Bought the wife a 210,problem seems to be intermittent,wont start on occassions only light on dash being SRS,then leaving it for a while lights on dash light after short delay then she starts,batteries in both keys seem to be Ok,can I do anything about this?or is it into Dealers,thanks!
you don't say how old /what condition the battery is in This car does not like even a low battery power and all sorts of lights show when it is , fully charge the battery (Off the car) and then see how it goes. my pages 13 & 14 may help you . Albert Rowe, Lofty's homepage.index.html
Same problem A210 Evolution, 2003, in for service & MOT 28,000 miles. Week llater wouldn't start, MB garage said it needed a new battery. Two weeks later same problem, recoverd into MB garage, said after daignostic check it needed a new fuel pump and fuel line injectors. Two weeks later same problem, recovered into MB gagrge, they said they were "scratching their heads", one week in the garage they then said it was crank shaft sensor. But how all these things can go at once is beyond me, £1544.73 later and I wish I knew who I could complain to, has anyone any ideas???
I have the same problem with A160 from 2004. Only SRS lights up, but the other dashboard lights remain off and not even a click is heard. After a random number of retries and talking to the car I am still able to start it, as if it's a gambling machine in a casino. The dealer checked the car and disconnected the battery. Then the problem went away for a few days, but returned again. Now they say they need to replace the combi instrument costing over 500 euros. However I don't feel like paying for non-mechanical things that should just work.
Similar starting issue with my A190, which although I have not cured, I do seem to have localised the problem?!
Starting issues began last year, when the weather cooled, unlocked with the alarm key and got in the car one evening, tried to start and nothing happened?!? ALL electrics working, new battery recently!!, new key fob batteries etc, just nothing on final turn to crank starter. After about 15 mins and 20 attempts, starter suddenly roared into life and away I went, non the wiser!!
Gradually as winter came, starting issues started appearing sporadically (especially colder mornings etc.), eventually after many attempts / short while, starter comes alive on final turn.
Then I had a period of a week, when I could not start the car, so investigated possible solutions with Mercedes garages and other Merc specialists. Mercedes said, definately the starter!! and not much change from £1000 to replace due to engine having to be dropped to gain access!!! Crazy.
Later that week car started fine, obviously did NOT spend the huge sum proposed!!
Spring came, and as temperature increased, problem dissapeared altogether, HOWEVER, last few weeks as it has cooled, problem has come back on a few occassions.
THIS TIME, I had thought about it a bit, and tried locking and un-locking car with KEY ONLY (NO ALARM!!!), and hey presto, not had a single re-occurance of the issue. Starts first time - no problem each time.
I THEREFORE STRONGLY SUSPECT THE STARTING ISSUE IS NOT THE STARTER MOTOR ITSELF, BUT THE CONTROL ELECTRICS FROM THE ALARM SYSTEM THAT MAY WELL GOVERN SOME IMMOBILISER CIRCUIT ON THE START FUNCTION, AND THIS FUNCTION MAY WELL BE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE (I.E. INCREASED RESISTANCE ON CONDUVTIVITY OF A WIRE OR CIRCUIT AS THE TEMPERATURE LOWERS?!?! JUST A GUESS).
Does anybody have any thoughts / experiance in this matter at all?
Would be interesting to hear any solutions that might be suggested, as I would like to have alarm system back, but I suspect replacing all of that might also be rather expensive?!
I have totally the same issue on mine a160 as you Gordon. In the summer everything is fine but in winter it is a lottery regarding start-up. I will try your suggestion to stop using immobilizer although I think that even if you lock the car with a key, immobilizer will switch on automatically after few minutes.
It would be nice to know is there any way to disable immobilizer. I could not find anything on the net. This would prove your theory.
A210 Not starting 
Linear Mode
