NEED a AUTO ELECTRICIAN, WHO KNOWS MERC4EDES CARS

[satx78247]

Friends,

I have some sort of electrical problem with my 1995 Mercedes C220 sedan that is currently having intermittent "failure to start". = The speedometer, odometer, AC & door locks also are not functioning now.
(I suspect a broken wire, bad ground or a dead short to ground somewhere in the wiring harness, as all the lights, electric windows & the sunroof work fine.)

I bought/installed a NEW heavy-duty battery less than 10 days ago & it, after load-testing, is fully-charged & FINE.

IF you know of a REAL EXPERT that you can recommend in the SA area, PLEASE send me an email to: texasnative46@gmail.com

THANKS, satx

 

[shortround]

Give Cambridge Automotive a call. I think they have a qualified Benz mechanic on staff.

(210) 697-9600

When they fix your car, they will also give it a full car wash at no extra expense.

They fixed an electrical problem for me, and it was $200 less than the Ford dealership quoted for that repair.

Be well.

 

[satx78247]

shortround,

THANK YOU.

yours, satx

 

[SA_Steve]

My 96 Pontiac had a similar problem - took a long time to diagnose. It was the ground wire from the computer to the fender. Corrosion.

 

[Lost Spurs]

I would look up next to the firewall for a silver relay box with a plastic cover that houses a 15 amp fuse. It is about 1.5 inch square and 4 inches tall, it is called "overvoltage protection relay". That thing controls a lot of those functions. Especially engine control module for no start. If I were looking at it in the shop it would be the first think I would check, Second would be ignition switch.

If you were inthe DFW I would check it out for you.

AdamT

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[satx78247]

Lost Spurs,

THANK YOU.

yours, satx

 

[mroper]

Check all of your wires slice it open a few inches from the terminal on the plastic there could be alot of corrosion up on the wires a bit check it on both ends. The starter end could be more heavily corroded.

 

[Rebel]

Check all of your wires slice it open a few inches from the terminal on the plastic there could be alot of corrosion up on the wires a bit check it on both ends. The starter end could be more heavily corroded.

I normally stay away from "fix my vehicle" threads, but please don't do this. Instead, disconnect all power to that circuit and use an ohmmeter. If you are unsure you can do this without smoking some insulation, leave it to a professional.

 

[satx78247]

Rebel,

I don't own an ohmmeter & don't know how to use one. Thus, I asked for a recommendation of a PRO to diagnose the problem.

Since Saturday night (when the car wouldn't start to go to HEB), I've contacted 8 different shops & have received three responses by email/phone. Results follow:

1. One gent called me & said that he refuses to work on any cars/trucks over 10 years old.
(Inasmuch as I told him immediately that the C220 is 21 years old, I wonder why he bothered to call me a 2nd time to tell me that he's not interested.)
2. I talked by email & phone last night to a "reputed specialist" on M-B electrical repair & he told me that he charges a 100.oo "up front" fee to give me an estimate on approximately how much that he will charge to DIAGNOSE the problem and/or give me a repair estimate.
(Why would I pay someone/anyone to give me an estimate?? - ImVho, anyone who pays for a simple estimate to fix a problem is: STUPID.)
and
3. Another M-B "specialist", about Noon today, said that IF I had my car towed to his shop in northern Bexar County (18 miles, one way) that he would (after it is there) decide whether or not that he wants to work on the car. -- He said that his "minimum labor charge" is 400.oo to do ANYTHING on a Mercedes.

I'm still waiting on a callback from Cambridge Automotive, which was recommended by "shortround". - I suspect that I'll seek their help to fix the car.

yours, satx

 

[Lost Spurs]

Satx, is it a issue of not cranking over or cranking over and not starting. Also, is the engine cold, hot or both.

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[satx78247]

shortround, et. al.,

I finally heard from the SVC MGR at Cambridge Automotive. - He said that they won't work on an 21 year-old Mercedes.

So I'm back to "square one".

yours, satx

 

[satx78247]

Lost Spurs,

I bought a brand new HD Interstate battery @2 weeks ago (when I bought the car, to replace a >6YO battery) & when I turn on the ignition switch, the lights come on but nothing else happens. NO SOUND at all. = It's nearly got to be a broken wire, bad ground, bad fusible link or something similar.

I just don't have the tools or knowledge to find/fix the problem & so far I haven't found anyone who even wants to look at the old MB. n= The SVC MGR at Cambridge was "nice & polite" BUT simply said, "Not many people in the San Antonio area work on older Mercedes & I wouldn't know of anyone to recommend for electronic troubleshooting." - Then he said, "Our Mercedes expert resigned & I don't know where he is now."
(IF I was still in northern VA, there are literally DOZENS of independent shops/mechanics that work on older Mercedes.)

yours, satx

 

[Ordnanceman]

Not really an auto guy, but... a compass needle can tell you a LOT about DC circuitry.

 

[satx78247]

To All,

"Tony" at the RAFB Auto Craft Shop referred me to "Mac" at AUTO HAUS for "expert troubleshooting" on MB.

His phone: 703-821-6152, in case anyone else here needs help with Mercedes cars over 10 years old.

yours, satx

 

[Lost Spurs]

Satx, I am going to send you a pm in a couple minutes.

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[satx78247]

Lost Spurs,

Got it. = THANKS.

From your screen name, I would presume that, like me, you aren't a FAST cowboy nor a SLOW cowboy but perhaps about a HALF-FAST cowboy. = In my case, I have an addiction to gaited/fast-walking saddle mules.
(CHUCKLE)

yours, satx

 

[Lost Spurs]

My un-official reply would say it stems from me being born in Kentucky and held captive in Minnesota for 30 years until I was able to make my escape to Texas. I am not a Yankee...

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[satx78247]

Lost Spurs,

UNDERSTOOD = CHUCKLE.
(Being KY born, you should know that "damnyankee" is ONE word. - I spent a short tour at Camp Grayling, MN & am glad that I escaped, too.)

yours, satx

 

[satx78247]

To All,

AUTOHAUS here in San Antonio fixed the problem with the locks, repaired/rekeyed the ignition & solved "the intermittent starting problem". - I picked it up yesterday at Noon & they will call me back, when they have a "slack period" to go through the automatic climate control system.
(M-B air conditioning is time-consuming/difficult to diagnose/repair & at 21YO mine needs considerable work.)

yours, satx

 

[SA_Steve]

congrats ! a good car repair story is a very good thing