Turn the key on: the instrument cluster doesn't light up and engine don't start

Bad relay. Bad ignition switch. Bad wiring somewhere between the two.

If putting it in reverse shuts everything off, and if the prindle is on the steering column, then it's almost certainly a wiring issue in the steering column. Pull it open and start tugging on wires until you can make the problem happen.

--scott

Thanks Scott for your suggestion.

I replaced already the relay but the problem came back randomly again. I checked the switch and it seemed fine.

If it is a wire problem it should shut the engine off while I am driving too (if the instrument cluster shut off the engine should shut off as well). While I am driving the instrument cluster (IC) always work... just few times happened (at cold start) that the IC and engine shut down right after I inserted the reverse. If the car has been running for a while, the reverse doesn't affect anything.

Hi Scott, thanks for your prompt suggestion

I replaced already the relay but the problem came back randomly again. I checked the switch and it seemed fine.

By prindle do you mean the gear lever? If so, it is not on the steering column but between the front seats. If it is a wire problem it should shut the engine off while I am driving too (if the instrument cluster shut off the engine should shut off as well). While I am driving the instrument cluster (IC) always work... just few times happened (at cold start) that the IC and engine shut down right after I inserted the reverse. If the car has been running for a while, the reverse doesn't affect anything.

Could be a bad gear neutral start selector switch. HOld the key to start and move the gear selector the next time it does that.

Thanks Paul, tried that as well... nothing happens. This afternoon it happened again so I tried another thing, I just left the key into the ignition without doing anything else. After about 10 to 15 min the light on the IC came on and I could start the car. Forgot to say earlier, every time I turn the key and this problem emerges only the SRS indicator lights up, all the rest are dead.

Thanks Paul, tried that as well... nothing happens. This afternoon it happened again so I tried another thing, I just left the key into the ignition without doing anything else. After about 10 to 15 min the light on the IC came on and I could start the car. Forgot to say earlier, every time I turn the key and this problem emerges only the SRS indicator lights up, all the rest are dead.

I always called it the purnurndle...

Prindle's good, though.

I tried it again twice this morning. I left the key into the ignition (ON position) and waited about 10 min. The IC light suddenly came on and I could start the car. Once the car started I can switch of and on without this problem. It seems that after I close my car for a while I run into this problem again. What's that???

If it were a Ford or GM I would suspect the security module. But on your Mercedes, I don't know.

It's time to get the wiring diagram and the test light, and start at the ignition switch and work your way toward the battery until you find where the bad connection is. The more often it fails, the easier it will be to find.

--scott

Possibly a data bus problem. A flaky module can take down the whole system. Definitely not a problem to try to fix by shotgunning parts.

The neutral switch only affects the starter operation. If the engine dies and the instrument lights go off, its a bigger problem than that.

Do you mean the ECU? mmm it could be, but I prefer not (it could be painful) ;-) Anyway, a little update, during the last few days I've never had this problem (I hope I didn't speak too soon)

the problem is back with vengeance ;-)

Any module on the bus can take it out.

Too bad they didn't plan out the system to throw a code. Reminds me of the "quad 4 driver" code I have on my Grand Am, but without the code. Since the "quad 4 driver" code doesn't tell you what's wrong, it's about as useless.

--Vic

Well, it does narrow it down to at most 4 circuits.

Bus problems usually set U codes all over the place. An OBDII code reader wont be much help though.