Stranded!!!!!!

[will70724]

Well kinda, I was leaving my parents house today and my car started but I kind of noticed a hesitation... so then i started it up right after, I go to the gas station turn the car off and bam it wont start. So I kept trying to start it after every few mins, the buzzing noise would come on, but wouldnt turn over at all nothing, no hesitation or anything.

I waited about 15 mins and tried it again and I was lucky and it started I drove it right back to my parents house and turned it off... I tried to start it up again and nothing. All lights seem to work fine, all power works good, no problems before this.

I have a 92 sel 600. What could be the problem.


Edit: I just looked under the hood and dont notice anything crazy, but I did notice that im about at the halfway mark on my oil dipstick I heard some crazy things about oil levels but I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with it right? Any advice would be great.

[Matt L]

I would first suspect the battery, next its electrical connections.

[Ferdman]

Will, check the condition/length of the voltage regulator brushes ... 2 screws secure the voltage regulator to the back of the alternator.

[TMAllison]

Could try to start in Neutral next time it wont crank.

If it starts up then, its the NSS.

[iwrock]

Check the NSS by starting in neutral. If that solves it, then thats what needs to be fixed. Had the same problem in the SL, wouldnt start, and magically, it would start again. Bad contact in the switch, cleaned the safety switches, problem solved!

[JamesDean]

different car but same problem..i know when my SD's NSS went..i couldnt start it in any gear..i had to turn the key on and bump the starter...

[will70724]

Quick update. I was able to start it up by pushing the key into the ignition harder. I tried to do that again when starting it and nothing. I will try to start it in neutral and update you guys. I also had my friend try to start it so I could try to hear anything... I hear almost a click noise up by the top of the engine and would almost go down to where the oil fill cap and fan are. Don tknow if this has anything to do with it.

[will70724]

Just try to start it in neutral and nothing. I dont know to much about mercedes but from past experience when a car wouldnt start and then start sometimes meant the starter was bad or going out.

I'm kind of hoping this isnt it but I figure it probably is?


Anyone know how much a starter for a 92 mercedes sel 600 cost? and is it normally about and hour or so of labor like other starters?

[will70724]

It seems like I'm in a bad situation. I can't figure out how to start the car. I'm assuming its the starter, there is no way that I can tow it from my house to the shop that I go to. Basically the only shop I trust my car to be at and really like because its about 45 miles away from where the car is.

Is there anyway to tap the starter on a mercedes? I know in my camaro I can do it easily but is there an easy way to do this on a mercedes because I have no idea. All I need to do is if I can't fix the problem at least get the car started and drive it to the shop.

So I'm assuming its the starter, advice on taping the starter? Or even maybe it's not the starter and maybe something else you guys think?

[wbrian63]

This is assuming that your problem is cranking the motor, not getting the motor to fire. Frequently people will say "my car won't start" - which is too vague to know what is really the problem. If when the key is turned, the motor doesn't rotate (crank), then the car 'won't crank'. When the key is turned if the motor cranks but won't start, then the car 'won't fire'.

I think from your descriptions, the car 'won't crank'.

There are several items that can cause these problems:
Low battery
Starter motor
Starter solenoid

If the battery is low, when you attempt to crank the engine, you exhaust the capacity of the battery. Since a battery makes electricity by chemical reaction, allowing it to sit briefly after this effort can result in enough recovery to permit a start.

Starters that are on their last legs sometimes start the motor fine when cold, but have trouble when hot. You can tell if the starter is "trying" to crank the motor by seeing what happens when you crank the motor with the headlamps on. (Assuming MB doesn't switch off the headlamps when you crank - I've never tried it.) If the lamps start out nice and bright and dim noticeably when cranking, then return to full brightness when the cranking stops, then it's likely the starter.

Starter solenoids that fail usually result in a starter motor that just goes "click" as you turn the key to the crank position. The test above will show no difference in the headlamp brightness if the solenoid is the cause. (No current passing to the starter, so no draw on the battery).

I'd start with a fully charged battery first. Some people have had baaad luck in jump-starting their MB's, so I'd try getting the battery charged first. Most major autoparts stores will test your battery for free - if it's too low to be tested, they'll charge it first and then test it. That will eliminate the battery from the list of possible failures.

Plus, changing a battery on a V12 MB is the same as on a I6 - it's the same battery, and it's in the trunk. Changing the starter is probably a whole other kettle of fish.

[will70724]

Hey brian thanks for the post I defnitely notice you always giving good advice on my posts and appreciate it.

The lights and everything worked fine. When I would start the car nothing would dim at all, all the gauges and lights were working fine. I'm pretty sure its probably the starter, not sure if it's the complete starter or the solenoid. Probably sounds like the solenoid from the stuff I read.

2 questions. Where is the battery? I k now its in the trunk but where the hell is it, I have still yet to see it since having the car?

Number two is there a way to tap the starter like on other cars? If so I never been under my car yet I'm assuming the starter is probably underneath the passenger side? Is there a specific way to tap the starter on a mercedes or anything special?


I appreciate the help, I just need to get the car started one more time so i can drive it to the mechanic thats about 40 miles away and leave it there.

[Peter Guenther]

Yes the starter is in a normal location, but MB decided to put a shield under the engine. You will find out a starter is not cheap, the battery is under the carpet passenger side trunk, wheel well.
You are not going to be able to check the alternator it is really buried, I hate to say so see if there is a Mb dealer that can pull some codes. If it had no power it could be limp home, bad ign switch will cause no start, solenoid maybe, you got to get there by elimination. Here is some good reading
http://v12uberalles.com/

[will70724]

It definitely didnt limp home. It was weird it was just all of a sudden no warning. Wouldnt start waited 15 mins or so started thought it was fine then, drove it home turned it off, tried to start it, nothing, next day tried to start it nothing.

My only problem is trying to get it started one more time ( if its the starter) so i can drive it to the shop so I'm hoping theres a way to tap the starter to get it to start.

[lee polowczuk]

do you ever get your hands dirty?

you seem clueless.

sorry to be so crass....but in order to have a car with that level of sophistication , you have to have a little bit of background.

i would love to have one of those, but don't understand them and can't afford them.

[will70724]

Yes, and no. I'm very good with chevy's thats all I ever had basically and still have my 70 camaro. But this is my first mercedes and its so much different from a small block 350. I love the car but havent figured out on working on it yet. But I guess the only good thing is that I only had it for a half a year or so so I got time to figure out some stuff. I guess.

Im going to try to tap the starter tomorrow and get it out of there.