W220 Smartkey nightmare - Gilly Help Plz

[zcc]

A customer left his car on our shop S320 1999/2000 because it has a battery drain. We unplugged the battery so next day it still have a charge. Next day we wanted to turn on the car but the smart key wouldn't be pulled by the ignition switch thus cannot be turned to start the car nor make the ignition on. We tried and tried but it didn't work. Now the customer is complaining because it was working fine since he left it.

We toke the key (not actually a key just the smart key) we toke it to someone and said that it's defective and he can fix it for around 100 USD.

The problem now is that the car is inside out little shop and cannot be moved. How can we fix the problem? I'm asking for your help ASAP. Thank you in advance.

[raymond~]

dont know if this will help....

http://tinyurl.com/yqp9vn

[Peter Guenther]

First of all I dont think anyone can fix a "smart" key, since they dont have the equipment, unless is is a cold solder joint on the board. I also question how they were able to test it. If you charge the battery the key should register and work. The key communicates and gets its energy via a reduntant DAS data path and gets its power from the steering collumn. I would call the customer and have them bring down their spare "smart key" if they dont have one. The third option would be for you to go to your local MB dealer and purchase an "additional" smart key, and since you dont know which one you have, ordering a "replacement" will void one of the keys, and might result in waiting up to 45 minutes for the new key to erase the old and register the new one.
A new one is less than $200.
The door unlock is infra red (batteris in remote), the key is inductive energy from the collar.

[zcc]

I can lock/unlock the car using the remote but not start the car. That guy will never tell me what he will do with the smartkey to make it works.

[TMAllison]

Your descriptions are a litle confusing.

When key is inserted does steering lock detract?
When key is turned does starter turn the engine over?

[zcc]

Originally Posted by TMAllison

Your descriptions are a litle confusing.

When key is inserted does steering lock detract?
When key is turned does starter turn the engine over?

The answer for both questions is no.

[Peter Guenther]

As I stated before there are two seperate transmitters in the remote. The lock unlock is powered bt the batteries and is infra red and rf (radio frequency)
The start and steering unlock is handled by the chip in the remote that communicates to the body computer and draws its energy from the collar via inductive energy, it sends a signal back to to the engine computer which will verify the code and unlock the steerig wheel lock and the key lock, this will allow the key to turn and is redundant. the data is also sent to the engine control module which will allow it to start. I suggest you let MB have it, and use their diagnostic tools.
The computer is powered by circuit 15, I hope you have not removed any fuses

[Hirnbeiss]

Originally Posted by zcc

The answer for both questions is no.

Here are the possible causes from the TSB for the W210:

1. Wrong key for the car (get correct key)
2. No power to ignition switch or steering lock (check leads)
3. Open in the data bus to the ignition switch (replace switch)
4. Quartz crystal integrated into ignition switch does not oscillate or is defective (replace switch)

[TMAllison]

I would first put a fully charged battery in the car to make certain there is sufficient voltage for the key to communicate.

Then it's time for some SDS help to determine where the communication breakdown occurs.

[Hatterasguy]

Wow these cars are complicated! Looks like you really need the SDS to figure out whats going on.

[zcc]

Thanks to god we fixed it.
The problem was in the key itself. we replaced the little coil with a used one and it worked great.

Thank you all guys for your help