A few months ago I had to have the starter motor replaced on my van. Luckily the van was still under warranty so it didn't cost me anything. Anyway, in the last few weeks my van started playing up. When I turn the ignition on to start the vehicle, absolutely nothing happened, just like a completely flat battery. However, I was able to operate my lift and all the lights come on so it obviously wasn't a completely flat battery. I got 24 hour service out and they got it started so I thought it was a flat battery after all.

A couple of weeks later the same thing started happening, put the ignition on, nothing, try again and the engine starts. Then last week I went out shopping and I couldn't start the vehicle at the supermarket. So I got the AA to come out and they couldn't get it started either. They could crank the engine which rules out a flat battery or starter motor problem. And then an hour and a half later just as I'm about to order a taxi to take me home and the AA to get a transporter my van starts so I am able to drive home.

A couple of days later I get in the vehicle to go shopping again and it won't start. So again, I call the AA out and he gets to my house and the van starts perfectly okay. I am totally fed up so I contact Mercedes and they take the van to their workshop. They've had it for quite a few days now and they cannot find anything wrong with it. There is obviously a problem somewhere, but it isn't playing up at the moment which is extremely frustrating.

So what do I do? My father who has been fantastic throughout, and always seems to sort things out for me (ex-RAF officer ) has categorically told them that they must find the problem before they give me my vehicle back.

A few years ago I went through all this with a Chrysler Voyager. I thought I was getting a reliable vehicle with my Mercedes, it seems like I'm going through the same thing all over again.

Hey Penn! My husband suggested that you have them check the distributor cap. He says if it gets out of "time", it will make the spark plugs fire when there is no gas there.

Just an idea! Good luck with your vehicle!

Edit: He also said to check the ignition. Said if it's possible, try to have someone hotwire it. Also, does it have a chip in the key? Maybe the chip is going bad? Dirty in the ignition area?

Penn, this sounds classic immobiliser/alarm problem to me.. does the car turn over but just not start? if it does then 1 of 2 things, immobiliser stopping it (likely) or dodgy fuel pump..

my money is on the immobiliser because its so intermittent, classic immobiliser problem..

hope this helps

T

nothing happens when you turn the key, it is as if the battery is completely dead, but it is not. However, when the AA came to me at Sainsbury is he tried to start the car from underneath, it cranked all right but would not start.

Now, this is interesting. Whilst I was waiting for them to come, I removed the key from the ignition and put it back in again. I couldn't even turn the key, it was like it was completely stuck. Then a symbol of the key appeared on my readout. After about 10 minutes, I heard a click and I could then turn the key, but the engine still would not start. Then all of a sudden,just as I was about to give up and get a recovery vehicle it started. Then a couple of days later, I got in the car in the morning, tried to start the engine and it wouldn't. The AA came and started straight away and there have been any instances of it not starting as of yet. This is the frustration. Mercedes have still got it.Nothing shows up on the computer when they plug it in. I must add that when the engine would not start, three lights came up on the dash, I can't remember which ones though. no warning lights come on now when it starts okay

with that condition, i suggest you change the battery of the electronic controls;
keys, and alarm system.... i do understand your car model had all electronic control
system and the car company should have found the trouble when they scan the card.

i had some previous incident in my work with those volvo, audi, mbenz,bmw, and
locally made car that uses electronic system.... any weak battery in the key
or in the alarm system triggers the malfunctioning of those safety features....

please do check against it.

Thanks Paul,it all makes sense, the immobiliser would stop the car from starting completely would it not? And it makes sense but even though the AA man (Automobile Association) could crank the vehicle from underneath, it still would not start. I will get on to them and give them my findings to see what they say. Maybe a new key is necessary?

Sounds like my car. I have a Ford Taurus that does that, but it's older and doesn't have any sort of fancy keys or alarms. I just have a bad ignition switch. And like yours' it's a phantom problem. Hell my Taurus is so old (1992) that I don't even need a key to start it anymore. Ahh...those were the days. lol

Like Tony suggested, I would probably start with the key and the immobilizer since they're all so picky these days. Hopefully it just needs to be reset.

Blimey Jenni, you're up early!

I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because they cannot find the fault, the car is starting perfectly okay. I don't suppose they are going to start changing expensive components just in case, well, not unless I willing to foot the bill, which I'm not, the car still has about one month on the warranty.

OFL wrote:

i understand what you mean but shunting is just giving power for the starter
but won't give signal to the ignition and gas regulator... believe me... mbenz
and bmw have almost the same electronic controls....

have you experience any unusual alarm even if nobody touch the car????
that is also another sign of weak battery at the control system...

No alarm signal anything. When I couldn't start the car the other day, I remove the key from the ignition and then puts it back in again. I couldn't turn the key in the ignition at all, it wouldn't get left or right. I thought it was totally stuck. Then after about 10 minutes there was a small click and I could then turn the key.

However, wouldn't normal problems with the electrics imobilize the enginehe, or is it only a problem with the ignition that does this? Just one other point, I thought that an immobilizer stops the car starting, it will still crank, but not start. Remember that my car doesn't do anything when you turn the key.

try to replace the battery of the remote control key....
the dry cell might be weak... however if you can open or lock
the car at the distant..maybe i am wrong...

i had a somewhat similar problem with my show car last year. sometimes when i inserted the key into the ignition i couldnt turn it in any direction. now when it did finally turn i had no problem starting it. but in order to fix the ignition turnig problem i had to replace the key cylinder and since then i have not had any problems with it.

might be a small part of your dilema