I've a 2001 C240. From the past week, I've experienced something weird. The engine starts up on cranking and immediately shuts off. After 3 such attempts or so, everything goes eerily blank and I can do nothing but retract the key and wait. Some 3 min or so later, I hear the same sound as the one I get upon initial key insertion. Usually, at this stage, when I reinsert the key and try, the engine ignites and runs as if nothing ever happened.
I called the dealer since it's only a few days since my car returned from a B service. He took it, serviced the fuel injectors and said that the problem should now be fixed but it isn't. Yesterday when I called him, he was saying that the electronic throttle may be the culprit.
Since he doesn't seem to have much clue in what he's doing, thought I'd ask a more informed set of people :) Have anyone of you had to experience what I currently am, and how was the problem solved?
Oh and one last thing - the dealer confirmed that this isn't either a problem of the key itself, or the battery.
Ramapriya