W212 suddenly won't start

[jamesmprint]

2010 W212 E220

Out of nowhere after dropping the kids to school the car just wouldn't start, it was a bit like when you try to start it and it's not in gear.

Took keys out locked and unlocked car and it worked again, no problems fired straight up.

After work same thing, but couldn't get it to start at all now. When you start it there is a single click coming from the engine and that's it. Not like a constant click which you would associate to a dead battery.

No warning lights, all power seems fine within the car.

It went into Merc garage for a airbag recall 2 days ago but I can't think that has anything to do with it, although they had disconnected the battery.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Crispian22]

First thing I would check is if the battery terminals have been tightened up if they had disconnected it for the work,then I would check the battery voltage.
Then I would see if any fault codes are present.

 

[jamesmprint]

Thanks Crispian

One weird thing that I should have mentioned (not sure it relevant) is when the car was returned to me the clock was wrong, I changed it back to the right time and as it wound to the right time it stopped suddenly and started going backwards till it found the correct time.

I only mention as I'd seen some other threads just now saying there clocks went backwards while they had issues starting it.

 

[alexanderfoti]

It's possible the starter has failed.

If you listen in the fuse box, as somebody turns the key, you will able to hear the starter relay click.

If no click, the problem is elsewhere. If there is a click, then check for power at starter motor.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Did you check battery terminals are nice and tight as mentioned earlier?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Did you check battery terminals are nice and tight as mentioned earlier?

Definitely worth checking