The tapping noise you are hearing.....if it is coming from the dash it is a broken air direction flap inside the dashboard mine ticks like crazy and sometimes shuts off. I also get the half defrosted windshield. The dealer quoted me $800 to fix it so I am waiting till income tax time and with the mild winter we are having I am not in a rush.

Your uncle was looking for a dipstick. These cars don't have one. You check the oil by using the car's computer and information display. The process is explained in the owner's manual.

If there is ONE car where it's necessary to read the owner's manual thoroughly, this is it.

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

so im gueesing we have exactly same thing.. jeez... do u know what

caused this?

No clue, I just know that is quite pricey to fix seeing the part is only $12. I was going to do it myself but when i looked into it, you have to remove the dash and various parts of the aircon system. So I decided to leave it to the dealer

bromaness-
the no-start symptoms you're describing sounds like a simple discharged battery.
so what, if your radio and lights function?...they operate at a much lower power
need, whereas cranking requires hundreds of amps.

you need to 1) check the acid level and be sure that it is topped off (distilled
water, 2) you need to get it to a trickle charger and leave it on for several hours
or overnight 3) take a specific gravity reading using a hygrometer to verify health.

yes, you can jump start the system but the car's charging system was never
designed to replenish the battery which has undergone deep discharge. only
can be done using a trickle charger. i'm sure one of your neighbors has one.
heck, you can pick up a motorcycle hygrometer for less than $10 (or borrow
that item, too).

trickle charge costs hardly anything...or free. if you take the battery to
service station, they may do this for $10. do not do fast charge. slow,
trickle charge using less than 10 amps. this is kinder and more healthy.

yeah, that was some storm last week. i had over 10,000 gallons of water
come through the house and it flowed out the back door like a river. destroyed
the new floor and carpeting we put in during the summer. hope you're dry
and power restored.

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W