Well, I got the coolant leak fixed! It wasn't anything major, just a few holey hoses. Got it back, it was running great with new spark plugs and spark plug wires, and then I popped the hood a few days later and noticed that the coolant level was dangerously low. I took it back to the shop and apparently the coolant tank cracked. I guess it was weak all along but as long as there wasn't any pressure built up, it wasn't stressed enough to crack. Ordered a new sensor and a tank from Rob. When Rob got the tank it was cracked so he sent back for another one. Another week, it finally came in. Luigi at Five Points here in Blue Bell PA got it installed and I was ready to pick it up.


Then I got a call from them that the car wouldn't start. They asked to see the spare key. The car would try to crank but it wouldn't catch. It did it three times with each key and then stopped trying to turn over at all. Luigi had his electrical guy spend two hours on the car and they couldn't find anything. Today I swung buy and pulled out the RCM module and inspected it for fault wiring. No issues there. No issues with the battery. It has a brand new SL55 fuel pump installed by RC tuning. Luigi thinks that the car is not reading the keys and is sending it to Fort Washington Mercedes on Monday.


I don't know what to think though, I've had this car for three months now and its spent about two of them in the shop, granted its been a lot of a small issues and some modifications on my end. But this feels different. Do you guys have any idea of what I am looking at here?


Thanks in advance,


Dan

 

3 times and then nothing is SKREEM module issue.
You can disconnect the negative battery terminal ( which resets the electronics ), and it will then try 3 more times.

The is the security module that reads the chip in the key fob and signals the PTCM that you are the owner and not a car thief. Unfortunately, a LOT of SKREEM modules have been failing lately, beginning to suspect that 10 years is about the life expectancy.

( it is located inside the dash up behind the instrument cluster, it is not plug and play, it must be coded to your key )

Some have been lucky and found that the lead from the SKREEM to the key ring antenna was the problem.

 

I've seen the 3 crank issue be the CPS before, even the RCM. Only know one personally that had a faulty SKREEM. But it does happen.

 

Thanks for the fast replies. Any ballpark idea how much this fix is gonna cost?

Dan

 

CPS-$37 on Amazon
RCM-$120-150 new online
SKREEM-$1,500 dealer only fix

 

I 2nd that when engine turns over when engaging the starter with the key, but the engine fails to stay running, and will not turn over (rotate) again after the "third" try, it's the SKREEM.

I never had a SKREEM problem but the CPS failed on my coupe. The engine would turn over all day with the starter engaged but it would not start and run by itself. The problem would be intermittent and would more often work when the engine cooled down. New Bosch CPS fixed it.

 

Although they are mostly SLK320 under the sheet metal the general forum member feedback has been that Mercedes dealers refuse to work on our cars. I hope Luigi has a relationship with the Mercedes dealer so they will look at it. I don't know if the Mercedes diagnostic system will read the Chrysler SKREEM module.

PM me if you get stuck on this. I have a Chrysler DRBIII which reads the SKREEM. Luigi's Gulf is halfway between where I work and live. If Luigi's Gulf is interested I would be willing to bring it over so we can read what it's seeing with the SKREEM. It has a module replacement function, but I have never needed to use it, and the documentation is incomplete as to how that works, so I'm not saying I can solve your problem.

 

One word of advice, before replacing anything, try reconnecting the connectors after cleaning with contact cleaner. It seems that a number of problems have been resolved recently by doing this as the contacts are usually copper but any type can corrode and lose or have intermittent contact. It may save some $s.

 

WEEKS in the shop?

 

S.O.S. Diagnostics

I read a thread not to long ago here with a member utilized this service to fix their SKREEM module. The referral came from other members here, who had great success with this company as well. I wish I could remember who, but maybe they'll chime in. I believe both keys and module mailed, reprogrammed, mailed back, all for under $400.

 

I've seen dealer replaced skreem module at 600 and out the door.. feel free to search the forum to confirm.. also a facebook page member pulled his.. sent it in (not sure where) and had a replacement coded for his car. $200 dollar DIY fix.


CPS.. car will crank till battery dies.. FYI.. a waste of money in your case for the most part.
You can play with the RCM if you like.. but you will have the same issue. No starter engagement is the result of that issue.

 

I just had s similar problem. .. faulty crank position sensor

 

Dpeel
Check my name and a post I did a few years ago.
My SKREEM went out (on another Crossfire---I have bought 7 and sold 6 when I was selling cars) and it did the 3 and off cycle.
I checked the MB World board and found that after 10 cycles (30 tries) the ECM shuts down.
This is a backup security so the car can not be stolen.

It seems to be true because the dealer killed my ECM. I did a lot of research and told them what to look for and why---I even printed the MB World info.
Their tech said it was the key---I said no and they fought me.
I said---OKAY, I'll pay your $430 or so bill for the key but not a penny more and I want it writing that my car will be fixed for this amount---They did the guarantee and it did not fix it.

It came out fine for about 3 grand---the ECM was replaced and the SKREEM and the KEY.
The SKREEM was the only problem which is a big one but they made it worse.

Check the MB board and see if you can find this info.
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Guys, I just got back in town and I wish I knew how to thank you. What an incredible breadth of advice and knowledge you've laid out.

It looks like the first step will be to contact SOS tomorrow morning. I'll see if Luigi can remove the SKREEM unit and send it in. The worst case scenario will be him sending the car to Mercedes Benz of Ft. Washington. Fortunately he has a contract with them so I would only have to pay his reasonable rates instead of the dealer rates, which I'm scared of since I've already spent so much money on the car. Two things that have me worries as well, one is that the car has a Eurocharged ECU/TCU tune, and I don't know if that has any correlation to the CPU unit as far as the SKEEM module goes. Also we've done the three tries and dies thing over ten times, so would the control module need to be replaced as well, or would a fixed SKREEM unit take care of everything?

For those of you that offered advice privately I'll get with you tomorrow, and once again, thank you all so much.

Dan

 

From our facebook DIY person---> get your mile and vin before you remove it, pull it then take it to a dealership because when they order one they require the old one to send in.

 

Well I got a quote from SOS. $695 for a reboot. I called up luigi who spent several hours on it and he know feels assured that it isnt the keys. I hope hes right. He thinks some coffee or other liquid fell into the transmission via the gearshift and thinks its ruined the connection to the computer. He says he gotten the car to fire up.

Im not sure what to think at this point. Keys, coffee, next thing I know the previous owner accidently poured a pint of vodka into the windshield cleaner reservoir. Lol.

 

I would suggest you get a level set on the status in person before having them remove the SKREEM and sending it to SOS. That is check that the car does the three start (fire up), and then die, before having no response to turning the key. If, as they said, they spent hours on it could they have used up the 10 battery disconnects and the ECU is fried?

 

So you didn't even bother to try changing out the CPS? Now you say the mechanic got the car cranking again, more than 10 times (which a faulty SKREEM won't allow)? Tell me again why you haven't tried a possible fix for $37????

 

Chuck Ill be taking a trip over there tomorrow and will make sure the CPS gets handled. I only just found out he got it started again.

 

Now THERE is a bizarre theory.