anyone please help?

 

help fo what

 

The starter requires a min. amount of voltage to engage. The radio, light, etc, will all work still. More than likely your battery is low. Has it been replaced before?

 

i have a c 240 my battery is good and im having the same problem could it be a relay possibly?

 

As 2002c230 notes, you can have lights but no starter. Call mb roadside assist (I think you may still have access, they just changed the rules) and they'll come out and try to jump it properly. If it's the battery they'll offer to replace it for just the cost of the battery, no additional labor charge, and they usually will run the resets for you, too.

But from what you've said, the first place I would start looking is the battery.

Good luck.

 

if its the battery, won't the car at least try to start up? i can't get it to crank even a little.

my battery has never been replaced and just recently i did not drive my car for 3 weeks. but it has been working fine for a week before i could not start my engine all of a sudden.

also where is the battery located? (sorry i'm horrible with cars)

 

No, it won't...that's the exact point. If system voltage is too low the computer won't send any current to the solenoid. So the lights stay bright instead of suddenly getting dim and you getting that click-click-click sound. And now that you have added details that sounds even more likely that the battery is done.

If you're horrible with cars, call MB roadside assist 800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372). You can do serious and expensive damage trying to jump it if you don't know what you're doing, and that's even if you don't cross the wires and blow up the battery.

 

Depending on where you are located (please click user cp and add your vehicle and location to your profile, it's useful information) it may be the engine ground strap. If you're in an area that uses salt/corrosives to keep the roads clean that can rot it out in a few years. There are other possibilities, starter, solenoid, etc. but hopefully it's one of the simpler/cheaper alternatives.

Good luck.

 

I have updated my profile.

It seems the problem is the starter. They recommended a new starter which will cost around $800 including labor and tax. sigh....

 

That really stinks. I might not be book smart but God taught me how to use my hands and gave me the guts to try it! Google the procedures, If its' something your comfortable with, maybe you can save some cash.

 

i had the samt problem with mine after i changed mu timing chain, they did not set the timing correctly so had a hard start then yesterday just would not crank, all by dash lights are working, i changed the battery and nothing, i then run start the car and then wala, it was working. took it into the garage changed the starter and its working super

 

Car will Click but Won't Start - Just one CLICK!!

Hi there,

I have the exact same problem. I turn the key to the ON position, I hear the sound of everything getting in line (i.e. Fuel line), all the light in the dash board light up and once I turn the key to start the car, all I hear is a CLICK!!! (just one CLICK) and the car won't even attempt to crank the engine.

This is the second time I have the problem. Both times, the starter was replaced, it run for about a month and then dead again. I honestly don't think is the starter anymore. Every time they bench test the starter (after being pull out of the car) is ok, it runs as it should. They just replaced because is under warranty and is already out of the car but will only last a few weeks.

I think the problem is on the power cable that gets the power to the starter. As a matter of fact, I have tested the battery several times and the reading is always good (12.9V). I will replace the cables tonight and will let you know.

Thanks and good luck.

 

As promised, yesterday I got back from work and cleaned the terminals of the battery cable. Guess what? The car started right away. No click no nothing. I’m going to replace the entire power cable today just to be in the safe side. The cable is around 15 dollars at any Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts.

 

My 2004 240 C does the same thing and has done it since 35k miles. It now has 154k. The trick on mine is to turn to off, remove the key and reinsert it. It some times takes three times but it has never failed to start. The dealer tried to fix the problem at 35k and then at 40k and again at 45k. Sometime keeping the car for several weeks. They think it is the key not being recognized by the locking system but there are no codes and they are stumped. It does it with both sets of keys so it is not the keys nor is it the starter or battery.

 

Try the power cable. Sometimes the easy solution is the right one. It will drive me crazy having to "trick" the car to start.....might as well have a KIA !!!

 

I have same problem everything working but don't start also engine cooler is always on. What can i do?

 

For future reference. In a situation where the starter just fails to kick in.

1. Check the voltage. Is it 11.5v-12V? No? Replace the battery. Yes? Continue.
2. Check the battery terminals. Are they looking corroded? Clean them. Does it start? Check the cables, are they wicking the corrosion from the battery?
Replace the cable if so. That crud turns the wire into a giant resistor and will cook your alternator as well and possibly melt the insulation from the wire (yes, it happened) Still not started?
3. Get a piece of steel pipe (also doubles are a socket wrench handle extension) or a metal rod, something that can reach the starter from the engine compartment.
4. Locate the starter on the engine. Carefully fish the rod or pipe, whatever you got through the wires and hoses to touch the top of the starter.
5. Lift the rod/pipe and gently but firmly give it a few whacks.
6. Try to start the car.
7. If it runs, yes you need a new starter or just repair the existing one. Repeat several times if needed.
The car will start if it's just a matter of the starter failing.
Keep the metal rod with you at all time.

If it doesn't start, and it's not the starter or battery,
It can be a multitude of other things too like the EIS and will likely require SDS diagnostics to read the codes.

DIY'ing the starter is a bit of a pain. I did mine, and to reach the bolt on top you need a very long extension or combination of extensions like 3' or so. You must undo the bolts from the rear of the trans tunnel so it requires 6 hands if you got 'em, though I did it alone. You have to hold the socket onto the bolt with one hand (E torx) and try to work the socket wrench
3 feet away with the other, all the while laying on your back with 2 tons of steel on top of you.
Sound like fun? Or would you rather pay $800? Your choice.

Get the car up high so you have room to work,
and here's a little video I did that describes how to get the steering column out of the way to drop the starter out from the bottom.
I took mine to an auto electric shop, where they tested it and replaced the brushes for $25. Of course disconnect the battery 1st!
Glad to hear I saved $775.00
There's a more in depth thread around somewhere that I did that includes the MB WIS docs.

 

This has never occurred previously but all of a sudden my engine will not start. If i turn the key fob, all the dash lights, radio, and headlights turn on which leads me to believe that it is not a battery problem.

However, when i turn the key all the way, the engine does not even try to crank. It almost feels as if only the starter is disconnected or something from the car entirely. (I know nothing about car engines)

I drive a 2004 C230 sedan. I have read some threads that state that it can be anything from a starter problem to being as easy as just cleaning the wires that connect to it.

Can anyone tell me where the starter in the engine is and how i may go about cleaning it? I do not own any electrical gear and all i want to do is just start the car once so i can drive it to the dealership. Thank you in advance!

i have a different issue. twice in the last few weeks the car sounds like it is starting but does not engage the engine. it is not the battery ( I have had it checked). i try starting it numerous times and eventually it started after an hour.

 

Cranking without firing is typically a fuel delivery issue. A bad CPS will cause the ECU to disable the fuel pump. There is lots of info on the forum about CPS failures and replacement.

 

Am having same issue now with my c230 2007. But what baffles me is that the went off while I was in motion. So I don't want to believe is the battery. Any advise please?

 

Am having same issue now with my c230 2007. But what baffles me is that the car went off while I was in motion. So I don't want to believe is the battery. Any advise please?

 

A bad battery can cause all sort of electrical gremlins - even when driving. It can act as a big resistor and prevent the alternator from putting out proper voltage/

 

is CEL light on?

CPS could do this, with or without CEL

 

I'm having this same issue with my 2005 E500, any feedback?

I replaced my starter, starter fuse and relay. I turn the key over, get one click, then it dead noise wise and the car doesn’t start. I get all power, battery is new. What are the possibilities to keep my car from starting outside of what has been fixed so far?

 

Put a voltmeter on the starter leads and see if it gets power when you turn the key to start.

 

ok. will do. thx

 

Just happened upon this thread looking up info on how to change a dead battery. Astonishingly, my 2005 6 speed C230 is still covered under M-B Roadside assistance and they're coming out to change my battery for the cost of the part right now.

 

Follow-up they charge labor for replacing a battery. Only jump starting the car is covered under the roadside assistance. You're better off driving to Advance Auto Parts or someplace and doing it yourself. The Roadside assistance people didn't hook up any battery backup to the car they just changed it by disconnecting and reconnecting a new battery like you would on an old Dodge Dart. Lost my radio resets and they didn't even bother to set the clock on the dash for me when they were done.

 

The last time I checked all you need to be covered by MB roadside is $180 of services performed at a MB dealer every 18 months. It used to be free for the life of the car.

 

hello
iam in africa i got the Mercedes CLS 350 2005 w219 I got the same problem and here there is no mercedes dealer I need all help from this forum please

 

This has never occurred previously but all of a sudden my engine will not start. If i turn the key fob, all the dash lights, radio, and headlights turn on which leads me to believe that it is not a battery problem.

However, when i turn the key all the way, the engine does not even try to crank. It almost feels as if only the starter is disconnected or something from the car entirely. (I know nothing about car engines)

I drive a 2004 C230 sedan. I have read some threads that state that it can be anything from a starter problem to being as easy as just cleaning the wires that connect to it.

Can anyone tell me where the starter in the engine is and how i may go about cleaning it? I do not own any electrical gear and all i want to do is just start the car once so i can drive it to the dealership. Thank you in advance!

Definitely the kick starter, I went through same experience. Gave the kick a knock and voila, car starts.

 

This has never occurred previously but all of a sudden my engine will not start. If i turn the key fob, all the dash lights, radio, and headlights turn on which leads me to believe that it is not a battery problem.

However, when i turn the key all the way, the engine does not even try to crank. It almost feels as if only the starter is disconnected or something from the car entirely. (I know nothing about car engines)

I drive a 2004 C230 sedan. I have read some threads that state that it can be anything from a starter problem to being as easy as just cleaning the wires that connect to it.

Can anyone tell me where the starter in the engine is and how i may go about cleaning it? I do not own any electrical gear and all i want to do is just start the car once so i can drive it to the dealership. Thank you in advance!

Have you taking a look at your dashboard? I am having a similar issue however, my dash is alerting me to remove my key. This could be something as easy as your EIS system not recognizing your key fob and needing reset or possibly a new one. It is a safety mechanism that causes it to not start if it doesn’t recognize your key fob. Try a spare or get a new one. It could also be that your whole EIS system needs replaced. I will also say that it could be a part relating to your brake lights ( DONT quote me.) maybe a fuse?? Ehh... from what I remember ur brake lights will probably function appropriately and it requires some investigation into some part in that general area. So google that or start following the wires from the brakes, till u hit the jackpot. (Joke! Google it! ) !! last thing I have found Is that you may just have a stuck steering wheel jamming you up.. google or whatever how to fix that. My ideas could possibly lead to the wheel on your hood! Hope it works.. I’ll be trying all of the above tomorrow. I’ll post if I find out what’s going on... FYI my dash, and some lights work... but my windows do not function. AAA tried to jump it and it didn’t make a dent.