My '97 E420 has this problem: Engine cranks once and then dies, the red and green alarm lights on the bottom of the rearview mirror start flashing alternatively! Car usually starts on the 3rd attempt. (happens on hot and cold engines.) Car has 48K miles on it.
Any ideas as to what might be causing this?

You are having a problem related to the IR system. (Infra Red)Lock /alarm and ignition. I'm not sure which causes which.

On the 97 S320 I fixed with these same symtoms the problem was the ignition switch. We presumed the various connections for ign term 15 were not activating. We caught the basic starting problem as a lack of IR activation signal to the engine management controller (through the scanner). The problem was that the IR system was not getting power.

The way I caught the activity was that as I was hooking up the scanner I turned the ignition key to the run position but the dash lights didn't light. I thought that I hadn't turned it far enough and turned it some more and the starter engaged and I released and the lights came on. I didn't recognize it the first time but I found that if I turned the key slowly to the start position I could get the dash lights to quit and the car didn't start in this condition.

This was a 140 chassis not a 210 chassis so it might not apply here.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

[This message has been edited by stevebfl (edited 05-14-2000).]