I've a 2001 C240. From the past week, I've experienced something weird.
The engine starts up on cranking and immediately shuts off. After 3
such attempts or so, everything goes eerily blank and I can do nothing
but retract the key and wait. Some 3 min or so later, I hear the same
sound as the one I get upon initial key insertion. Usually, at this
stage, when I reinsert the key and try, the engine ignites and runs as
if nothing ever happened.

I called the dealer since it's only a few days since my car returned
from a B service. He took it, serviced the fuel injectors and said that
the problem should now be fixed but it isn't. Yesterday when I called
him, he was saying that the electronic throttle may be the culprit.

Since he doesn't seem to have much clue in what he's doing, thought I'd
ask a more informed set of people :) Have anyone of you had to
experience what I currently am, and how was the problem solved?

Oh and one last thing - the dealer confirmed that this isn't either a
problem of the key itself, or the battery.

Ramapriya