okay so lately the car sounds like its cranking but doesnt fire up and it hadnt done that before... and it stay cranking by itself until I pull the key out... it turns on whenever it pleases... went to vegas this weekend turned on fine to leave... valet to the car.... didnt use it til sunday when we were going to leave... asked valet to get it and it took them 40 minutes to get it started... the check engine light would come on and off... went a couple places at same night when we got to LA and it was turning on and off like nothing... get home and park it... try to turn it on and it does the same cranking but not firing thing and today it wouldnt turn on again... but after a few tries the esp malfuntion came up... dont know what the problem is... but hoping you guys could help... because the nearest MB dealer is a long distance from here to get it towed and I would like to get it started to just drive it there instead. thanks.

 

any kind of suggestion would be appreciated.

 

That model especially is prone to hard starting if the battery is below a set voltage.Get your battery and charging system tested for proper charge and vouput from the alternator.Something is not getting full power.
Most shucks/kraggens etc. will hook up a tester that will check battery and alternator function.
Or put it on a charger overnight at 10 amps using the charging post under the hood.Make sure the key is out of the ignition while charging.
ohlord

 

ok I will put it on a charger since it wont start up... and I will let you guys know if it worked or not... thanks.

 

okay we took out the battery because our charger doesnt work... took it to kragen and checked it and it was fine... even put it on there charger and it was 98 percent so they just topped it off... and we brought it back home... hooked it up and tried firing it up a couple times and nothing still... but the instrument cluster still says ESP not available one time and then not the next... so idk what else to try.

 

as a general comment I can't believe Mercedes are so tempermental....really...my 300TE is my first MB after owning many BMW's...the 300TE is such a little girl compared to BMW's...doesn't want to start...doesn't want to idle right...what is up with these things? I am about ready to dump it and go back to BMW...

 

heck...I thought Mercedes would be even MORE reliable than BMW...not....

 

my brother has a 98 bmw m3 with 110,000 miles and no issues other than usual service yet... and my other brother has an 02' 330i and the only problem he has had is that his tranny decided to give out after 140,000 miles and it was because of his staggered 19's that rubbed inside and the 400 plus pounds of w7's and amps with extra batteries in the box. but there cars have been pretty reliable... just trying to figure out what is wrong with this car again... its had like 5 brake changes... the sunroof has had 3 new motors... srs light comes on very frequently... its a disaster. gotta turn it on though soon. because we are short a car. because of this issue.

 

Sounds to me like you must have a short circuit on yourIGNITION key SWITCH- the ELECTRICAL PART of it.
nes

 

even though it does want to start? the ignition switch is involved with the esp? would there be a way to rig it up to work... temporarily to get it out of the driveway and out to the dealer?