W212 E-Class engine runs but no gears and all warning lights

[Watchman]

My wife's 62-reg E has stood a week on the drive. Went to start it this morning and it starts just fine but all the dashboard warning lights are on, and it won't allow me access to any electrical-operated controls such as gears, electric seats, heating or COMAND.

It's been cold this week so I let it warm up a bit but the fan is running 100% so the temp isn't rising above 70 degrees.

I expect the battery was a little low triggering all these failures but as the car starts, surely the correct voltage will be presented once its running.

Is there any way to reset it?

I do have an ODBII connector for fault finding and reseting but my wife has taken my car this morning with my ODBII connector. Is that likely to help?

[Watchman]

Turned it off and left it a while, to see if the heat of the engine would soak through into the sensors and components, and restarted 15 mins later. This time, most of the warning lights went out and it responded to my request for gears. Took it for a spin to properly warm it up but the check engine light is still on. I'll try it again in 30 mins then I'll mess about with my OBDII connector when my wife returns.

[Monkeylegend]

Sounds like the consumables battery has low voltage. Get the same on my SL, it is very sensitive to even a small drop in voltage, and it throws up all sorts of warning lights which eventually disappear after the battery is fully charged and a restart. I leave mine on an intelligent charger now if it is standing for more than a couple of days.

Could be the battery is on the way out and exposed by the cold weather. These modern cars and security systems can drain a battery pretty quickly in cold weather.

[Watchman]

Thanks - I forgot it had the second battery, and I agree with you - they are sensitive to the cold. I'm surprised that only a week could cause this though. It's conceivable that someone could leave their car at an airport for a period of time and find it useless upon their return.


Anyway, the car runs OK now - only the engine warning light still on but the OBDII diag suggests it's both the "network" (comms to the brake sensors in the expanded explanation), and "Powertain Vehicle Speed Sensor". I'll see what happens over the next couple of days. If it all clears, I'll leave it but make sure I run the car when my wife's away in future. If it doesn't clear, I'll book it into the local Merc dealership when she's back from the next trip.

Thanks for the suggestions and confirmation of what I thought it might be.

[donkmeister]

Monkeylegend said:

Could be the battery is on the way out and exposed by the cold weather. These modern cars and security systems can drain a battery pretty quickly in cold weather.

Happened on my W211 a while back in winter - It initially manifested as the comfort functions occasionally being locked out for the first 30 seconds or so on very cold days (driving around with an unheated seat like a neanderthal) and then one day manifested itself at 70mph on the motorway as a full-red dashboard, christmas tree warning lights and "pull over immediately" messages on the MFD.

The alternator was fine but both batteries were shot. I changed them and it's been tickety-boo ever since.

[Watchman]

Thanks. It's all working properly again so I'll make sure it gets a run every 2 to 3 days when she's away but my old ML had starting issues related to a dying battery so I'll keep an eye on it.

[T5R+]

Watchman said:

Thanks. It's all working properly again so I'll make sure it gets a run every 2 to 3 days when she's away but my old ML had starting issues related to a dying battery so I'll keep an eye on it.

ML battery compartment location and battery exchange methodology - 10/10 to whoever approved that

[Watchman]

T5R+ said:

ML battery compartment location and battery exchange methodology - 10/10 to whoever approved that

Ha..!! The reason why I lived with it and didn't change it.

I watched an Indian chap in a clean white shirt change his on YouTube. He looked knackered and his shirt ruined at the end.

[mbilal]

Hi Guys, i have Mercedes e220 cdi (W212) 2012 reg. i have the same problem as its mentioned above. engine starts with all hazards signs on the screen but it doesn't allow to drive and any other functions. then what I do, keep turning the key halfway again and again (approximately 15 to 30 times) till fan lights comes up on the dash board. as the fan lights comes up i turn the key full way and get engine start on normal position and drive. then whole day it doesn't give me problem. but when i go overnight its do same thing again in the morning. i am keeping this problem from last 6 months but now its worst. could someone guide me please what could be the problem?

thanks

[Watchman]

One of your batteries is toast. Replace and the problem will go away. Likely to be the main starter battery rather than the ancillaries battery.

[Simon2019]

mbilal said:

Hi Guys, i have Mercedes e220 cdi (W212) 2012 reg. i have the same problem as its mentioned above. engine starts with all hazards signs on the screen but it doesn't allow to drive and any other functions. then what I do, keep turning the key halfway again and again (approximately 15 to 30 times) till fan lights comes up on the dash board. as the fan lights comes up i turn the key full way and get engine start on normal position and drive. then whole day it doesn't give me problem. but when i go overnight its do same thing again in the morning. i am keeping this problem from last 6 months but now its worst. could someone guide me please what could be the problem?

thanks

Sorry for digging up this old post, but it was the only one I found which was relevant. I'm having the same as you but over a longer period. I get the same warnings on my E220 cdi (2012) and it remaining stuck in park etc. It usually sorts itself out if left overnight, but this isn't really an option if it happens when out and about. I did try your method to get around it with turning the key half way a number of times and that seemed to work. It's happened 4 times in the last 2 months and so no where near as bad as your daily issue. The AA have been out twice and one mentioned it might be a loose connection to the rear battery (though said bolts were tight) and the second AA guy was finding his diag machine was spammed with errors for all the systems being offline (ABS, CC, etc) and there was a general communications fault which is what he logged it as. They both tested the voltages with a multi-meter on both batteries and they are apparently fine Could this still be the battery(s)?