1996 e320 does not start I need help with electric wiring
 

Dear Members:
I have a 1996 E320 that will not start as in not turning over. I have a new battery since the old one was showing 11.7 volts. The new one is 12.6v. I tried to turn on the headlights and see what happens when I crank but again the headights do not dim and the voltage only goes down to 11.7v when I put into start position. I tried to see if I have k38 relay and x75 connector but I think I have the k40 relay and I also tried to find if there are any dry joints or cracks which I was not able to find. I tried to find fuse #5 but my car has few locations of fuses and they are all good even after replacing all #5 just in case. My car alarm remote will open and close the doors. It will allow me to put the key in start position and the lights on the mirror are not flashing. I tried to see if my starter is getting power when the key is being started (I have my father as a helper) and it does not. I tried to jump the solenoid to see what happens and the starter finally rotates but the car will not start. When I was under the car I noticed that someone from the previous owner(s) had wiring problems with the wiring harness that goes from the transmission neutral safety switch (nss or starter lock out relay) and two other switches of the transmission (one being just in front of the trans oil panel and the other at the rear of the tranny both drivers side). The two wires coming from the front switch were soldered and went up front of the car with the wires coming from the nss. The last switch I noticed that the wire was just hangig out there and I need to know where that wire goes. I think it goes to the kick down switch under the gas pedal but I am not sure. The two wires of the front switch and the nss wires (4 ofthem) all go to the front drivers side fender connector (this conncector is 6 pin) there are 7 wires coming to it from the relay box from the drivers side rear engine compartment. There are 2 wires (violet color but 2 different sizes) that go in same place thus 6 connections. I know the pink wire is the one I can jumo directly to starter since this one comes from the ignition switch and has power only when in start position. My question is how do those other wires go in this connector and where since I am afraid that they have been mixed somehow? I really need your help as I have tried to do as much research before posting. Thanks

Starter circuit goes from ignition switch to "pulse" module in the lower section of the fuse box. From pulse module to Neutral switch & from there to solenoid.


When you turn the key on, do all of the dash displays light up?

Hello MB Doc:
I thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention that the lights on the instrument cluster light up (as well as engine light). The wire coming from ignition switch to the pulse module when in start position is pink in color and from this module going to nss and the other switches from the 6 pin connector. This is where I need help I do not know which wire the pink wire will go to on the nss and which wires the other 5 correspomd to each other. I have tested the 4 wires coming from nss and 2 of them give me continuity when the car is in park or in neutral only. I am guessing the nss is ok because of this( I also tried the trick to put the car in neutral and try to move the lever with right hand as I try to start the car with the left in trying to start the car with no luck. I have mentioned that the switch located to the back of the tranny has a wire that is nit connected anywhere and I tried to find where it goes with no luck ( iam thinking kickdown switch). If i am getting power goin to nss from the pink wire's which wire do they go to nss (4 wires 2 black one red and one white or brown) and which wire color from nss goes to starter solenoid? I tried to get the dealer to give me the wiring diagram with wire color codes but no luck. I was however able to get the wiring harness part number 210-540-00-08 but they do not show where the wires go and what color they are. Thanks MB doc for your help. Is this 6 pin connector the x75 connector i was reading for other cars?

I just tried to jump the starter from the six pin connector bypassing the nss switch and the starter turns but the car will not start. I am afraid the previous owner or mechanic mixed the wiring that goes from this six pin connector that comes from pulse moduleand goes to the neutral safety switch and two other switches which I need help to identify. I think one of them is the kick down switch one might be the oil pressure switch etc. Please someone let me know if there is a transmission module on this car and if my trying to bypass nss and other switches is not allowing me to start. If someone has a wiring diagram would really help me out. I know the pink wire is the one for starter does this wire go to nss and then directly to starter or does it come back to the connector and then go to ecm or where? Please help and thanks is advance.

Thank you MB DOC I was able to get wiring diagram for the wiring harness that goes from this connector called x22/1 and someone had the wire instead of going to the starter connected to ground on transmission (what a mess) In any case I connected this wire to starter and now when I try to start the car now the car will crank and rotate but it will not start as in run. I checked for fuel pressure and there is none. I checked the fuel pump and it is not getting power. I put power manually to the fuel pump and it pumps gas once manually hooked up but the car still does not start. When I try to start the car the mirror lights flash (both red and green) but the remote key locks and unlocks the doors and I do not understand if the alarm is working or not or if it is preventing the start. The red and green wire that goes to fuel pump from k40 or alarm module is not giving power. Can someone help me what is the problem or help me troubleshoot. I read a post saying something about the crank position sensor does that have to do anything with the power supply to the fuel pump or letting the fuel go to cylinders by giving a signal to injectors? How do I check if the ecu is good? thanks for anyones help

arben2004 starting probs
 

i have all the identical symptoms you do including the red/green flashing lights, etc. even though the 1996 e320 factory alarm does not have a kill switch, it seems related to the alarm, doesnt it? especially because the red/green lights have always flashed together, and flashed a full minute, before i ever had any starting problems. it seems like the alarm has a short that is draining the battery, do you agree?

i can always get it to start by sliding the gear shift through the gears a few times, then starting (usually in neutral). mechanics tell me this means the neutral safety switch likely needs replacing, but it seems to me this is all related to the alarm working strangely.

i can also remedy the double-flashing alarm lights by resetting the alarm by manually locking and unlocking the door. i forget exactly which order, but if i switch back and forth between manual locking and remote locking, i can get the alarm lights to flash red for lock and green for open.

can you reply if you have any suggestions?