This question arises out of a separate thread....but I thought the question can stand on its own merits and thus warrant a new thread.

According to my indie, the electronic ignition on the W210 requires a certain voltage for the handshake to occur and the key to turn. Does anyone know approximately what this voltage might be?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Does a low voltage physically stop the key from turning?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

nope

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

According to my indie (who's a first rate MB mechanic), yes. Here's what he said: "it could be the relay or something as simple as a dirty battery cable but remember if the volt[age] is low in the system the key wont turn."

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 142k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I have noticed that at 12.5V standing voltage the release handshake is very slightly delayed.. I have also come to know of another persons experience that below 12.1V standing voltage the system wont work.

Same person first told me of the cold and EIS problem too.

his recommendation is to keep the battery in top shape.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)