sarahwinkler5

GLK Immobilizer Nightmare Engine Wont Stay Running

My 2015 Mercedes GLK with a gasoline engine is giving me grief. It's got about 102979 km on the clock. Sometimes the engine just refuses to start, like it's completely dead. Other times, it'll start for a second or two and then immediately cut out. I scanned it and it's throwing an error related to the anti-theft system, suggesting a possible immobilizer fault. I'm leaning towards the key signal being the culprit, maybe incorrect key programming. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Before I consider an immobilizer bypass, I'd like to explore other options. Any suggestions?

6 comment(s)

Sounds frustrating. I have a GLK too, although I'm not sure what year it is. I had something similar happen a while back. The car would crank but not start, or start and die right away. I'm no expert, but is the key battery good? Have you tried your spare key to rule out a problem with the key itself? I'd start with the simple stuff before assuming the immobilizer is completely fried. Does the dashboard light up normally when you put the key in?

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, I did replace the key battery, and I've tried both keys, unfortunately. The dashboard lights up normally, no weird flickering or anything like that. It really does seem like the car isn't recognizing the key signal properly. Did your issue end up being related to the key programming, or was it something else entirely?

Honestly, I couldn't figure it out myself. I ended up taking it to a workshop. They checked the key programming and said it was out of sync. After they reprogrammed the key, everything was fine again. It's probably worth checking with someone who has the right equipment to read the key and the immobilizer data. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really helpful! I took your advice and went to someone who could read the key data. Turns out the key programming was indeed the issue. They recoded the key, and the car starts perfectly now. The whole thing cost me about 45€, so a lot less than a complete immobilizer bypass. Appreciate the help!

I have a 2009 Mercedes Benz GLK. I was changing the low beam headlight bulb, so I started the car, turned the steering wheel to access it from the wheel well, and turned the car off after successfully installing the bulb. Then I tried to start it, but it won't start? Locking/unlocking, radio, interior lights work, but I can't get any lights on the instrument panel or start the car. I also can't roll the windows up or down. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

(Translated from Swedish)

Quotation:
@Mercedes2009 wrote on
I have a 2009 Mercedes Benz GLK. I was changing the low beam headlight bulb, so I started the car, turned the steering wheel to access it from the wheel well, and turned the car off after successfully installing the bulb. Then I tried to start it, but it won't start? Locking/unlocking, radio, interior lights work, but I can't get any lights on the instrument panel or start the car. I also can't roll the windows up or down. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

Check the battery connections first to ensure they are clean and secure, as a loose connection can cause electrical issues. If the connections are fine, try jump-starting the car to rule out a weak battery. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!

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