160 wont start

Hello, A friend of mine has a A160 that sometimes won?t start. When you put the key in and turn it you can hear the fuel pump start, but when you turn it to engage the starter nothing happens. No sound No anything. Then a while later it will start and run fine, you can even bump start... It is just as if something beyond the key dies for a while then sorts its self out again. I have had to top of the battery/fuse box and all seems in order Mercedes have been to see it, run diagnostics on and but the fault has gone away, and no reported problems. Any ideas please, also does anyone have a softcopy of a wiring diagram I can download.

Many thanks in advance Ian

Reply to
imk1230
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IMHO,get rid of that piece of crap before it's too late!!!!!Does it rattle and squeak already?

Reply to
CaptainW116

There are a few possibilities:

Neutral safety switch (if an automatic) - move the shifter - if it then starts that's the problem - switch is defective or needs an adjustment.

The battery connections should be clean and tight.

If the no start usually occurs after the car has been driven - hot engine - the starter is suspect and ought to be replaced.

The ignition (key) switch can't be discounted if the (above) usual suspects are proven to be OK.

Reply to
T.G. Lambach

"" wrote: > There are a few possibilities: > > Neutral safety switch (if an automatic) - move the shifter - > if it then > starts that's the problem - switch is defective or needs an > adjustment. > > The battery connections should be clean and tight. > > If the no start usually occurs after the car has been driven - > hot > engine - the starter is suspect and ought to be replaced. > > The ignition (key) switch can't be discounted if the (above) > usual > suspects are proven to be OK.

TG, Many thanks for your reply, and sorry for missing detail re the car the car is 2000/2001 model and has done about 40,000 miles. It is manual transmission and right hand drive. The starting problem is intermittent isasmuch as it will happen after a sort drive, or after it has stood all night.

When it happens, you can try to start it a few times by turning the key and nothing happens. The ignition circuits come on but not and hint of the thing trying to start, no starter motor sound or anything. Walk away from the car and have a cuppa come back ten minets later and it works fine.

Also do you know where the starter motor on an A160 is located as I have look all around the engine and can not see anything that even looks like one. Many thanks in advance IMK

Reply to
imk1230

I've never seen an A160 but all cars have basic elements to them.

That starter abuts the engine's flywheel and opposes the transmission. Follow the battery's ++ cable to it.

Does this model have a starter safety switch or switch tied to the clutch pedal (to ensure its depressed when the starter is engaged)? If so that switch ought to be checked.

Many years ago I bought a Fiat with such a problem from a guy who had given up on it. He walked away after only one attempt, try, try try it until it starts.

Reply to
T.G. Lambach

Ha Ha. The starter motor on the A class is on top of the engine. It's held in with a couple of bolts. Oh. I nearly forgot. You need to partially remove the engine to get to it.

Reply to
Lee

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