mobile 07956 542162



took about a week but great job and full year warrantee

 

[holodram]

yea sure

this is his website : The ECU Doctor

and adress:

The ECU Doctor Limited
Hemerdon Lodge
Boringdon Road
Plympton
Plymouth

PL7 4EA

Phone/Fax 01752 346437

Mobile 07956 542162



took about a week but great job and full year warrantee

 

[Culbs]

Hi

I have an non usual issue with my mercedes E270 CDI 2003 W211 model Automatic

I Bought the car just few days ago and next day after i bought it i had to go in long distance i've passed 200km with no issues when i get home i switched off the car and in 15 mins i had to go to the nearest shop to get cigarettes while i start the car no issues again then i drove it for 1 km i parked and when i putt it on parking lights for overheating came temperatur sensor stopt messuring engine light come on Reserve light come on but i had diesel at least 20-25 liters in the tank Rev's meter stopt working and fan start running to cool down the car but she was only at 60-70 C gearbox start to kicking a bit because of the faults, i drove back home slowly and i openned the bonnet i checked the connections in front ECU when i press the connection's car goes fine no faults when i leave it ( not pushing the connection's) 20-30 seconds faults comming back again I have bring the ECU to test it is it ECU problem or Only Connection's and they told me ECU looks with no faults check your connections
my question is is that possible or the gent who test the ECU is not right ?

Thank you and please if somebody have any info Please HELP