Engine Will Not Start And Fault Message "Start Error" Appears In Instrument Cluster (80.57/32)

Publication date: 2005-02-07
Reference number: 80.57/32

ENGINE WILL NOT START AND FAULT MESSAGE "START ERROR" APPEARS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

Reference Number(s): T-B-80.57/32, Date of Issue: February 07, 2005

MERCEDES-BENZ:	Model 163.154/157/172/174/175, Model Year 2000 to 2005
GROUP:	80 - Central Locking System, Convenience Operation, Drive Authorization System

SUBJECT

Model 163.154/157/172/174/175

Model Year 2000 to 2005

Engine Will Not Start And Fault Message "Start Error" Appears In Instrument Cluster

SERVICE INFORMATION

If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles of the engine not starting and the message "Start Error" appearing in the instrument cluster, the drive authorization module may need to be replaced. The drive authorization module (FBM) listed in the Parts Information section below now contains modified software to correct this condition.

NOTE: This occurs when circuit 15 is truncated after the engine control unit sends a drive authorization system inquiry to the drive authorization module. If circuit 15 is switched off during this inquiry or is interrupted before the drive authorization module can respond, the same variable code is again used for the next circuit 15 cycle, as the drive authorization module has saved the previous inquiry. This results in the engine not starting for this key cycle.

To resolve, remove the old FBM control unit as per WIS instruction AR54.21-P-1300GH and replace FBM control unit with part number listed in the parts information section below.

NOTE: Step 6 of AR54.21-P-1300GH checks whether the vehicle can be started with all keys. Ensure that all keys are available prior to beginning this procedure.

PARTS INFORMATION

Qty.

Part Name

Part Number

Control Unit (Note: Replaces control unit A163 545 28 32)

A163 545 07 16 ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾	Parts are in a critical supply situation and will be limited, please see the PAC weekly status report on parts availability status and delivery expectations. This report is located on the PAC website.

NOTE: The following allowable labor operations should be used when submitting a warranty claim for this repair.

IN CASE OF WARRANTY

Operation: Control unit - drive authorization system (DAS) (after test), replace (80-5030)

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Damage Code	Operation Number	Time (hrs.)	Model Indicator (s)
82801 90	80 5030	0.5 hrs.	K0