I got stranded with my beloved SDL.
It started yesterday evening with a blown fuse (#15 for ....central locking...and more) I changed fuse and all fine again...for not long.

I went on holiday tour with the family and same thing happened...central locks didn't work and we had to lock all 4 doors manually..also unlock them

Then all of a sudden the car won't start. just nothing...no lights on the dash would come on in key position 2, no starter would engage in 3, nothing.
no wipers, no signal lights nothing.
I tried jump start with another car but nothing. Battery is good.

Just the head lights, the light above the middle mirror and emergency light would go on but anything else is dead. I am at a loss.

I had to tow the car home over 50 miles.
I need to get the car back on the road but I am at a loss here.

I disconnected my alarm many years back and I was thinking I might have confused some unknown system by locking the car manually (which I never did before) but as the sound of the alarm is disconnected I might not hear the alarm? But I also don't know how to disengage the alarm...if it is the alarm.

Any help is good help.

First thing to try is locking and unlocking the driver's door with the key. If the alarm get tripped, the car won't start.

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I tried opening and closing the driver door, but nothing changed. None of the electrical light are working. Just dead.

not opening and closing the door...
LOCKING and UNLOCKING the door from the outside with the key.
this disengages the factory alarm lockout.

another thing to check is under the dash on the driver's side. pull the panel near the accelerator and make sure the wires are not unplugged there.
on the SD, there is a harness that will keep the car from starting and kills all power to the dash also...

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Thanks. I did lock and unlock the driver door from outside but nothing changed.

I did change the key/lock starter switch last year. Could it be that the harness at the end of the starter switch came off? At least this would explain that there are no dash lights at all.


But Then...what is the blown fuses for the central locking?

These are 2 different problems and how can they appear at the same time??
It would be a miracle if the two problems show up at the same time.
Doesn't there need to be a link between the two?

Is there a test if the starter switch is good or bad?
( It checked the wire harness is on the starter switch plugged in correctly- so I think it might be the switch itself)

If the starter switch is faulty then car won't start and dash lights won't come on?

Please look at the Positive Battery Conncection --there is an outboard connector that stimulates the starter relay. Make sure that is clean and tight - this overlooked connector had caused me a lot of gray hair

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15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Thanks, I will be looking for the connector. Where is it located exactly?

If I tell you that my headlights go on and emergency light and the seat moves but almost nothing else...no dash lights, no turn signals, nothing.....
then would this connector be a possible culprit?
Where is the starter relay?

Martin

I checked the preglow relay input position #50 violet/white wire (Brian told me) which should be 12V with key in position 2 but this test was negative...no power at this cable.

The positve cable\battery post connector has an outboard connector on it that allows attachment of a single wire.

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15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Is this the connector you are talking about?
Can I hook up a remote starter switch and try cranking the engine? Fat wire being the positive and the left one with the philips screw is negative?

Attached Thumbnails

 

Sorry dont have my cord to do phone to puter pics today - look at your positive battery cable at battery. There is another "outboard" connection. Check that

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I checked power (12V against ground) on all fuses. Results are the same for key position #1 and # 2 .
Fuses with power are: the 2 red fuses up in the box (they don't seem to have a number), then numbers 1, 2, a, b, and 15.
All other fuses don't show 12V.

What are chances that the ignition switch /starter switch is faulty?

here's an idea. try and locate an auto electric shop that knows and understands mercedes. They MUST have mercedes electric experience to deal with this issue. Drive by the shop first and see if there are a few mercedes cars sitting out front. Check the better business bureau rating also, if the shop checks out ask if they provide towing. You can chase this problem for hours and hours or turn it over to someone who knows what they are doing. the key being that the shop must understand and really knows and understands mercedes benz electrics automobiles.

your time is worth something, a mercedes electric expert will have the problem solved and back on the road faster than you can say blink.

Maybe you are right..but i am not giving up yet.
I can narrow down the problem with all the forum's experience.
Please help me to go step by step.
Martin