Turned off engine, 15 min. later no crank. Battery was five years old so I replaced that but still no crank. All lights come on, various sounds but no starter activation. Tried other keys with no luck. The car will NOT shift out of park to try starting in neutral, this seems odd...

Any ideas? I'm going to check codes and slap some relays around when I go over there in a few, this sort of thing never happens at home does it?

Thanks for the help.

UPDATE: Found the manual shift unlock but it won't crank in neutral either. The steering wheel unlocks but the shifter doesn't. The relay under the panel on the passenger side of the engine bay (K38?) clicks as do a number of other relays. When the ign is on the following are illuminated: ABS, Brake, BAS-ESP, Check Engine and warning triangle. There are no codes. If the shifter worked I'd guess it's a bad starter or connection at the starter. Time to tow it home... What and where is the K40 relay I've read of? Thanks again.

I think I would first test the starter/solenoid directly which will eliminate a lot of variables. They do fail and are pretty easy to change. And look at the ground strap and connections.

those model yr cars are infamous for key problems [over 100k] one thing you can try is to take key out and try to lock and unlock car and then try again.i've made this work myself.

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David S Poole
European Performance
Dallas, TX
4696880422

"Fortune favors the prepared mind"
1987 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
1988 Mercedes Benz 300TE (With new evaporator)
2000 Mercedes Benz C280
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But would a bad starter or solenoid prevent the shifter from moving? I'll check that and connections when we get it home late today.

By 'key' do you mean the remote or the metal key in the fobs? Tried many 'lock and unlock' with by remote w/o success, I'll try w/ the metal key before we load it.

What seems odd is that if the key wasn't communicating with the computer then why would the column unlock, dash lights come on, etc.? Could both keys only be 'half communicating' so the ign is on but the gearshift is locked and the starter will not engage?

UPDATE: Tried the metal key, lock, unlock, no luck. Got the car home and put a remote starter switch on it, it starts and runs fine so the starter isn't the issue. When it is running I get ABS and BAS/ESP warning messages as well as idiot lights, including 'brake'. The shifter will not move even when running.

So what could interfere with ABS, BAS/ESP, shifter lock and starter? The 40a fuse for ABS is ok. If the transmission module (what/wherever that is) isn't powered would it keep the shifter locked and also prevent starter engagement? Could this trans module be on the same circuit/fuse as ABS or BAS/ESP?

I'm perplexed.

If it were me, I think I'd replace the brake light switch. It's cheap and easy and a known failure point that can affect several other systems. Get it from the dealer, though, I've heard bad stories about aftermarket ones.

SOLVED! Blown 10A fuse in ECM box thing on the right side of the engine compartment...

Good to hear you got it fixed and it was simple and cheap. For some reason I thought you'd already checked the fuses but I don't see it previously mentioned. Electronics in these cars can be quite entertaining.