Mercedes Citan problems again and again the starter does not work

Hello everyone, my Mercedes Citan Diesel, built in 2019, has the following problem: longer cold start time, sometimes does not start at all, strange engine noises, weak battery when starting, weak or flickering lights and warning light in the speedometer. Could "engine start possibly not possible" be the cause? Has anyone had similar experiences? How was the problem solved in the workshop? I am grateful for any tips! Thank you!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)

Hi, I had a similar problem with my 2017 Mercedes Vito Diesel. I have some experience with cars and also had to go to the garage. The symptoms were very similar: longer cold start time, strange engine noises, weak battery and flickering lights. My garage determined that the fault was the result of a secondary fault in the vehicle's electrical system. Fortunately, it didn't cost me anything as it was a known problem and was repaired as a gesture of goodwill. To be able to help you better, it would be great if you could provide some more information: What error messages does your car display exactly? Have you already had the fault memory read out? Best regards!

(Translated from German)

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience! My car has a mileage of 186543 km and was recently serviced. The warning "Engine start possibly not possible" lights up in the cockpit. I haven't had the fault memory read out yet, so I'll probably do that next. Maybe it really is the vehicle electrics. Best regards!

(Translated from German)

Hey, okay, thanks for the additional info. The mileage on my car was a bit lower, but the problem seems to be pretty similar. The warning message "Engine may not start" often indicates problems with the battery or vehicle electrics. As it was almost the same for me, I can definitely recommend that you have the fault memory read out as soon as possible. This often clarifies exactly where the problem lies. In my case, it was actually an electrical problem, specifically the voltage regulator, which was causing the battery not to charge properly and thus causing all the symptoms. So have the fault memory read out and then talk directly to your trusted garage. Maybe you'll be lucky and it will be repaired as a gesture of goodwill, like mine. Keep me posted on what comes out! Best regards!

(Translated from German)

I will definitely have the fault memory read out and then go straight to the workshop to clarify this. Thanks again for the helpful advice. I hope that it will also be a goodwill gesture for me. I'll report back when I know more. Best regards!

(Translated from German)

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