1998 E300 turbo diesel doesn't start. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

d-zel · #1 05-16-2006, 10:16 PM

I was driving the car for about one hour, then I parked it and wanted to drive it again about an hour later, and it did not start at all. The glow plug light did not even turn on at the dash board. I looked at some fuses, but I did not see any glow plug light fuses. I tried to start the car with a different key, but it still did not start. I also disconnected and connected back the battery. I don't know what else to look at.
Any help would be appreciated.
Joe

deltajetfixer · #2 05-17-2006, 04:34 AM

I had a battery go absolutely dead once on me. SO dead that a friend's jumper cables wouldn't even work.

Went into PetSmart and BAM, car wouldn't hit a lick. No chatter of the solenoid, no lights, not nothing. Battery was a Duramax Gold about a year old.

Got a replacement under warranty and everything was fine.

What kind of voltage are you getting at the battery terminals and it would be even nicer to know what voltage drop you're getting when turning the key?

F18 · #3 05-17-2006, 08:19 AM

Joe..... please clarify, is the engine turning over and there is no glow light?
Obviously if the engine is not turning over then its probably in the battery/starter system. if its turning and your getting no glow plug light at all then the glow plug relay and plugs are suspect.

I also noticed you had this vehicle "chipped". How long ago? Just curious because something electrical is happening!

Matt L · #4 05-17-2006, 08:37 AM

There's still a strip fuse in the glow-plug relay on these, right? If the starter motor is engaging, I'd look there.

As for voltage, the climate-control computer (N22) tells you the battery voltage if you ask nicely. Mine seems to read slightly low, but it's still easier than grabbing a voltmeter, and expecially so if I were not at home.

d-zel · #5 05-17-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F18

Joe..... please clarify, is the engine turning over and there is no glow light?
Obviously if the engine is not turning over then its probably in the battery/starter system. if its turning and your getting no glow plug light at all then the glow plug relay and plugs are suspect.

I also noticed you had this vehicle "chipped". How long ago? Just curious because something electrical is happening!

all the lights are coming on except the GP light, but the engine is not turning over. The battery is 4-5 months old. 3 Glow plugs are new, the rest are fine. the car was chipped over a year ago.

Rick Miley · #6 05-17-2006, 10:13 AM

Are you saying the starter does not engage at all? If that's the case, it sounds like a problem with the antitheft system.

F18 · #7 05-17-2006, 03:31 PM

Man...this does not make any sense. You say your getting enough current to light up the other dash lights...how about your headlights? If there is enough current to do that then the system should be putting some Malfunction Messages up on the digital odometer display and posting OBD codes. Are there any digital messages displayed?

Rick M. ..if the anti-theft system is malfuctioning and the ignition system locked out would he still be getting "all the lights coming on"? This ones a stumper!

Have you just tried boosting the battery to see what that does?

#8 05-17-2006, 03:38 PM

I hate to admit this, but yesterday I took the radio out of my 300D (long story) and put the shifter in L to get it out of the way. Sure enough, I couldn't figure out why the starter wouldn't spin this morning. After 5 minutes of messing around, I finally looked at the shifter, duh.

The point is, don't overlook the simple stuff.

Hatterasguy · #9 05-17-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Miley

Are you saying the starter does not engage at all? If that's the case, it sounds like a problem with the antitheft system.

Yep, or maybe a dead starter? Maybe give the starter a good whack then re try.

What about another key? If the battery is dead on the key won't it not talk to the car? Ie no start?

F18 · #10 05-17-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Yep, or maybe a dead starter? Maybe give the starter a good whack then re try.

What about another key? If the battery is dead on the key won't it not talk to the car? Ie no start?

The cars own current and ignition key port excites or powers the key's code circuit. Kind of like a transducer....The small watch battery in the key pod only powers the remote door lock signal. If that goes dead you can still start the car with the key if you can get into it (provided your car battery is charged).. This system is for model years 96 through 99

Hatterasguy · #11 05-17-2006, 03:58 PM

Hmm well in that case if it were me I'd probably give up and tow it to the dealer.

Rick Miley · #12 05-17-2006, 04:36 PM

This is the thread I was thinking of, but I remembered it wrong: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=86732

At any rate, d-zel needs to describe exactly what is happening.

Pete Burton · #13 05-17-2006, 04:39 PM

98? Isn't that still under warranty?

Matt L · #14 05-17-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F18

The cars own current and ignition key port excites or powers the key's code circuit. Kind of like a transducer....The small watch battery in the key pod only powers the remote door lock signal. If that goes dead you can still start the car with the key if you can get into it (provided your car battery is charged).. This system is for model years 96 through 99

'96 doesn't have that sort of key, at least not the whole MY.

d-zel · #15 05-17-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

98? Isn't that still under warranty?