i have a 98 c280 that was in a flood up to the shifter, i cannot find anyone to finish up the car after spending much $$ to get it running again,

here is the story and the question

the car ran after the flood but had to be put in the shop and dried out and the mechanic was telling me it was being done and was being worked on and several months later i found that the car had not been touched and now would not start, after looking for someone to work on it for a long time, i finally had someone replace the main computer, transmission computer, igntion switch, security computer and clean up the fuse box and such, the car will not recognize the key anymore due to the new security comp, so i am told, and the new switch came with a green programming key, question one is, does the car have to be hooked up to the computer at a dealership to get this to work properly, after the ignition is recognized i am told the computers will have to be burned in to the car, any help in understanding this process would be greatly appreciated, the car has 15K on it and i hate to part it out. most of the car componets have power including the ignition, only things that dont are things controlledby the computers,

desparately,

doug ross

Doug:
If the green key was inserted and downloaded the info to the new ignition switch, half the work is done. I assume if you put the black (original) key into the ignition switch the steering wheel unlocks, but you probably can't turn the key to start it. if you note the red LED on the key, it may be lit up. This means the ignition switch is downloading info from the black key. When the red LED goes out, the key should then turn to start, although the engine may not start. This is where the dealer may have to step in and program the engine computer. They are vehicle-specific. oh, come to think of it the dealer may also be required to get the new ignition switch to work anyways, there are electronic safeguards built into the system to keep theives from buying them and enabling the system. There is an (electronic) unlocking procedure that needs to get done before it'll work, possibly before it'll even allow the steering wheel to unlock.
The transmission computer will also need to be version coded to the car, as will what you call the "security computer" which MB calls the PSE pump.
I assume the green key is in the possesion of the dealership, the core charge on the green key is HUGE, they have to have that key back or it's mucho dinero for the dealer it was sent to. I assume the car isn't at the dealership or they'd have it all straightened out by now. If it isn't, you really need to get this car trucked to the dealer and get this baby straightened out. Anytime you start dealing with the EIS, engine control moduel, keys, etc, it's dealer time, MB won't and doesn't have to release info on the security sensitive features of the car.
Gilly

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