No Start
 

I own a 2005 Mercedes E320 4-Matic. It has been running great, no problems what so ever. I do most of my own maintenance except for very major work. The OBD reader I have does not have a reset feature so the car thinks I am thousands of miles past due for service. To solve that problem, today I ordered a BlueDriver OBD reader; when It gets here I can clear all the past and start from new.

My problem is that yesterday the car would not start! The battery and all fuses are good. The key turns and all the lights come on, but it's like the solenoid stopped working. There is no click, like the solenoid engaged the starter. There is nothing; no noises of any kind. It's not like a weak battery where the starter motor turns slow; there is just nothing.

So, put a charger on the battery and checked all the fuses; everything is good except no crank! I am dumbfounded!

Any clues?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Paul

See if the car will crank in neutral. Past that, connect a test light to the starter solenoid trigger wire and see if it lights when trying to crank. Also make sure there is power at the large stater terminal.

Thanks, I will do those things tomorrow; except cranking in neutral; even though the key turns and the lights come on it will not move out of park and the steering is locked. I am making sure my foot is on the brake as normal.

Thanks again!
Paul

Maybe this will help:

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Thank you so much, Mike!

I just got up, but this will be my project for today!

I truly appreciate you!!!

Paul

Well, I tried everything; still no crank!

I had my battery charger on (trickle) for nearly 24 hrs. I got enough juice to take it out of park; foot on the brake. My wife said the brake lights work. When I shift through the gears the instrument cluster shows the different gears; P, R, N, & D.

I tried jumping it with one of my diesel cars, and no crank.

One my old 300TD there is a main fuse under the hood that is like a thick strip of metal. If that blows out the car will not crank. I am wondering if my 2005 has something like that? Everything works except the starter.

Now what?

Later I will jack the car up, get under it to see if there is power coming to the solenoid.

My experience is with my 98 C class, but it does have the CAN bus (first year for the C class). In mine when I put the key in there is a "ker-chunk" sound when the Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) unlocks. Did yours ever have that sound and if so does it now?

You should still measure the voltage on the battery while cranking. How old is it anyway?

Mpoli, my car has never made that sound.

The car will not crank, that is the problem. I even put one of my other new Mercedes Diesel batteries in it; no crank, no sounds, but everything else works!

Well obviously it isn't a battery issue. Stop barking up that tree.

You said earlier that you were going to check for power making it to the solenoid. Did that ever happen? You never followed up. If power is making it to the control terminal on the solenoid, look no further - your starter motor or solenoid are toast. If no power to the solenoid control terminal, get out your wiring diagram and start tracing it back to the start switch and see where you lose the start signal.

No, I have not checked that yet due to bad weather (the car is in the driveway.) I plan on doing it soon. I do suspect that is the problem. I will post as soon as it done.

Try moving the shift lever slightly to the left while turning key. I had an 05 E320 that would do that but when I moved the shift lever over just slightly it would crank/run.

Thank you! I will try that.

This seems highly significant to me. It would seem to suggest the EIS/immobilizer system. I don't know how to test for that other than dealer level scan tool.