I just got my S430 (yr 2000) 3 weeks ago. while driving suddenly the machine went dead. it won't start at all. it's like everything is locked. after trying 10 times and waiting for 20 minutes it can restart. this is the second time it has happened. the first one was just one restart and it went again. what might cause the problem? does it have anything to do with the alarm?

Does the engine crank? What did it act like when it shut down.Was it like the key was shut off or did the engine sputter before it died. Is there anything else that failed to operate in the vehicle while this was occurring?

Better just get it on over to the dealer. It's not uncommon for the first run of a completely new model to have bugs. When I was at the dealer, we had two W220 S-Class sedans come back fairly quickly. On one the front air suspension valve went and on the other the Blaupunkt navigation unit went dead. Had that not been under warranty, it would have cost about $8,000 to replace!! Mercedes has been very good about supplying parts for the new S-Class, and the training on the car's systems was covered quite well. Good luck! Sorry to hear of your problems!

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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'79 6.9 (SOLD) :(
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8

Thank you for the reply. The machine when it went dead, it shut off as if the key was taken off, didn't sputter. then everything seemed locked. even the gear shift can't be moved. it seemed like it was shut off completely when someone tried to steal the car.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by RBM:
Does the engine crank? What did it act like when it shut down.Was it like the key was shut off or did the engine sputter before it died. Is there anything else that failed to operate in the vehicle while this was occurring?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The engine didn't crank while it died. It just like when the key was shut off. I already bring it to the dealer and the couldn't find anything wrong with the car. Can you imagine that?? What am I suppose to do now.

Get together with the shop foreman or the diagnostic technician at the dealership. They are most likely the people that can help you solve this. The computer network in this vehicle is extensive and if the vehicle is not failing, be patient because it will take longer to find. Work with the technician and give him all the information that you can (engine warm or cold, happens over bumps etc..)

Can't you ask for a replacement (the car is only 3 weeks old)?
My philosophy is that when you have problems at the begining, it will be an endless problem...
Get another s430 if possible :)

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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s430,

I'm with Adamou! I bought a new E300 Diesel in '96 when they first came out. I started having problems, first with the car, then with the dealer. I ultimately went back to the old Benz's and get great service from them.

With these kind of problems, this early, you should DEMAND another car. Also keep all records of service and check into the lemon law. If they can't fix it in a certain number of documented trips, you are entitled by law to a new car.

Not all MB dealers have great and talented people like Benzmac and MBDoc.

Get in their face and don't take anything less than what you paid your kilodollars worth of hard earned money for.

Best of Luck,


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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Out of curiosity, did you try to use the other key? Sounds to me like the key may be defective and loosing the program.
As far as "Lemon Law" stuff goes, been there done that with Cadicrap. Bottom line is Manufacturer comes equipped with Lawyer. Burden of proof is on consumer. If you can't reproduce the problem in front of the arbitrator, you lose.
Try to work it out with the dealer. If the car dies again, press that little wrench button and let them send a tech out to you.
just my $0.2
Gary

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00 AMG E55
96 DCM Impala SS
94 ZR-1
81 Corvette Cpe

If you can stand any more advice - why don't youleave it with the dealer to have them drive home until it screws up? They should be able to provide you with a loaner, which gives them added incentive to find the problem. I used to be a service advisor at a VW/Porsche/Audi ddealership and have used this technique. It's the only way to solve intermittant problems! If only cars were as cheap and plentiful as advice!

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

Thanks for all your replies and advises.
When they run the test in the dealer, the car went dead again and the found the electric fuel pump as the problem. After they replace it and rerun the test, the car never went dead. But they won't release the car until the specialist from the Mercedez manufacture comes and check everything again. I hope everything will be fine from now :)). Thanks again.

If every MB dealer had at least one person in the service department with Deezel's attitude, the customer satisfaction of MB owner's would double. Staying on top of an intermittent problem like Deezel described is TRUE customer service.

Good Luck s430,


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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

[This message has been edited by LarryBible (edited 02-24-2000).]