I have a 1994 mercedez e320 and it won't start. I turn the key and the panel lights up and electrical seems fine but will not crank or make any noise whatsoever. Battery and connectors are good

Might be the neutral safety switch.

To confirm, try to start with gear selector in "N". To do this, insert key, turn to first position (or second position--can't remember for sure) to unlock gear shifter, place gear shifter to "N", then turn key to start position and release like you normally would if it cranks/fires.

Obviously, keep the foot on the brake when the car is in neutral.......

Lots of searchable information on neutral safety switch problems.

Please post back with your results.

J. M. van Swaay

Here is how the starter gets signal to start on that car...

Turn key to starter position. Power from ignition switch to starter interlock relay, then to neutral safety switch, then to starter relay.

Starter interlock relay must get signal from alarm system & power from fuse # 5.

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As Doc states , that is the chain and you have a fault in that power chain.

I have a simle/quick test that I use to help in narrowing the diagnoses.

Just to the left of the brake master reservoir , you will see a 3 wire plug on the engine seperating firewall... This is starter feed from the cabin and it goes to the starter relay/solinoid. So, you take a jumper wire from the battery pos+ terminal and go to the center terminal of that connector [ it is connector X27, if you want to do a Search]
That will by-pass the ign.sw,NSS and alarm interlock in the cabin..If the starter cranks w/jumper , the problem is upstream from that test point [ meaning in the cabin circuit]..if the starter still does not crank, the problem is downstream from that test point, meaning the starter motor/solinoid/connectons ..or dead/low battery.
If cabin upstream is determined , the first 2 test are fuse #5 and NSS.
Make sure you have a fully changed battery for all test.

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A Dalton

1994 e320 convertible

i posted this request for help elsewhere on the board so my apology for the repeat.

i can't get my car started because of an alarm malfunction. the alarm is not disengaging and i've tried everything i could using the key. the ignition is tied into the alarm so i'm stuck until i get some advice.

help!?

The problem you are having with getting replies is b/c you are tagging on to old archieved threads.
Start your own Post and you will get replies.

If you want to stay on this thread , then do the X27 test I mentioned in one of the replies to the original poster and you will be able to start your car.

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A Dalton

I have nearly the same problem mentioned above.
Good news is I can get it to start in Neutral.
I presume that means the problem is the neutral switch.
So what do I need to do to fix this ? Where is the neutral switch located ?
Where can I get a replacement ?
I this expensive ?
Is it expensive to get it replaced at a shop - atleast now I can move the car.
Is this something I really ought to even fix - since it starts in neutral.