w210 Key program and starting issue - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

turbozeke418 · #1 01-30-2014, 06:56 AM

I just purchased a 1996 E300 in beautiful shape. The owner only had 1 set of keys and they are the basic mbz round and square key. I contacted my local dealership and they ran the vin for the car and said it did come with 2 flip key remotes. He said if I want to purchase one it's $250 not including me scheduling an appointment to come in and have it programmed to the car. Does anyone have a suggestion to bypass the dealership and have it work? Are there any coding people out there in the NJ area? I could care less about having the remote fob since I rarely lock my car, but the car tells me to take the keys out of the ignition even when they're already out. This leads to the car sometimes activating the security system and not letting the car start till i get out and lock the doors with the key and unlock it. It's becoming a nuisance. Would that issue be because of lack of a remote fob or is it because there is something wrong with the ignition?

turbozeke418 · #2 01-31-2014, 06:09 AM

Today I noticed that when I get out of the car and shut the door, the antenna begins to go back up thinking the car is on. Then it'll go back down.

97 SL320 · #3 01-31-2014, 06:05 PM

On my 97 , to sync the remote you press the fob 2x while pointing at the LED receiver, insert the key into the ignition and turn the key to position 2 ( run ) but no need to start the car. The car should now recognize the remote.

However, the regular mechanical key will work just fine and not trip the security system so no need to have a flip remote.

Near as I can tell, 96 does not use a RFID chip in a key security system, 97 with DAS X uses this system.

The remote unlock box on my SL was occasionally arming but not releasing the alarm, I ended up unplugging it. ( located in the trunk next to the fuel fill tube. )

turbozeke418 · #4 01-31-2014, 07:21 PM

OK...I'm thinking that the issue is the ignition lock cylinder. After 240,000 miles of putting a key in I'm guessing its gotten a little worn out over the years? Is that a Possibility?

97 SL320 · #5 02-01-2014, 10:19 AM

Probably not. Do some research on the security system used for 96, from what I recall it is a passive system that looks at a door locking / unlocking sequence to arm / disarm that has little to do with the ignition switch.

oldsinner111 · #6 02-01-2014, 12:09 PM

I paid $250 for a extra key remote,parts dept put batteries in,and put in my ignition switch to set it.

Gilly · #7 02-01-2014, 10:27 PM

1996 is a DAS2 vehicle, there were no transponders in this DAS system, that didn't happen until 1997 with DAS2a. Thats when you had the antenna "collar" around the ignition cylinder and a transponder in the key. I am relatively sure that key (remote part) will work "out of the box" or you might have to synchronize the key to the car, which would be explained in the owners manual how to do. (easy diy job)

My thought on the antenna going up is tha it might be the ignition switch itself (electrical part) as these are a fairly well known problem.
The problem with the car not recognizing that the key is removed could be a cable adjustment or like you said, the ignition lock. IIRC if the key is removed the shifter should lock (should say one way or the other in the owners manual), if this is true try pulling the key and see if the shifter will move, this is I believe all inter-related by a cable from the shifter to the ignition lock, could be a simple adjustment.

turbozeke418 · #8 02-04-2014, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly

My thought on the antenna going up is tha it might be the ignition switch itself (electrical part) as these are a fairly well known problem.
The problem with the car not recognizing that the key is removed could be a cable adjustment or like you said, the ignition lock. IIRC if the key is removed the shifter should lock (should say one way or the other in the owners manual), if this is true try pulling the key and see if the shifter will move, this is I believe all inter-related by a cable from the shifter to the ignition lock, could be a simple adjustment.

When I remove the key from the ignition, you can not move the gear selector out of park. Everything shuts off in the car, but it still says on the dash display "remove key". When I go back to the car the next day and open the door, the first thing the car says on the display is "remove key".

What adjust are you speaking of to try to fix this?

Gilly · #9 02-04-2014, 06:03 PM

If I can answer your question with a question: With the car running, can you move the shifter without stepping on the brake? There are a couple of cables IIRC, one that makes you step on the brake to be able to shift out of park, and the other makes the car be in park to remove the key.

A seperate question is if the car will let you shut off the engine and remove the key without having the car in park?

The adjustments would be on the cables themselves.

If everything is acting as it should the problem is probably the lock housing.

turbozeke418 · #10 02-04-2014, 11:35 PM

Everything else works as it should. I can't shift the car without pressing the brake. I can't take the key out until its in park. The car does shut off immediately though, unlike my other old benz's that have a vacuum shutoff. So I guess i need to replace the lock cylinder? I wonder if the p.o. did this once already? The round key unlocks the door and the square one starts the car. They won't do anything else. My older benz's the one key can do both.

Gilly · #11 02-05-2014, 05:06 AM

Yes, starting to make sense that the PO has had the ignition cylinder replaced, one key should do it all, maybe botched the job when they did it. Does the square key work on everything else (trunk lock, can't think what else there is, is there more than one door lock and a glovebox lock?). MB will let you order a generic lock, so probably what they did as sometimes a dealer will keep a generic lock on hand, the one made for the car's vin you have to wait only a short time, a day or two, they overnight them to the dealer usually).
So it depends on how much nuisance you are willing to put up with. I don't think the cylinder alone will fix the part that makes the car think the key is still in, I think that switch is part of the housing. I'd pull the lock housing and investigate before ordering anything. It seems like this is the main thing you want to fix. While I was at it I'd get a remote key and get the keys all matching, but that's just me.

97 SL320 · #12 02-05-2014, 06:18 PM

Does the key buzzer work? Perhaps the key exist switch is tied to the alarm system on this car.

turbozeke418 · #13 02-05-2014, 10:21 PM

Yes the dinging sound is always on. Even when I take the key out of the ignition. I know on my other 2 benz 's when I take the key out I here and feel a little click. This car doesn't do that. I haven't had the problem with the car arming itself in about a week (basically because I never lock my doors and leave the keys in the car). But it still tells me to remove the key still dinging away even though it's out. The square key fits the ignition only. Doesn't fit the door, glove box or trunk. Round key only opens driver door nothing else. Now I'm even more confused.

97 SL320 · #14 02-06-2014, 08:18 PM

You need to fix ( or disable ) the key in ignition switch as the alarm might be looking at that to operate / arm.

Does the square key have a very short head? If so it is called a "flat key" ( wallet key ) and should work in all locks ( if they have not been changed )

The round key is a "valet" key designed for door and ignition operation. ( Not sure if it will open the passenger door.)

Take a look at the two key profiles, the square / flat key will have a extra groove on the edge where the valet key won't. This is the mechanism that keeps the valet key out of the glove box / trunk.

turbozeke418 · #15 02-18-2014, 02:32 AM

Another Update- Tonight I discovered that even when the key is removed the radio still works. Then I came back to the car an hour later, keys still not in the ignition and the radio will come one and work. The factory cell phone occasionally makes the turning on sound also.