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+---- Thread: W203 Starting Issues (/Thread-W203-Starting-Issues)
W203 Starting Issues - lockeagle - 06-09-2026
Hello, I am encountering some issues with my old Merc and maybe someone here had it before and know the fix for it.
The issues started 2 years ago in March, i was going to work and decided that weekend that I will replace the supercharger and aux belt. I think i might have jinxed it because 1 km away from my workplace the supercharger belt snapped, wrapped around the alternator belt and broke the gearbox cooler pipe and in the last km i have lost all ATF fluid. When I have reached work, I have managed to park the car but after that it wouldn't go into gears anymore(obviously, low or no ATF in the gearbox). I have put it on a platform and got it home. replaced the damaged pipe, and the belts and did a gearbox filter and added ATF in the gearbox and it worked fine for the next 6 months.
Now, i do not know if the issue is related with the one i have written but it developed a starting issue. Sometimes i put the ignition on and the Park will not show on the dashboard, and the car won't start. It was doing it sometimes so I have left it for a bit and decided to have a look at it some time later when I could. I have replaced the gear shifter with a second hand one (can't find new parts for these old cars) and the issue is still there but a bit better than before. If before it would start 5 times out of 10 switches of the key to start it, after it was starting 8 times out of 10. I did say to myself this is unacceptable and the car need to start first time every time so i dug a little deeper.
I found out that in the passenger footwell there is the traction control module and sometimes, the gearbox plug would let ATF through the wires and it could get in the ECU. First time it was exactly what i have read, the TCM plug had ATF in it. I have cleaned it, and the problem was sorted for a while.
In the meantime, life decided that I have to move houses and after I have moved, the car sat parked for a good 6 months (I was not driving it mainly because the AC was not working due to a bad condenser).
Present day, obviously the battery died, but left it 2 days to charge, it was showing good voltage, it is 2 years old. After i installed it back on the car and when to start i up, the past has looked at me and reminded me that there is a starting issue and mostly the main reason the car has been sitting for 6 months or so.
So to summarize everything that is written. I have an issue with starting the car, the ignition in on, no crank, no click, when i put ignition on i noticed the is a buzzing noise and brake pedal goes to the floor from that buzzing noise. On the instrument cluster it everything lights up as before on ignition but it is not showing what gear is it in (should be in Park) nor the drive mode (Winter or standard). It doesn't show any errors like ESP or ABS or BAS or anything. And I cannot get it out of park without using the emergency release to put it into neutral
I have a launch x431 with Diagzone on it. I did a scan, it won't read the gearbox or the SAM's. Only the engine ECU and the Brake Vacuum Booster.
There are codes, and won't clear, or if they do, the moment i turn the car off and put ignition back on the same error codes appear.
Can I please ask for your expertize? I love this car to bits and don't want to send it to the scrapyard for some wiring or some module.
Currently I have the TCM sitting on my desk, I have cleaned it with 99% alcohol and waiting to evaporate, will try to plug it back later after the rain stops
Car in question: 2001 Mercedes-Benz C200 Kompressor 163hp, 722.6 Transmission
Here are the codes
Thanks for looking !
ECM -Engine Control Module(ME)
P202B-001 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE [P0500]
Current and stored
P202B-002 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-004 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-008 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-016 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P2027-016 CAN Message From Control Module
N47-5(ESP SPS [PML] And BAS Control Unit), CAN
Signal Interruption [P0600]
Current and stored
P2040-001 CAN Message From Control Module ESM
Open Circuit
P2026-016 CAN Message From Control Module
N15/3(ETC [EGS] Control Unit), CAN Signal Interruption
[P0600]
Current and stored
VP- Vacuum Pump Brake Booster
C1025 No Or Incorrect CAN Message From Control
Unit N47-5(ESP SPS [PML] And BAS Control Unit)
Current and stored
IMPORTANT UPDATE !!!!
I have finally started it, apparently if you don't clear the codes from instrument cluster and EIS it won't start. With S and P on the dash, and clearing all codes I am left with AC refrigerant low and some alarm siren that i know it doesn't work.
But, it still does it some times. Out of 10 times turning ignition on, 4 times it didn't show S and P on dash and it won't start, I have scanned it again when that happens and this is what is left. The moment it shows S and P on dash, all fault codes turn into historic and clears.
ECM - Engine Control Module(ME)
202B-001 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE [PO500]
Current and stored
P202B-002 CAN Message Frorn Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-004 CAN Message From Contro Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-008 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P202B-016 CAN Message From Control Module ESP
Vehicle Speed Signal IMPLAUSIBLE
Current and stored
P2027-016 CAN Message From Control Module
N47-5(ESP, SPS [PML] And BAS Control Unit), CAN
Signal Interruption [P0600]
Current and stored
P2040-001 CAN Message From Control Module ESM,
Open Circuit
Current and stored
P2026-016 CAN Message From Control Module
N15/3(ETC [EGS] Control Unit), CAN Signal Interruptior
[P0600]
Current and stored
VP- Vacuum Pump Brake Booster
C1025 No Or Incorrect CAN Message From Control
Unit N47-5(ESP, SPS [PML] And BAS Control Unit)
Current and stored
REAR SAM-Rear Signal Acquisition And Actuation Module
B1078 Fault In Communication With Component
H3/1(Alarm Signal Siren With Additional Battery) Or
There SI A Cable Fault.
Current and stored
IC - Instrument Cluster
B1101 Fault In CAN Communication With Control Unit
N47-5(ESP SPS And BAS Control Module).
Current and stored
B1103 Fault In CAN Communication With Component
N15/3(ETC Control Module) Or ASG Automatic
Gearshift System.
Current and stored
AC - Air Conditioning
B15A8 Component M2/15(Left And Right Footwell
Flaps Actuator) Is Stiff Or Blocked.
Current
B1460 A32n1(Blower Regulator)important Note:lf No
Customer Complaint Exists, The Fault Can Be Erased.
Current
31205 Refrigerant Pressure ls Too Low.
Current
RE: W203 Starting Issues - Rocinante - 06-09-2026
You have a CAN fault. Unplug the control units on that CAN one at a time while its failing and see which one is taking down the CAN.
Most of the times, its the control unit with no CAN faults of its own..