While driving E320 ABS/BAS/ESP lights came on and the message to visit the workshop. After stopping, car won't crank anymore. Replaced the brake light switch. Checkedthe brake fluid as well. No difference. In garage shorted control terminal on starter, engine started and ran. After stopping enginewon't crank normal way as before. I would appreciateany suggestion.
Andy

 

Never short out the starter on a newer year mercedes,it is far more complex than the old school systems.I hope you did not fry something.
Have you charged the battery and checked it's specific gravity?
When all the warnings came on that was a sign of low voltage and then the car died.Had the battery warning lamp come on?Alternator or voltage regulator
Where are you located?MB roadside assist is a lifetime service and they will come and check the charging system replace a battery if needed for no labor charge just the battery at regular dealer cost.
Check the charging system yourself or get roadside.
Once again I hope you did not fry it.
ohlord

 

There was not a sign of the low battery voltage or any problem with alternator. Battery died during towing with emergency lights ON and I recharged battery overnight with my charger in garage. The only malfunctions indicated while driving were related to brake and ABS system. Car did not die on its own. i stopped the engine by turning key OFF, and afterwards coud not crank. By applying battery plus to control contact on starter I was able to start engine and run, but after turning ignition OFF again I was not able to start. The brake light switch replacement was advised by MB dealer mechanic on phone, which I did and did not make any difference. Do you know of any relation between crank signal and brake system failure on this car, like a safety feature?
Andy

 

Andy,
what ended up being the problem, I just had the same thing happen to my wife yesterday, and I see this happened to you in March of 2008??

 

I had a very similar problem w/ my '01 E320 and I finally tracked it down to the K40 relay, it's in the box w/ screwed down lid under the hood on passenger's side. Mine had a burned resistor, the smell helped me zero in on it! Changed the K40 and back on the road...

 

I recently had a somehow similar problem, and I changed the crank censor and back on road.

 

When my crank sensor went out it didn't illuminate EPS/BAS/ESP lights but it did throw a code, can't remember which one but it was clearly that sensor at fault... The K40 thing is a little more mysterious when you first encounter it!

 

my trunk switch light is always on,some times my trunk opens on it's own, my radio stop working for about a minute or two at random, my tele light goes on and off at random as well, it all started with spilling water over my rear seat near battery,changed battery recently, every week I find myself needing to get jump start because it appears that my battery losing voltage on 2001E-320,what is the cheapest fix?

 

Wow, what some symptoms... If I had to guess I'd say some of the relays are compromised in the fuse block by the battery and draining the battery, maybe the water spill drained into the fuse blocks somehow; take apart and examine, ohm the relays, etc...