I just got a 1999 ML430 3 weeks ago. The first week I had it, the engine would not start. It cranked for 5 seconds and then it died. After 5-10 mins trying, it finally turned (started). Since then it never happened again, I thought it was only "one time thing" until a couple of days ago it happened again and again and again. According to the seller and the service advisor at the dealership, the car was very well-maintained and never have had this problem before. The service advisor suggested me to get a new key and I did, but the engine still does not work. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not...unpredictable. Somebody told me that it might be the fuel system or the crank censor or the ignition wire or the low range is defective. Is this a common problem for ML430? Could anybody help me? I hate to take the car to dealership and spend $180 for diag. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated. Thank you so much.

 

it could be alot of things. crank sensor doubt it does it die while driving? does it say start error when your try to start it and it wont start? you may need a new das if it does that.

 

vytamenc,
Thank you for your reply. The car never dies while I am driving and it does not say "start error" either. Most of the time it works fine, but unpredictedly it will not start. The engine will crank but it will not engage. Usually I have to wait for at least 30 mins and it will be okay again. For a short drive (on and off the engine), I can tell if the car will not start. I took it to Mercedes dealership today and they had no idea what the problem might be. They suggested me to leave the car and wait until the problem occur then hopefully they can fix it. Everything else works just fine. Honestly, I am a little worry to drive it because I never know if the engine will start once I turned it off.

 

it behaves the same way using different key?

 

Yes, it does. I am worry about it and I might trade it in with Lexus, althought I just got the ML. Right now I am still waiting what the dealership comes up with.

 

AAM, fuel filter, CPS

 

sleepwalker,

I just got a phone call from the dealersip and they told me that I need a new CPS. That should fix the problem...I hope. Thank you so much for getting back to me.

 

Hi everybody,
I just want to let you know that the car has been fixed. The problem was CPS open circuit when hot. They replaced the CPS for $352.00 and the car is working great now. Thank you for your replies and suggestions. I hope this will help others in the future.

lostsoul168

 

Hi, I just started my ml 430- and it kept on making a clicking noise, but would not start. I have tried the past couple of days at various times to start it- same thing happens. Any ideas about this problem?

 

battery/connector?