I have a 97 E300D. Have had the same problem you are describing. Cranking without firing. I have a new battery and fresh fuel filters, so I don't think its fuel delivery because of the filters. The problem has been intermittent since this summer. I don't know if I have solved the problem, but I have found that one of my infrared ignition keys gives me more trouble than the other. When I use the "bad" key I can hear a clunk that sounds like a selonoid closing in the engine compartment. I know that when I hear that noise all I am going to get is cranking..... It's been cold here -5F and it's been starting fine.

Try fresh batteries in your ignition key and then synchronize the key by following the instructions in your owners manual. I would be curious to see if that fixes your starting problem. In the cold weather lately I have also been getting a check engine light that comes and goes. Probably time to take it in and get the codes scanned.

...Also, after cycling the glow plugs a few times without starting, try to go from switch off, directly to start (don't wait for the glow plug light to go out) mine would then start and die out...?? Very frustrating.

The word from my indy is that the control module for the electronic fuel injection is not telling to gps to switch on when it is cold outside for some reason.

His thought is that he might need to replace the control module. In his words, "this is big bucks."

Any thoughts?

Post in Tech Help or email Benzmac directly. Having owned one for a while, he might be able to help. Sorry to hear about this. :(

Seems odd that the whole control unit would be kaput. Maybe theres a sensor somewhere that's gone haywire. Sorry to hear this...electrical gremlins are very annoying.

Well, finally back from the shop!!!!!

I think we fixed but I am not absolutly sure. It started this morning with a half a crank and normal glow at 20*F - much different then usual.

In summary, I had been emailing with BenzMac for a few days. He led me to the control module for the electronic fuel injection. The theory was that at cold temps, the control module would not comunicate with the fuel injection. This is why I would recieve a P1617 code related to the main control module. Thankfully it was not the entire module $$$$!!

We waited for a few days for temps to dip low enough for the car to give me trouble so my indy could diagnose with confidence. We fell into a warm spell and tired of waiting, I told him to just replace it the module.

Like I said, this seems to have done the trick. I will know for sure next week when the temps dip back down into the teens..... Thanks everyone for all the help. I hope this will be the end of this post.

The saga continues...

Yesterday morning the turned over and over with no start.

I have found that there are actually two different ways the lights on the rearview mirror flash:

1) Both red and blue at the same time = low key battery

2) Red and blue alternatly = unauthorized start

#2 has been the problem all along!!

For some reason when it is cold outside the car does not recognize my key.

Any help is appreciated...

-Dan

Dan,

You may want to check any grounds associated with the reciever in the mirror. you may have one that is some what loose and with the cold temps is no longer making a connection. I wish I could point you to where those grounds are, maybe one of the pros could send you a wiring schematic. Just a thought.

Last winter, my first year of ownership of my E300 I would also get a check engine light every once in a while when it got to about 8F. After a few miles they went away. Had the codes scanned at my Indy and they turned out to be emissions codes relating to the EGR system. The code usually dissapeared within 100 miles, but usually a lot less.

Moe

What a nightmare. I've never really liked those electronic keys - at first they seem kind of neat but you quickly realize they are about 4X the size of an old syle MB key. This makes it pretty easy to find the key on the keyring but its mighty uncomfortable to just drop the keys in your pants pockets, and of course as you are discovering when problems arise with the key/security system you pretty much have to be a EE to troubleshoot the damn thing.

I think you are going to have to wait for another 10F night and drop the car off at the MB dealer the night before with instructions for them to try to start the car first thing in the morning. I'm sorry to hear you are still having problems, good luck.

Tim

Dan another thought, try starting first thing on a cold morning with one of the non-electronic key's. If it will start then I would toss the electronic key in the trash, like Tim said it is too big for the average pocket anyway.

Keith

Thanks, guys.

I tried the regular key when I had troubles last. Both of my electronic keys and the regular one as well as the valet key did not work at starting the car. This is why I think it must have something to do with the receiving end of things.

Does anyone know about the mechanisms there?