Any Ideas?
 

Greetings - having an intermitent problem (the worst type!)
98 ML w 180K miles. Ocassionally, every 20 - 25 starts when I turn the key I get NOTHING. I back the key off and try a second time and it always starts. I switched over to a new key and it made no difference. I had the ignition switch changed and it seems like it does not happen as often - maybe once every 35 starts. Its seems I remember one time just holding the key in the start position and saw the tach bounce? That seemed very strange.
Any ideas would be appreciated. I'm not looking forward to a mechanic just starting to change out parts with no real diagnosis.
Sarter? fuel relay? antenna ring? DAS ring? IFZ module? I don't know!
Thanks in advance.

Any Ideas?
 

Greetings - having an intermitent problem (the worst type!)
98 ML w 180K miles. Ocassionally, every 20 - 25 starts when I turn the key I get NOTHING. I back the key off and try a second time and it always starts. I switched over to a new key and it made no difference. I had the ignition switch changed and it seems like it does not happen as often - maybe once every 35 starts. Its seems I remember one time just holding the key in the start position and saw the tach bounce? That seemed very strange.
Any ideas would be appreciated. I'm not looking forward to a mechanic just starting to change out parts with no real diagnosis.
Sarter? fuel relay? antenna ring? DAS ring? IFZ module? I don't know!
Thanks in advance.

check the the battery cables, are they clean or all corroded?
kind of sounds like a ground. check the wires on the starter. and make
sure the starter bolts are tight.
I had a starter that got loose one time and gave me a problem, and other times it`s been a bad ground.
charlie

Do you have the "computerized" key? The funny looking one that is all plastic and is flat on the end?

Mike

Key is regular blade type.
thanks for replies.
HD

There is a bulletin on the tach bouncing & the starter being inop...Ring gear/starter bendix gear interference problem...MB has a special lubricant to "FIX" that problem..