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Problem getting worse

6624 Views 41 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  Lord SLK, 
N
Good afternoon! I bought my first SLK about a year ago and I absolutely love it! It's a 2001 SLK320 6 speed manual with the sport package & about 68,000 miles. It's always run beautifully with absolutely no problems. The only thing I've replaced is the battery (about 6 months ago) However, about 3 months ago, I had my first problem & it's been getting worse. I hope someone can help me out.

Incident #1
I attempted to start the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. Radio, fan, lights, windows everything worked but nothing happened when I turned the key to start – no crank nothing.
Later that day, after reading the forums, I decided to try to start the car again but with key #2 . Before I tried with key #2 , I tried key #1 again – same result. When I tried key #2 it started right up. I drove the car several miles. Shut it off & then re-started with key#1 . For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #2
3-4 weeks after incident #1 , the car started fine after sitting all day. I drove it about a mile, parked it for about 10 min & tried to re-start. Just like in incident #1 , nothing happened when I turned the key – no crank – nothing. Lights, radio, windows, everything works except no crank – no start. The radiator fan also came on. Remembering incident #1 , I got key #2 & attempted to start it again. Again nothing – no crank – no start. I disconnected the negative battery cable for about an hour, & then the car started just fine. For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #3
3-4 weeks after incident #2 , I started the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. It started normally. When I backed out, my foot slipped off the clutch, when my other foot was still on the brake, and the car died (as expected) When I went to re-start the car, nothing happened when I turned the key – no crank – nothing. Lights, radio, windows, everything works except no crank – no start.
Remembering incident #1 , I got key #2 & attempted to start it again. Again nothing – no crank – no start. I disconnected the negative battery cable for about 2 minutes, & then the car started just fine. For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #4
Yesterday, about 3-4 weeks after incident #3 , I started the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. I got about 1 mile down the road & the car just died on me going about 45 mph. This is the first and only time this has happened to me. I was able to pull over & park it in a lot where it sits today. I’ve tried both keys – nothing. I’ve tried disconnecting both the positive & negative battery cables – still nothing. The lights, radio, windows all work just fine but no start no crank. The radiator fan also comes on & spins pretty high. I tried to push start it - no luck. I tried to jump start it - no luck.

No sure where to start looking – is this an ignition issue? Key issue? K40 issue? After reading the forums I did take a look @ the K40 & it looks fine to the naked eye.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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jbanks15
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jbanks15
Maybe the 'new' battery was not new?
get it tested for 'starting voltage'
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N
Hi, locate the bottom button on the side of the instrument cluster pod... The reset button.. Turn ignition to position 1 (I think) and hit reset button 3 times quickly, it should then come up with the voltage on the display... Try starting the car and see what voltage you have if any....

Mine shows about 11 something and then 12 plus when started showing its charging...

Hope this helps.


Rgds
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D
Welcome from Burlington, KY!


D Jackson
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E
If the radiator fan comes on reliably when it won't crank, it's almost certainly the K40. Don't trust your naked eye. Disconnect the battery, take the K40 out, take it apart, and re-flow the solder on each and every joint on the back. Do this regardless of how it looks. Re-solder each and every joint. Then reassemble, reinstall, and try again.

If you're not handy with a soldering iron, find somebody who is and have them do it.
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jbanks15
Noslk said:
Hi, locate the bottom button on the side of the instrument cluster pod... The reset button.. Turn ignition to position 1 (I think) and hit reset button 3 times quickly, it should then come up with the voltage on the display... Try starting the car and see what voltage you have if any....

Mine shows about 11 something and then 12 plus when started showing its charging...

Hope this helps.


Rgds
Click to expand...
fyi, should show over 14 when charging :D
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jbanks15 said:
fyi, should show over 14 when charging :D
Click to expand...
Yes you are right... Jbanks15
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Avel Du
Welcome form Wirral, England.
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dbgrn
Hi and welcome from the UK Midlands! :)

Although I have no direct experience of this myself, from other posts I've read since joining, I'd agree with efair and be looking at the K40 (more closely) first..
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LIL DON SLK
Welcome from the Sacramento Valley SLK Enthusiasts!
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mustbedreaming
Hi and welcome from SW Florida
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L
Welcome from Belgium.
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DAVIETHESCAFF
Hi, welcome from Barrhead, Scotland. :smile:
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C
Welcome from Madrid....

Definately reflow all the solders in the K-40 relay ( don't go nuts looking for the cluster reset button mentioned earlier, that's for the r171 model) ......
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El_Toro_33809
Welcome to the forum from central Florida. Hope to see you at the next get together.

I agree with those that say it is most likely a K40 relay issue.

Good luck getting it resolved.

Tim
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T
Natu said:
Good afternoon! I bought my first SLK about a year ago and I absolutely love it! It's a 2001 SLK320 6 speed manual with the sport package & about 68,000 miles. It's always run beautifully with absolutely no problems. The only thing I've replaced is the battery (about 6 months ago) However, about 3 months ago, I had my first problem & it's been getting worse. I hope someone can help me out.

Incident #1
I attempted to start the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. Radio, fan, lights, windows everything worked but nothing happened when I turned the key to start – no crank nothing.
Later that day, after reading the forums, I decided to try to start the car again but with key #2 . Before I tried with key #2 , I tried key #1 again – same result. When I tried key #2 it started right up. I drove the car several miles. Shut it off & then re-started with key#1 . For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #2
3-4 weeks after incident #1 , the car started fine after sitting all day. I drove it about a mile, parked it for about 10 min & tried to re-start. Just like in incident #1 , nothing happened when I turned the key – no crank – nothing. Lights, radio, windows, everything works except no crank – no start. The radiator fan also came on. Remembering incident #1 , I got key #2 & attempted to start it again. Again nothing – no crank – no start. I disconnected the negative battery cable for about an hour, & then the car started just fine. For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #3
3-4 weeks after incident #2 , I started the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. It started normally. When I backed out, my foot slipped off the clutch, when my other foot was still on the brake, and the car died (as expected) When I went to re-start the car, nothing happened when I turned the key – no crank – nothing. Lights, radio, windows, everything works except no crank – no start.
Remembering incident #1 , I got key #2 & attempted to start it again. Again nothing – no crank – no start. I disconnected the negative battery cable for about 2 minutes, & then the car started just fine. For the next 3-4 weeks, the car ran/started great with either key.

Incident #4
Yesterday, about 3-4 weeks after incident #3 , I started the car with key #1 in the morning after sitting all night. I got about 1 mile down the road & the car just died on me going about 45 mph. This is the first and only time this has happened to me. I was able to pull over & park it in a lot where it sits today. I’ve tried both keys – nothing. I’ve tried disconnecting both the positive & negative battery cables – still nothing. The lights, radio, windows all work just fine but no start no crank. The radiator fan also comes on & spins pretty high. I tried to push start it - no luck. I tried to jump start it - no luck.

No sure where to start looking – is this an ignition issue? Key issue? K40 issue? After reading the forums I did take a look @ the K40 & it looks fine to the naked eye.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


Hi and welcome from Yorkshire, sounds like the crankshaft sensor playing up will do this without putting s check engine light on, I would buy a cheap obd II Reader of eBay, MaxiScan MS309 about £12.00 you will need it to keep the car sorted unless you want to put it into MB at stupid prices.

Regards Stuart.
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N
2
Pulled the relay board

Thanks for all of your replies. Yes, the radiator fan comes on every time when it won't crank.

After sitting overnight with the battery dis-connected, I hooked it back up but still no crank.

I pulled out the K-40 relay to take a closer look. (Pics attached) I don't see any burned solder or anything out of the ordinary. After reading other posts, it seems like the 3 in the top left corner are usually the culprit. Should I focus on re-soldering those 3 or are there others that could be causing my problem?

Thanks again for all the quick replies

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jbanks15
most will say resolder all
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Lord SLK
Hi there and welcome from Cornwall.

I would recommend the above, and failing that try the starter motor.
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