W210 E240 V6 2002 Auto Non Starter

[GSXR]

Hi,

As in the title but here's a bit of history.

Driving normally (on way to a funeral of all places), and I get warnings for ABS, BAS and ESP come up all at the same time. I also notice that the gearbox is not now acting normally.

I've had these warning intermittently previously when touching the brakes but on this occasion I was just cruising at approx 45 mph. To clear these faults I had previously just pulled over and shut down/restarted the engine and all would be good again for several months. I have never previously had any issues with the transmission and the fluid level was checked and adjusted only a few months ago by an MB tech.

So, I pulled over, selected park, turned off and removed the key, reinserted the key and went to the ON position. All looked good, the fuel pump primed, the SRS light went out and so I went to Start position on the key and... nothing. No dimming of lights, no extra lights just no change from the On position. I repeat this maybe 10 times with the same result - no go. I now also notice that the display does not show 'P' for park - just a block so I try to shift to D or N but the lever is stuck firmly in park. Needless to say I missed the funeral and had to be recovered back home.

So far I have:

Worked out how to manually remove the Park lock and been able to get to N so that I can move the car around.

Checked all fuses that I can find (side of dash and under bonnet).

Found that the transmission control unit was contaminated with transmission fluid, cleaned it out with PCB cleaner and reinstalled.

Checked all other electrics and found them to be working correctly.

Brake lights work correctly.

Any pointers or clues will be gratefully received.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.

Ian

 

[GSXR]

Well I guess everybody else is as stumped as me then, so maybe someone could help with a few direct questions?

Is the brake light switch just a single circuit that provides the switch for the lights and the trigger for the inhibitor switch, or does it have two circuits - one for the lights and one for the inhibitor. ie. could I have brake lights that work but a switch that does not send signal to the inhibitor?

Could the potentially scrap transmission control unit alone stop the car from starting?

Here's hoping!

Ian

 

[streethawk]

Well I guess everybody else is as stumped as me then, so maybe someone could help with a few direct questions?

Is the brake light switch just a single circuit that provides the switch for the lights and the trigger for the inhibitor switch, or does it have two circuits - one for the lights and one for the inhibitor. ie. could I have brake lights that work but a switch that does not send signal to the inhibitor?

Could the potentially scrap transmission control unit alone stop the car from starting?

Here's hoping!

Ian

Hi sounds like your pilot bush is leaking and trans oil is wicked up to the board. That will need sorting and iirc it causes all sorts of problems. I think if your lucky you may well save the board by cleaning but change pilot bush on the gearbox. Not too sure about brake light switch all I know is there cheap from mb and easy to change. Would think a session on a star is in order. Sure someone with more knowledge about this will be along soon.

 

[Terry_]

These faults you are experiencing are all related to k40 relay.
It's is an ignition supply relay to trans/ selector/ ESP/ houses the trigger for the starter etc
On the n/s of the engine bay just below the windscreen there is a black cover held on with a few Phillips screws. Remove this cover and k40 relay is in front of you with a row of fuses on the top

 

[GSXR]

Hi sounds like your pilot bush is leaking and trans oil is wicked up to the board. That will need sorting and iirc it causes all sorts of problems. I think if your lucky you may well save the board by cleaning but change pilot bush on the gearbox. Not too sure about brake light switch all I know is there cheap from mb and easy to change.

Thanks for the reply - pilot bush is now on my shopping list once I can get the car started! I'll check out the brake light switch also.

These faults you are experiencing are all related to k40 relay.
It's is an ignition supply relay to trans/ selector/ ESP/ houses the trigger for the starter etc
On the n/s of the engine bay just below the windscreen there is a black cover held on with a few Phillips screws. Remove this cover and k40 relay is in front of you with a row of fuses on the top

That's great information, thank you! I like that all these symptoms have a common component. I'll take a look tomorrow if I get chance and post back my findings...

Ian

 

[GSXR]

** UPDATE **

Changed the relay out for a new one and no change - the new relay clicks in when the ignition goes to the "on" position and no more activity when going to "start". Reinstalled the old relay and checked that it activated at the same time as the new one and it does, so left it in place.

Checked operation of other electrical items again today and discovered that the reversing lights do not work when when the manual release is used to move the lever from Park to Reverse, (won't come out of park without using the manual release). I don't know if this is significant or not but it may ring a bell with someone?

Thanks for all help so far!

Ian

 

[Terry_]

The car needs to go on star to look at live data for the eis and selector module now.

 

[GSXR]

Would think a session on a star is in order.

The car needs to go on star to look at live data for the eis and selector module now.

I guess I've been trying to avoid the inevitable as to get the car into MB would mean another recovery and around £80/hour. It really is a shame but a 2002 E240 with some rot probably doesn't warrant further investment.

Time to call the scrap man I think

Thanks so much to everyone that has read my post and especially those who have replied but I think my MB has committed suicide!

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[streethawk]

I guess I've been trying to avoid the inevitable as to get the car into MB would mean another recovery and around £80/hour. It really is a shame but a 2002 E240 with some rot probably doesn't warrant further investment.

Time to call the scrap man I think

Thanks so much to everyone that has read my post and especially those who have replied but I think my MB has committed suicide!

Cheers,

Ian.

Oh no don't let it beat you. Is there not an Indy near you because that will be a lot cheaper. Think I paid £30 to have mine put on but obviously yours needs flatbed to get there.

 

[streethawk]

Hi,

As in the title but here's a bit of history.

Driving normally (on way to a funeral of all places), and I get warnings for ABS, BAS and ESP come up all at the same time. I also notice that the gearbox is not now acting normally.

I've had these warning intermittently previously when touching the brakes but on this occasion I was just cruising at approx 45 mph. To clear these faults I had previously just pulled over and shut down/restarted the engine and all would be good again for several months. I have never previously had any issues with the transmission and the fluid level was checked and adjusted only a few months ago by an MB tech.

So, I pulled over, selected park, turned off and removed the key, reinserted the key and went to the ON position. All looked good, the fuel pump primed, the SRS light went out and so I went to Start position on the key and... nothing. No dimming of lights, no extra lights just no change from the On position. I repeat this maybe 10 times with the same result - no go. I now also notice that the display does not show 'P' for park - just a block so I try to shift to D or N but the lever is stuck firmly in park. Needless to say I missed the funeral and had to be recovered back home.

So far I have:

Worked out how to manually remove the Park lock and been able to get to N so that I can move the car around.

Checked all fuses that I can find (side of dash and under bonnet).

Found that the transmission control unit was contaminated with transmission fluid, cleaned it out with PCB cleaner and reinstalled.

Checked all other electrics and found them to be working correctly.

Brake lights work correctly.

Any pointers or clues will be gratefully received.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading.

Ian

Reading back at your first post it does seem to make sense that the trans board (tcu) could be toast with the oil ingress and at a guess it would probably give you these symptoms. I remember when my maf sensor was playing up it made car run gutless as supercharger would not kick in but not all the time and star said it was actuator flap in the airbox which it was not just the maf so as all these systems are connected its had to pin one cause down. I just kept playing until I sussed it out, maybe lucky. Perhaps someone who knows how to use a star properly can help you than what I got. Good luck Carl.