As many of you know, Mercedes in their infinite wisdom has made it easy to test the if power is not getting to your starter by providing a plug that you can easily jump. Connect the middle pole in the plug with the RED pole on the battery. This will activate the starter even with the key off.

Make sure you are in Park or Neutral !!!

The plug is directly in front of and next to the Master Brake cylinder and is mounted on the firewall. Unclip the connecting wire. The pole that powers the starter is the middle pole (the actual pole against the firewall not the middle hole in the plug) Connect only that pole (I do this by plugging in old MBZ two pole plug where I've exposed the wire ends so that I connect to the corresponding wire safely), preferably with a Remote starter switch with a push-button ($10 Harbor Freight version pictured) to the RED battery pole and the starter will energize. If you have the key in the ON position, the car will continue to run once the starter is energized as if you had actually turned the ignition key.

This is a great test to isolate a faulty Neutral Safety Switch. Thank you Mother Mercedes !!!

(credit goes to Paul Stoll's of Stoll's German Auto in Rancho Cordova, CA for the free tip. He's been my MBZ Indy for over 10 years- the best!)

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03 CLK430 Cabrio 211K Pweter Silver/ Oyster Leather
90 300SEL 214k Pearl Black/ Alto Grey/Black Leather

Prior: 85 190E, 88 300TE, 89 300TE, 90 300E 2.6, 90 300TE, 92 300E 2.6, 91 and 93 300SL, 87 Ferrari Mondial Cabrio