When starting my car (2003 E500 Sport) I've twice let go of the key too quickly, the car doesn't start and the gauge says malfunction. Both times I've felt that I let go of the key just as the starter solenoid activated but I don't think the starter has yet to turn. At that point there is nothing that happens when I twist the key. The dash electronics activate but nothing happens. I've let the computer reset with my car sitting in my garage the first time this happened and it cleared the malfunction and started up with no problem. Tonight, when I stopped at a store before coming home it happened as I prematurely let the key spring back and it wouldn't start and I thought I would be stranded waiting for the reset. But a thought struck me to try and run through the screens to display the malfunction and see after I've viewed it would it start. The message said ESP and BAS malfunctions and "visit the workshop". I know what those are, stability and brake assist programs, but what they have to do with this starting malfunctionI don't know. Anyway, the car started immediately after I viewed the menu and held the malfunction. I'm sure when I start the car tomorrow the message will have cleared. Is this something I'm causing by letting go of the key too quickly or do you think there's a different problem. The car has no other problem at all and currently has 53k + miles. Any ideas? TIA Howard
- posted
16 years ago