Mercedes-Benz won’t start Step by Step Troubleshooting Guide

In order for your Mercedes-Benz to start there are several conditions that need to be met and also
needs:
1. Start enable by Drive Authorization System
2. It requires electrical power to crank the engine.
3. Requires fuel
4. Requires spark
Top 5 Mercedes-Benz no start problems
• Engine Click, No Start
• Engine Dies Right After It Starts
• Car turns over, but it won’t start
• The car makes a clicking noise but won’t start. Hint: Starter Problem or Low Battery
• Key will not turn the ignition
•
Step 1: Verify that battery is fully charged
Step 2: Check fuses and relays
You would want to check fuses for systems such as: Starter Circuit, Ignition, EIS, Fuel Pump. There could be
more circuits that impact the starting depending on the model. You can easily check all the fuses if you are not
sure, to make sure none of them are not burned out. Keep in mind that fuses are there to protect systems
when they malfunction. Make sure to replace the fuse with the same ampere rating fuse. There is a chance the
fuse could blow gain, shortly after that. To test the fuses, you can use any digital multimeter to easily and
quickly check the fuses without removing them.

Step 3: Check Gear Selector / Brake Light Switch

The brake light switch is a common culprit and frequently fail on Mercedes-Benz cars. The Drive Authorization
System will not allow starting the car if the brake light switch is not working properly. In some cases, you will
notice this problem because you can’t get the car out of park. Gear shift stuck is one of the most common
problems with Mercedes-Benz cars. Unfortunately, looking to see if the brake lights turns on while you press
the brake pad, is not a good test to tell if the brake light switch is working properly. This is because the brake
light switch has two or more micro-switches inside and only one of them controls the rear brake lights. Another
way to verify if the gear selector module is working properly is to look at the instrument cluster. Now, as you
move the shifter from Park to Reverse to Neutral, do you see the gear indicator also change on the instrument
cluster? If you don’t see the letters on the cluster change from P to R to N, it is a good sign that the gear
selector module is defective. You can buy a new brake light switch on Amazon for less than $15 USD

Step 4: Fuel Problems, Mercedes Won’t Start

Is the engine turning over? Let’s eliminate the possibility of a fuel system problems. Troubleshooting fuel
related problems is not very difficult and you can check the fuel pressure yourself. Checking the fuel pressure
is very simple. For this test, you will need a fuel pressure gauge. What you need is a fuel pressure gauge with
Schrader valve adapter. A great and affordable gauge that we have used in the past is this Actron Fuel
Pressure Gauge which works on Mercedes-Benz cars. Turn the engine off and connect this gauge to the
Schrader valve test port shown in the picture below. Start the car and you should be able to get around 60 psi.
When the engine is running and when you turn off the engine the pressure should stay steady. Always perform
this test on a cold engine. Next, make sure that the fuel injector connections are secure and not loose.
Check the fuel pump and the fuel pump relay. In some Mercedes-Benz models you will be able to
hear the fuel pump when you listen carefully near the fuel tank. While one of your friends turn the key
to position II, all dash lights on but car is not started; listen carefully at these locations. Under or
behind the rear seat, listen inside the trunk near the back of the back seat, listen through the fuel fill
with the fuel cap removed. The fuel pump should run for several seconds every time you turn the key
to position II. Also check the fuel filter. Make sure that it is old and clogged. They can be easily
replaced in most cases and don’t cost very much.

Step 5: Check engine fault codes

If your Mercedes-Benz starts and dies then another thing that you can do is retrieve the fault codes.
An iCarsoft MB II or Launch Creader VII+ will be all that you need to retrieve fault codes. These two scanners
will pull the fault codes from the ECU but also from TCU, SRS, ESP, ETS, BAS and several more control units.

Step 6: Starter Motor Problems – Mercedes won’t turn over

If the starter is defective you will not be able to get the engine to turn. First check the starter fuse. Often times,
when the starter is defective or seizes up it will blow out the fuse that protect the starter circuit. Another thing
that you can try is to hit the starter with a rubber hammer a couple of times. Depending what kind of starter
problems, you have, the starter may work a few more times. Even if the starter begins to work again, consider
replacing it, as it is nearing the end of its life.

Step 7: Ignition system, Spark Plugs/Coils – Mercedes starts then dies

If your car cranks but it does not start there are two things that you should check first. One is that there is fuel
and second that there is spark. Checking for spark is very easy if you have an In-Line Spark Test Tool.

Step 8: Check Crankshaft position sensor – Crank No Start

If the crankshaft position sensor fails you may experience crank and no start symptoms. In this video
below you will see a Mercedes-Benz that refuses to start due to a failed crankshaft position sensor.
When the crankshaft position sensor fails you may notice the following symptoms:

1.Check engine light is on. 2. Intermittent starting. 3. Misfiring 4. Hesitation 5. Engine vibrations
6. Engine stall
 Step 9: Driver Authorization System / Key won’t turn in ignition
The car may not start if you have a newer car with a Smart Key due to Driver Authorization System
(DAS) failure. The newer keys have a transponder integrated in them. The key fob remote serves two
purposes. First it disables the anti-theft system when you unlock the car. Second, Drive Authorization
System verifies the key to make sure it is the right key to start the car. If your key does not turn the
ignition, there are two things that are the most likely scenarios: The battery is fully or partially
discharged. This doesn’t allow the electronic ignition system (EIS) to function at all. Make sure to
verify that you don’t have a defective battery problem. Second, the Driver Authorization related
problems. When you insert the key into the ignition, the key is verified and authorized to start the car.
Once the key is authorized the steering column is unlocked and the Engine Control Unit is allowed to
start the engine. Replacing the electrical ignition module (EIS) can only be performed by the
dealership and typically costs over $1000-$2500. Keep in mind that the key can often be the problem
and not the DAS or EIS. So, if you have a spare key, try that first before you replace the EIS. Keys do
go bad more often than EIS modules do.

Step 10: Other possible problems – Mercedes-Benz will not start

The list can go on and on as to what can cause a Mercedes-Benz to not start. If you check all
of the things above you have done most of the work. For this last step you will need a
professional diagnostic scanner. Our top recommendation in this case is the Autel DS708
Professional Scanner, powerful scanner that works on most makes and models.
Once you hook up a professional OBD II scanner to the OBD-II port of your car, you will be
able to scan multiple systems on your car to find out what is causing the problem.
Here are a few other items that may prevent your Mercedes-Benz from starting. In most
cases you will get a fault code related to one of the following:
• ECM / PCM computer failure
• Camshaft position sensor
• Shifter Selector module
• Fault codes related to driver authorization or immobilizer
• Electrical problems