I'm trying to diagnose another one of those random no start issues.

I recently got my 2004 coupe from my parents, who were not driving it due to their age. Car has 75k miles. Brand new battery.

Driving it back from their place in OR in March of this year, there was one instance of the car not starting, but otherwise it was fine. Since then, the no start issue has become a more frequent problem, sometimes happening 2-3 times before it would start -- but sometimes it would not be a problem for days. Recently I had an instance of a 10 minute period where I could not start the engine.

So far I have:

• re-soldered the suggested RCM points,
• replaced the RCM (when the re-solder did not resolve the issue),
• and now tried the relay in the Pulse Control Module to further diagnose, as was suggested in this thread.

At first, pressing the PCM relay would just yield a click and no other activity from the starter. Then I tried the key just for kicks, and the starter activated and the engine DID start. Tried the key again several times after that, and there was a series of the starter activating but the engine NOT starting. I let it rest for an hour, and I was able to get the car to start using the PCM relay and via the key. All of the above were tried both with and without headlights -- there was minimal dimming.

Based on what I've read on the forum, am I correct in thinking now that the issue is with the starter or starter solenoid?

Thanks in advance for your help. This forum is amazing, and I've already learned so much reading through the many threads and posts.

Andrew

 

Next, I would change the CPS.

 

The CPS has nothing to do with the car not cranking. I would check all the connections including the main grounds.

 

You might want to use an OBD scanner and see what codes come up. If your scanner can't read the car as a Crossfire, enter it in as a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK 320.

 

I missed where it says "will not crank"?

 

Yes. Usually it will not crank. When that happens, I just get a single "click." When I can get it to crank, the engine will almost always start.

 

Sounds like bad connections or a failing starter.

 

Given that the lights are not dimming when starting, my thought was starter, not bad connections. But I'll check those too.