Need your opinion on this:
Not a diesel but same as E300 for remote door opener. On my E320 97, the remote does not open doors, changed the battery, no help, can someone give me an idea of what kind of $$ is involved in getting this fixed, perhaps a range of cost.

Vahe
240D 77

They generally don't repair them, they replace them. Shop around for the best price. You can order it from Duval in Florida if you send them a copy of your registration and they are about the lowest price you'll find.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I do not believe that the problem is in the remote, I have two remotes, both with new batteries, neither activates doors, if the problem is in the electronics that receive signal from the remote what needs to be replaced?

Vahe
240d 77

OK, let's start over then, if your original post had been clear on this then I would have said start with the basics and check all fuses to make sure everything's getting power. Is there anything else not working on the car? Do the locks work with the dash button?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

On this car there is only one key hole, not on the doors, but on the trunk, I can activate the door locks with the key from the trunk, manually.
So the locking system works manually with the key but does not respond to the infrared beam from the hand remote.
I hope that this explanation is a bit more clear. Have not checked the dash button, it is my wifes car.

Vahe
240D 77

OK, that verifies the system is working otherwise so the bad news is that the proper way to find what is wrong is with the dealership's STAR diagnostic system. They basically will be able to plug in a scanner and see which component is not working.

Is your key the "smartkey" or the older style with the "switchblade" that you use in the ignition? IIRC the locking system uses RF not IR but if it uses IR you need to make sure the IR receiver isn't blocked since IR is line of sight (the receiver would be located up behind the rear view mirror).

One last question...when did this start happening? Did it ever work for you or has it been like this since you have owned the car?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I checked the WIS and there is a bulletin on this system discussing the fact that if you install an aftermarket radio it can effect the remote locking and steering wheel lock. Does your car have the original radio and does the steering wheel lock function properly (can you hear it lock and unlock when the key is removed/inserted in the ignition)?

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Thanks for your help.
Everything is original on this car, no aftermarket items on it.
The problem happened last night, in the prior problems all I had to do was to replace the tiny batteries inside the remote, but last night the battery replacement did not help.
I did call the dealer who knows this car and does service on most items, two things were mentioned, one had to do with re-programming the key system and the other replacing the key, will take the car to them tomorrow, keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks again,
Vahe
240D 77

Kindly post what they find to be the problem so we can all learn from it, thanks!

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Will do, probably next Monday.

PS. while on the subject of door locks, I love my 240D, the locks have been dead for about 20 years now, after I gave up on the MB crappy vacuum design, but on 240D you can abandon the vacuum and function manually, not with 210's.

Vahe
240D 77

Well, on my '98 E300 I can use the blade to lock and unlock the doors from the driver's door if the remote fails...are you sure you can't do that on the '97? And, you can use the dash switch to lock and unlock the doors from inside. I even think you can manually pull the locks up if the vacumm system fails if I am not mistaken.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

The only '97 that I saw had the cylinder in the passenger door, and used the same key as the '96. It's the switchblade key with IR remote.

The passenger door is about the silliest place for the cylinder, but that's where it was.

Try synchronizing the remote first. Briefly press the button twice, then within thirty seconds put the key in the ignition and turn to position 2.

Will try your method tonight.

There are no cylinder/key holes on ANY doors on our 97 E320, the only key hole is placed on the trunk.
The first time that I experienced door problems was due to low batteries inside the remote, the car was parked on our driveway doors locked and I had no clue how to open the darn thing, called MB Roadside Service for help, the tech showed my how to open the doors by inserting the key in the trunk cylider, what a STUPID design. And, the owners manual is of no help on this issue.

Vahe

Actually, the synchronization procedure is in the owner's manual.

When I got my car, I didn't realize that I was actually lucky to have a cylinder in the driver's door. How do you get in the car if the remote locking computer dies?

He can unlock the doors from the trunk lock cylinder, as I can too I think (though I have never tried to).

It's just a little bizarre that his car hasn't got a door lock cylinder. I have heard of them being on the passenger side only (though mine is on the driver's side). I guess it just depends on the model year. In '96 and '98 thry apparently put them on the driver's side and in '97 not at all!

__________________
Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz