Our C230 has the ignition that is supposed to be started by turning the key clockwise briefly, and letting go of the key - the engine will usually start. Lately, on the first start of the day, the engine will crank briefly, then stop cranking without starting. Holding the key during startup doesn't make any difference. After 3-5 attempts, the engine will start with the momentary key procedure. The problem doesn't occur except at 5-10 day intervals, and only first thing in the morning. My tech couldn't replicate the problem, and there were no engine codes indicating a problem. When it did it this morning, there seemed to be a very faint buzzing from the dash during the attempts to start that weren't succesful, but not during the times that the engine started without problems.

Since my overall mpg and acceleration seem to have dropped slightly, I was worried that the MAS might be on the way out, but I am wondering if there isn't a more simple explanation, such as fuel pump relay or ??? (It had this same intermittent problem before the recent B service, when new plugs were installed, without noticable effect on the starting, acceleration, or mpg issues.

Any ideas would be appreciated, as it seems to be happening more frequently, but hasn't done it for my tech - even when he kept the car overnight.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

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