Mercedes W168 A160 cranking but not starting.

[Doctor Gollum]

Scanned through and following codes...

B1000
B1100
B1101
B1701

Tried both keys same result.

[Andy B]

I hope you have more luck than I've had with my dead Smart 451 .....

What code reader are you using? It seems that Mercs don't like talking to generic code readers and can be a little vague with their codes.

[Doctor Gollum]

I hope you have more luck than I've had with my dead Smart 451 .....

Well, it's probably cost me my contract at the end of October

[STEMO]

I hope you have more luck than I've had with my dead Smart 451 .....

Well, it's probably cost me my contract at the end of October

That's a defeatist attitude considering your knowledge of vehicles.

[Andy B]

I hope you have more luck than I've had with my dead Smart 451 .....

Well, it's probably cost me my contract at the end of October

That's a defeatist attitude considering your knowledge of vehicles.

The Smart specialist that my Smart is at has a great knowledge of these specific vehicles (& has access to many already dead Smarts) but is 'scratching his head' .... so Dr G has my sympathies 

[Doctor Gollum]

I hope you have more luck than I've had with my dead Smart 451 .....

Well, it's probably cost me my contract at the end of October

That's a defeatist attitude considering your knowledge of vehicles.

Not really... Don't be late and don't be sick if you want a permanent contract. I am already late.

Awaiting breakdown, as my black box is certain that it's immobiliser related. And can't give me any live data without the engine running... Doesn't see the rpm when cranking, for example.

[STEMO]

Hmmmm.........that's not good. A car shouldn't just 'die' and be impossible to diagnose, even if it's the electronics that are at fault.

[dave the builder]

oh dear
when your recovered and have chance ,check fuses,battery voltage, earth points etc
sounds like a  CAN communication issue between modules or power to one or more
you should be able to read ecm even with generic reader but if there is no canbus communication it all goes to sh!t
sometimes removing the battery does reset coms ,sometimes unplugging modules and plugging back in solves it
obviously this is just generic advice,not merc or model specific

[Andy B]

oh dear
when your recovered and have chance ,check fuses,battery voltage, earth points etc
sounds like a  CAN communication issue between modules or power to one or more
you should be able to read ecm even with generic reader but if there is no canbus communication it all goes to sh!t
sometimes removing the battery does reset coms ,sometimes unplugging modules and plugging back in solves it
obviously this is just generic advice,not merc or model specific

canbus communication or lack of is my Smart's problem .... disconnecting the battery by the recovery bloke doesn't seem to have done it any favours

[Doctor Gollum]

It had a few other codes but they all cleared except the immobiliser ones.

I run Carsoft MB on a dedicated laptop, and it's a bit clunky, but basically the order of attack is:

1. Full scan.
2. Single scan of each 'not ok' module.
3. Clear codes.
4. Rescan to ensure codes remain clear or present.
5. Once single scans done then repeat complete scan.

Usually comes back all good, so when all is left is the immobiliser codes, then reasonably confident that's where the problem lies

Battery ok, likewise fuses.

[biggriffin]

Battery in key fob?

[Raeturbo]

Have you kept your keys near you phone? Sometimes this can mess them up

[Doctor Gollum]

Breakdown/recovery bloke turned up. Jumped out with a booster pack. 

Me: It cranks.
Him: Oh. Okay.

Tries it, gets out his code reader and concludes that there are no codes  Then pokes around under the bonnet, goes back to the truck and returns. "See what happens with some easystart..."
Me: I'd prefer that you didn't...
Him: Pssssh. Try it now.

Of course it started and ran. Until the easystart ran out

His opinion is fuel pump, but I elected not to get it towed because there's no point paying a garage to do summat that I can easily do on the drive.

Fuses checked, relay worked but clicked of as cranked.
Bridged the relay and no pump. Ffs.

Kicked it and tried again. Pump ran. So refitted relay and tried again and it started.

But, still have all the immobiliser codes, the EML is now on (wasn't before  and can't reset it because the engine ecu isn't talking to anyone although it gives live data when it's running) , and get to work to find the central locking has stopped working.

All in all, not impressed.

[Doctor Gollum]

Battery in key fob?

Will replace to rule out.

Have you kept your keys near you phone? Sometimes this can mess them up

Not experienced this before, but not as a general occurrence 

[Doctor Gollum]

Looking at the codes and comms issues it appears that there's a CANbus problem somewhere.

Oh happy opposing days...