I've got a '94 c280 and today (whilst away from the safety of the garage) the engine wouldn't start from the key, (although everything else worked.) until I unplugged the battery and reconnected it. It seems to be starting and running fine now. Is this a fault state? (like the "limp-home" mode?) Has anyone had this happen?

nextime that happens try locking and unlocking the car from the drivers door. see if it then starts

__________________
1967 250 S
1967 280SE
1968 250S
1971 280 SE
1973 220
1974 280 S
1975 450 SEL
1976 220 D
1979 300SD
1983 300 SD
1985 230 TE euro
1986 280SL
1986 500 SEL euro
1986 190E 2.3
1990 300 SE
2003 C230 K
2004 C230 K
1987 560SEL
1987 300SDL now in canada
2005 C230
1998 C43 AMG Sold to DON
1993 190E 2.6
300TD Former daily driver Totaled
current:
R320 CDI
Ram 2500 Cummins

Would not Start or would not Crank over ???

Thanks for the replies! As to the locking/unlocking, I did try that to no avail.

The Start/Crank issue: all of the electrics, A/C, fans, Radio antenna, dash lights all worked as normal, but there was no action from the starter/engine, until the battery was disconnected and reconnected. Still a mystery to me.

did you try it from the trunk and passenger door as well? or just the drivers?

__________________
1967 250 S
1967 280SE
1968 250S
1971 280 SE
1973 220
1974 280 S
1975 450 SEL
1976 220 D
1979 300SD
1983 300 SD
1985 230 TE euro
1986 280SL
1986 500 SEL euro
1986 190E 2.3
1990 300 SE
2003 C230 K
2004 C230 K
1987 560SEL
1987 300SDL now in canada
2005 C230
1998 C43 AMG Sold to DON
1993 190E 2.6
300TD Former daily driver Totaled
current:
R320 CDI
Ram 2500 Cummins

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So, we have NO CRANK condition. Not a NO START condition..this is important for diagnosis..
No Crank can be the Security system K38 relay that Carson is testing for you..but you may also have a bad Gear Selector sw ..[ NSS switch] I would like you to try to Crank the engine over using the N gear selection.... Instead of P...
If you car is Cdn version, it does not have the K38 relay feature...