Short time 1999 e300 owner here and was needing some input from long term owners and or people well versed with the platform.

Recently my car has begun not wanting to start when I first get in it and insert the key. The lights all come on but the glow plug light doesn't light up and it will not engage the starter when I turn the key. If I lock and unlock the door then insert the key it will start. I thought this may be a low battery in the fob so I changed it to no avail. I thought it might be the transponder in the fob so I grabbed the other key and it still does it. Then I thought it could be because I leave the key in the car (not in the ignition) since it is garaged and moved the key away from the car when sitting, no dice.

The problem is intermittent and always rectifies itself after the lock unlock procedure but I am afraid it is just going to give up the ghost completely at some point and leave me stranded. Can someone possibly point me in the right direction of what the issue may be? TIA

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1999 E300TD