Electrical glitch on SL 55
Discussion
I bought my 2005 SL 55 6 months ago from my local MB dealer, and it came with the MB Warranty. My problem is , if the car is left any longer than a couple of days , the car will start ok but the "convenience functions not available comes" up until I have done 6 or 7 miles. If I leave the car a week or more without using it the keyless door opening does not work and I have to open the door using the "skeleton" key and start the engine by inserting the fob into the ignition slot. The car has been back twice to the dealer and rather than replace the secondary battery they did a check and said there was a battery drain from the TV tuner . They said they replaced the faulty part but the problem persists. Before I return the car a third time to ask them to replace the battery has anyone else had this problem as I have a feeling they may tell me that it is normal for this to happen and it would be useful to go armed with some ammunition.
Steve, pop over to the MB Owners Forum and ask your question there. I can almost guarantee you will get an answer.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php
I use mine daily and this rarely happens. But when I leave it for three days or mote, particularly in the cold and the aforementioned fault occurs. But after driving for a few minutes everything is ok again. Being an avid reader of Evo magazine and reading the long term SL63 2010 report the same issue was reported, so I worries less and I drive the car more!
Mine does the same thing as described, I have come to the conclusion it`s battery related . I kept the battery fully charged on a trickle for a week and the sympton disappeared. On resumption of normal practice the problem returned. It`s inconvenient inasmuch as the steering wheel is in the high position until later into the journey.
Dealers seem frighteningly inept at understanding what's going on with this battery setup.
The COMAND stays active for something like 20 minutes (from memory) after the engine is switched off - that's why they'll be seeing a drain.
I will bet you it's your rear battery - if you do replace it make sure you use a proper AGM one and not a regular battery. They don't work out too badly if you ask nicely at MB and they give it you at trade.
FWIW I had a problem with my twin battery setup where stuff was draining the rear battery (this would happen in about 12 hours) - it was the controller relay (N78(?)) in the back which was leaving all the COMAND, heater controls etc active all the time. However I am sure yours is simply the battery.
See if you can get them to swap it out just to prove the point.
The COMAND stays active for something like 20 minutes (from memory) after the engine is switched off - that's why they'll be seeing a drain.
I will bet you it's your rear battery - if you do replace it make sure you use a proper AGM one and not a regular battery. They don't work out too badly if you ask nicely at MB and they give it you at trade.
FWIW I had a problem with my twin battery setup where stuff was draining the rear battery (this would happen in about 12 hours) - it was the controller relay (N78(?)) in the back which was leaving all the COMAND, heater controls etc active all the time. However I am sure yours is simply the battery.
See if you can get them to swap it out just to prove the point.
Thanks for the tips.
In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
Unbelievable - surely you would use some basic powers of deduction and try the most obvious thing first?
Or have these people become so dependent on the star machine they cannot draw their own conclusions or apply common sense. Swap a battery in - 5 minutes work. Obtain replacement TV tuner and change - how long (and expensive!) is that?
Or have these people become so dependent on the star machine they cannot draw their own conclusions or apply common sense. Swap a battery in - 5 minutes work. Obtain replacement TV tuner and change - how long (and expensive!) is that?
scs1 said:
Thanks for the tips.
In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
Don't mention the battery again and let them continue replacing electrical parts until the whole electrical system has been replaced. Then buy a new battery and fit it yourself.In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
Denis O said:
scs1 said:
Thanks for the tips.
In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
Don't mention the battery again and let them continue replacing electrical parts until the whole electrical system has been replaced. Then buy a new battery and fit it yourself.In fact since I started the thread the car has been back to the dealer and had the tv tuner replaced, as they said that was draining the battery, and when that did nt solve the problem they decided that a faulty keyless entry button on the drivers side was the problem.
None of this work has made the slightest difference so I suspect that the battery is to blame. I should mention each time i ve left the car at the dealer i have suggested it may be the battery but this idea was dismissed by them.
The dealership has been very pleasant and helpful and all the work has been done under warranty but I am getting a bit irritated and will insist that they check the battery next time as the warranty runs out in january
The car is back with my Merc dealer after the" not charging" light came on. They now say that the phone cradle unit is to blame as a fault is draining the battery and are replacing it. They are also fitting a new main battery but insist that the secondary battery is OK. We ll see ! The warranty runs out in january. Me thinks it may be wise to extend it.
Update
Returning from a weekend in France the red battery and "take to workshop" lights came on . I left the car with my dealer the next day and after three and a half weeks I collected it today. They have replaced the front control unit , the phone module and fitted a new battery. All seems to be OK
.Thank god for warranties.
Returning from a weekend in France the red battery and "take to workshop" lights came on . I left the car with my dealer the next day and after three and a half weeks I collected it today. They have replaced the front control unit , the phone module and fitted a new battery. All seems to be OK
.Thank god for warranties.
Very interesting this thread - I had a similar event. Car was left for 2.5 weeks and I had to open the door using the skeleton key. The dash told me I should visit the work shop and the battery symbol was red; also told me brakes were at less that optimum strength. Went away after driving for a while. Only problem was the rear windows didn't shut properly and the tyre pressure monitors showed faulty. MB reset it in one minute, and advised that this was normal when the battery drained completely. Tyre pressure monitors still are a pain and haven't reset.
Apparently it is normal that the convenience features come back on line after about 6-7 miles. Or at least this is a consistent explanation from MB!
Rgds, Brin
Apparently it is normal that the convenience features come back on line after about 6-7 miles. Or at least this is a consistent explanation from MB!
Rgds, Brin
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