electric problem 1988 300E

[ACM]

I turn the ignition switch to on position and the battery and check engine lights do not come on. I know they should come on and go off once the engine has started. When I try to crank the engine nothing happens!
Any ideas?
thanks for your input
ACM

[yal]

Check your battery.

[ACM]

sorry I should also mention that the battery is fine and all the rest of the electronics work fine (lights, horn, radio etc)

[Arthur Dalton]

Check fuse and b/c a no start/crank conditon also exist, you may have a bad ign. sw...

[ACM]

Arthur whixh fuse are you talking about?
I think the key ignition switch is next in the list to check.
Any simple and fast way of testing it or I have to take tha dash and the ignition apart?
thanks for your help

[Arthur Dalton]

Just check them all
I don;t have your fuse chart in front of me , you do...it's on the fuse box cover .

Sometimes they look good so you should twist them in the holders

The real way is to test with a test lamp on both sides of the fuse..

[ACM]

okay Arthur, all fuses passed the test.
I am attacking the key ignition switch.
Any reccomendations on the testing of the switch?
BTW looks like is a heck of a job to do.
thanks a lot

[Arthur Dalton]

Before you do that , try this

Put headlamps ON
Turn key to ON
Do headlamps stay on?
Try start position w/key.. do headlamps stay ON??

[jr6700]

do you move the transmission shifter around, maybe Neutral Safety Switch, just a thought that wasnt mentioned.

[ACM]

Arthur, in both cases the headlights stay on.
The interesting thing is that the battery and check engine indicator never come on.

As far as the shifter laver goes, I thought that was the issue and I changed the 2 bushings but still no crank.

The ignition switch is my main focus now unless there is a relay that I should be checking before that.
thanks for the help guys

[Arthur Dalton]

OK

Any other dash lights come on?
Put the heater on defrost and turn key to on ..what happens to blower

The reason I had u try headlights is cuz if one has a bad connection at bat terminal, that would explain it, but if lights stayed on, that can be dismissed .
try blower

I suspect ign sw .. but report back on these 2 test first.

The NSS would be suspect for no crank if it were not for the dash lights...
that indicates there is no power before NSS at the moment [NSS is between ign sw and starter, nothing to do with bat indicator lamp

[ACM]

okay Arthur blower motor works fine.
Here is a list with the lights that come on with the key on position 2:
Brake, ABS light, Windshield fluid-I am out , and SRS but this goes out after 3-4 seconds.

The lights that do not come on and they should before crank are:
Battery and check engine.

Now let me ask you this:
if the Anit-theft sustem is malfuctioning, would I be able to see the battery light or not? How about the Check engine light?
thanks buddy

[Arthur Dalton]

You have factory Anti-theft ??
I do not see that on the schematic for 88 300e...

[ACM]

yeap factory anti-theft with protection for the radio (if it removed you have to key in a code which I do not have- btw how do I get this code? )

[Arthur Dalton]

Forget the radio

Do you have a blinking led on the center console that arms the car so it will not start if you lock it up??
If so, it has a K38 relay and that is your problem
but, I do not see that on my 124.030 schematics..