I first had this problem starting the car 4 months ago. I insert the key in the ignition switch and there is no response from the car. Only the centre light in the speedometer lights up without the other two meter lights and warning lights. Then there are multiple click sounds and thats it. The steering lock is not released and the car does not crank up. I called the Mercedes dealership and they had to tow the car to the workshop. After unloading the car the technician tried to start it and it cranked up and everything was normal. There was no error log and he checked all the electrical and battery and he assured me everything was normal.
After 4 months I had the same problem last week in my office parking but luckily it started after I tried removing and inserting the key a couple of times and the car cranked up only to face the same problem 2 days back and this time it just wouldn't respond. Since I knew the problem was intermittent I tried various permutations and combinations to start the car and here is what I found.
The problem occurs when I inset the key in the ignition and the ESL is not released and there are multiple click sounds. Usually when everything is working fine theres a solenoid like sound which releases the steering lock and you can crank up the car as usual. So now every time I have a problem what seems to be working 80% of the times is that I keep the key inserted in the EIS and then yank the steering left and right in the locked state a couple of times and suddenly the steering lock releases and the car can be cranked after that.
Can anyone help me to know if its a mechanical problem with a solenoid or some mechanism that physically unlocks the steering or is it a problem with ESL electronics or the control systems as they call it which is not giving the signal to unlock the steering ? Will it make sense to just remove the ESL and service it for any possible loose contact or jam ?
Any help in this matter is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance :-)
After 4 months I had the same problem last week in my office parking but luckily it started after I tried removing and inserting the key a couple of times and the car cranked up only to face the same problem 2 days back and this time it just wouldn't respond. Since I knew the problem was intermittent I tried various permutations and combinations to start the car and here is what I found.
The problem occurs when I inset the key in the ignition and the ESL is not released and there are multiple click sounds. Usually when everything is working fine theres a solenoid like sound which releases the steering lock and you can crank up the car as usual. So now every time I have a problem what seems to be working 80% of the times is that I keep the key inserted in the EIS and then yank the steering left and right in the locked state a couple of times and suddenly the steering lock releases and the car can be cranked after that.
Can anyone help me to know if its a mechanical problem with a solenoid or some mechanism that physically unlocks the steering or is it a problem with ESL electronics or the control systems as they call it which is not giving the signal to unlock the steering ? Will it make sense to just remove the ESL and service it for any possible loose contact or jam ?
Any help in this matter is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance :-)