# 1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class - Hard cranking

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-mercedes-benz-m-class-hard-cranking/145308>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mercedes-benz\
**Created:** [July 26, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-mercedes-benz-m-class-hard-cranking/145308 "2019-07-26T19:46:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BaldwinWong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@BaldwinWong](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BaldwinWong)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-mercedes-benz-m-class-hard-cranking/145308/1 "2019-07-26T19:46:18Z")

</div>

For the last year, my starter would, off and on, take longer to crank over the engine. Normally it would start immediately once I turn to start and let go, but there are times it would crank a few seconds longer than normal. Hot days are even worse. It will crank until it cycles out (5-10 seconds). Sometimes I have to go through two separate starts and a panic attack before the engine turns over. I know it’s not an problem with my battery, and I have the vehicle serviced regularly. When I bring the issue up to my mechanic, it never acts up ( Murphy’s Law).  
Will I have to wait until it completely quits, wait hours to be towed and explain to my wife why I was late, before it can be diagnosed?  
I have a service dog (German Shepard of course) that goes everywhere with me and I don’t want him to be stuck in a hot vehicle with no air conditioning.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-mercedes-benz-m-class-hard-cranking/145308/2 "2019-07-27T15:37:28Z")

</div>

That is the sign of a failing fuel pump and not a starter issue.Since your vehicule is 20 year old,almost anything can go wrong depending on how well the car was maintained.Have the mechanic test the fuel pressure.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BaldwinWong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@BaldwinWong](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BaldwinWong)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-mercedes-benz-m-class-hard-cranking/145308/3 "2019-07-27T17:05:26Z")

</div>

Thank you. Fuel pump replaced 10/14, but I’ll have the pressure checked on the fuel pump anyways.