E320 Starting problem

I owned a '97 and had this happen: I installed a new battery and all was fine for about 9 months. Then one day I turned the key but didn't hear the fuel pump run for the usual one second prior to cranking the motor. I immediately knew the motor wouldn't start - and it didn't. But why no fuel pump?

Turned out that the new battery had leaked and acid not only corroded but disconnected the "christmas tree" of added-on wire connectors on the battery's positive terminal. The fuel pump was one of these corrosion disconnected wires yet the main connection was OK and therefore the engine still cranked!

So another new battery and soaking the corrosion damaged connectors in baking soda and water cleaned up the mess, a new 6 mm clamping bolt in a new "on bolt clamps all" arrangement lieu of the 8 mm original and it was fixed.

So take a look at the car's battery before attacking the engine.

I agree with TG... change the battery first. Pick up a cheap one at Autozone... comes with 7 years warranty.

"-->> T.G. Lambach

it cranks for a few seconds, then gives me a clunking noise before it starts

Please elaborate on this "clunking noise". Is the motor sputtering and misfiring before it starts or is the noise mechanical?

How about overload protection relay... this would cause non-start too. I'd go to part counter and see if any of those guys are helpful on this symptoms...

Another possibiltiy is the crank position sensor... I would bet on this over the OVP (above) as you are not getting an error code.