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I own a 2001 E320 with 14k miles on it.
I did not quite understand how a stop light malfunction causes a brake malfunction. Anyway, after service, the mechanic tried to start the car. The ignition does not recognize the key and the car refuses to start. The dealer is ordering a new key. Any of you ever had a problem like this?
#452 Re: ABS/ESP malfunction [dcman2] by brig Mar 14, 2005
hi- having the same problem currently with my 2001 E320. last summer i had the same ABS/ESP malfunction happen to me while i was driving the car. i called the dealership and they suggested for me to turn of the car and re start and see if it happened again. it never did. then in november the car would not start one evening and i ended up towing it. i called tele aid and they had never heard of it. i went and got my other key and it started. then yesterday that key stopped working and had to have the car towed again. now i have two keys that will not operate the vehicle. the tow truck driver had seen this before.
Had key malfunctioning problem on my 99E320 at 40K miles.
When key is in ignition and turned, cannot fire up the engine. The starter keeps cranking without you holding the key.
My friend experienced similar problem with his ML and said there is a malfunctioning chip inside the key and not recognized by the engine resulting in sending an engine kill signal to disable the car, an anti theft design. He ordered new key from the dealer with programing at total $120.
Drove to wife office to get 2nd key and it worked and fired up the engine. After that, the first key also worked.
A week later, it happened again. Now both keys don't work. Stranded at night, called MBZ 24 hours service. Operator instructed to use manual key to lock and unlock the door, then use the original key to start again. Won't work and MBZ operator now says it is the fuel injector/engine not getting gasoline and the car must be towed to MBZ dealership for repair.
As there is no dealership service open at Saturday night, return to car after dinner, 3 hours later. Using original key, the car started, and the second key also worked.
What seems to be the problem? The keys, or the engine will start only when cold or 2-3 hours after the engine cools down?
Someone also suggested in case of car computer problem showing malfunctioning display, disconnect the battery and reconnect after 5-10 minutes. The computer will reset itself. Would that solve some of the problem?
This is just a guess...
Regards,
BigRob.
Point number two: Did any of you who are complaining about this noise being excessive not notice it during the test drive?
Point number three: I have 12000 + trouble free miles on my Benz. Has only been to the dealer for an A-service, and two tire repairs from nails that the dealer took care of for free.
I am very happy with my purchase and would do so again in a heart beat, the new E55 wagon that I just saw in the showroom is going to be the next one in the garage.
Point 2. My wife drove the car and did not notice the noise. Buyer beware!
Point 3 I am glad you are happy with your car. I was happy with my three previous MB. This one is so noisy it is embarassing to have anyone riding with us. The question is ; what is that groaning noise.
MB wants to control the process after these ridiculous mishaps. They want us all to dutifully tow our cars into them for expensive repairs.
Does anyone out there have a solution to this particular problem? Does the electronic transmission control module have to be replaced? Can this be fixed at home?
Why in the world would MB leave the central nervous system of the car so exposed - - directly under the sunroof - - and drinkholder ?
It is a foolish design. I don't know if it changed with the remodel in 2003. I don't think it to be something you can fix yourself (unless you are a way better man than I) Maybe someone else can add some insight. Best to just be extremely careful with the starbucks.
Sorry
I want to de-mystify the process, and hold the dealership to the necessary solution... I can't afford an expensive M/B wild goose chase that involves 47 sensors, modules, and widgets...
The dealership says I need a whole new shifter assembly, which includes the "Electronic Transmission Control (ETC) module... Pricetag around $600 + labor... My concern (beyond THAT) is that they'll fabricate another 6 issues while they're in service surgery...
All this for an ounce of water on the center console... The car only has 65k on it...
several times a day the radio screen flickers between normal color and black screen and simultaneously the climate control screen changes from gray to white or from white to gray unpredictably. It is quirky and irritating but does not seem to effect the function of either the music system, the navigator system or the climate control. The dealership thus far has been unable to find the cause
Please help!
herb
I have a friend that this has also happened to and she has never had anything replaced. I am curious what any of you had done.
PS If at MB dealer tell them you want it "Starmarked"
Is anybody else have similar tire problems?
Thanks,
Ray
At one point the AC and the radio stopped but came back. Even the accelerator stopped responding even thought the motor was still idling fine.
Anyone has any idea what the problem could be.
Problem 2: A/C on auto mode doesn't seem to want to stop running. It will start out full blast (or close thereto) and stay at that level long after the cabin has cooled, thereby causing excessively cold temperature. Requires system to be manually overridden. Dealer said this was because the first week I had the car it was VERY hot that week, and that this is normal. Anyone else with this issue?
Problem 3: AM radio is reception sucks and/or speakers make slight crackling noise (just on AM band). Showed dealer a new MB tech bulletin on this also (P-B-82.62/361a) titled "Crackling and Static Noises from Speakers When Radio is On." Requires fixing the grounding on the audio gateway. However, dealer claims this bulletin relates to something else and that my radio reception is normal. Anyone else with these issues?
Problem 4. I get a brand new car, take it back a few days later, and they put in a loaner car --> PURPLE Chevy, with the "low fuel" light on. Outrageous. After 3 days of the Chevy, I stopped by to check on the car and no one had a clue as to the status. They then switched me to an E500 loaner.
Otherwise, it seems like a nice car, but I haven't really had a chance to drive it much. Only other complaints are cupholders are a joke for a car this price level, center armrest is too small, and side-view mirrors are dangerously small.
To complicate things, they took my Acura RL and agreed to payoff the lease (which had 4 payments left) and take the car. So that car is long gone. Though they haven't paid it off yet I've come to find out.
Sounds like a mess. But since they didn't sign the lease, and I have the car, what is my best course of action?? I like the car, I just want it to work properly. Is it possible to just walk away from this with no signed lease (would I even get the Acura back), or leverage this to have them just replace it with a new car (which I would carefully examine for similar problems), which would save the time of having the go through the lemon law statutes.
What a mess!
I took it to the dealer. The dealer flashed the software for the alternator. Saying that the software was old and there was an alternator update. After 10 days, this morning after about 600 miles...the same message comes back on three times in quick succession. So I take it in. The advisor says he may have to replace the battery or the alternator..am waiting to hear from them. Any one with similar problems or has an advice.
I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow. Meanwhile if you had similar experience please throw in you opinions.
Best,
I was surprised to see this comment. I only closely follow the LS forums, but as far as I can recollect, everyone who ever had the software (not firmware) update on the '04-'05 models affected by hesitation later posted that that fixed the problem and they loved their car. I also just did a search on the forums on the new GSs on the word "hesitation", and about the only thing that comes up are people saying they wouldn't "hesitate" to recommend Lexus. Can you point us to any posts to the contrary?
As someone who owns 2 E320s (a '94 wagon and a '98 sedan, both bought new)and just bought an Lexus LS, I can say that build quality and reliability were big reasons why I originally bought my 2 MBs, and the same reasons I gave up on MB this time and went with the LS. For not much more than a new E (and much less than a comparably equipped S), the LS is much roomier and more comfortable; and if you liked the looks of the previous generation E, it's not hard to like the LS-- the deserved knock on it is that the LS styling is derivative of the Benz, but there are worse styles to emulate!
If anyone compares the comments on the MB Problems & Solutions forums to the Lexus Problems & Solutions forums, you'll quickly see a big difference: MB owners are complaining about their new cars, and LS owners are asking about issues with their 10-15 year old cars.
My bottom line: if MB gets its reliability back, I'd go for the MB, based on its slight drivability advantage; but until that happens, if reliability and roominess are important to you, go with the LS.
I have had MB for the last 14 years, both dealer bought and gray market and believe them to be the best cars (along with BMW).
While you are there, look at how many disappointed RX owners are there. Look at the response post about all the TSB's for noises and other issues.
Also, you say that MB owners are complaining about their cars. You are comparing one model(LS) to all of MB. You are right about the lack of activity on the LS board(even during the transmission and fuel pump recall in 04), but their is a great deal of activity on the ES and RX forums. Being that the RX is their biggest seller, that is saying something.
The LS is a good value for what you get. But it is not roomier than an S-class, unless you compare it to the short wheel base S350, which was just released in this country. The S-class has many advantages over an LS, but those are never talked about, because most people only want to factor the LS's JD Power survey score.
If you only look at JD Powers surveys, then I think you will be mislead. Unless all you care about is "reliability"(which to me, is the most misconstrued term in the automotive industry), then you should look no further than the "Power" surveys. Take Strategic Vision for instance, and look who tied for first. It is obvious that there are many owners who are very happy with their Benz's. To me, a software update on my Comand unit doesn't make me think my car is unreliable, but to JD Powers it does.
As a long time (and still current) E owner, I merely was sharing my own cross-shopping experience which ended up with my purchase of an LS. My comments were not directed to, nor even mentioned, the GS or ES. And I don't think I have ever seen anyone claim the current E is either as reliable as, or as roomy as, an LS. But the E certainly has (at least IMO) advantages over the LS, particularly in drivability as I specifically mentioned.
Any on else have this happn and hav a clu what to look at first?????
Mark
Had a CLK 320 which has been drinking oil although only 66000 miles on it. They said they needed to do an oil consumption test but they changed the oil a few months ago and knew the mileage so they could have drained the oil pan, measured the volume and known how much was used in that mileage interval. I confronted the general manager at the dealer and he gave me the name of the regional MB rep and phone number. I called and they never heard of that person.
I guess they thought my wife would stop on the side of the interstate and call up to ask what to do about the oil light that was on just for something to break the monotony. Of course, MB is stupid. The dealer put new valve cover gaskets on the covers on the car under warranty but there was no oil on the engine or the garage floor. If MB is so dumb that they let the dealer screw them that way, they deserve it.
When the customer service rep test drove the car, he told my mother that it was a problem with the transmission. The dealer gave her a loaner car to drive until her car could be fixed.
On Friday, at the end of the business day, the dealership phoned my mother and told her that one of the service mechanics would be *taking the car home with him for the weekend*.
The service mechanic that would be taking her car lives 40 miles from the dealership in an area of L.A. that I *really* would NOT be comfortable parking a $50k car in. What's the deal? Is this NORMAL??
Firstly, I take issue with a new car, only a month owned, already having problems. But above and beyond that, I find it incredibly dodgy for a mechanic to take someone's car off the premises and keep it at their home for the weekend!
The dealership assured my mother that it's par for the course and they are insured, should anything happen to her car; however, if something DID happen to her car, it would pay for repairs, not replace her car. Therefore, her new car would become a salvage.
Does anyone have any advice? Is it common for the 2006 E350 to have transmission problems? Is it a common and acceptable procedure for a mechanic (at the MB dealership, mind you) to take the client's car home with them?
Thanks.