Radio turns on with no key in the ignition?

[session]

Has anyone else experienced this problem? My mom, who also has a 2002 C230 coupe, says that her (stock) radio will turn on even without the key in the ignition. She also says that after you turn the car off and take the key out, the radio will keep playing for about 5 minutes. Her service rep is telling her that this behavior is normal; that you can turn the radio on without the key in the ignition for about 45 minutes after you shut the car down. Is this as patently false to anyone else as it is to me? If it is, I'm just completely shocked her dealer is so deceptive.

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[firstkill]

You are able to turn the radio on without the key in. But thats manually pushing the power button.

If you turn the car off AND take the key out, the radio is supposed to turn off.

And no, that is not normal for the radio to STAY on after the key is removed from hte socket.


~fk

[Lynn]

Turning on the radio without the key in the ignition is not a problem. it is a feature. My radio will shut itself off after 30 minutes, so it won't drain the battery.


RTFM last paragraph page 176

It is not normal that the radio will keep playin for 5 minutes after taking the key out.

[Big Sheesh]

It is not normal for the radio to continue to play after the key has been removed. The radio should shut off simultaneously with the removal of the key.

[mctwin2kman]

Opening the door turns the radio off. It will keep going for five minutes if you turn the car off, remove the key, but do not open the door. At least this is the way mine operates. As well as most GM vehicles if you think this is just some freaky MB thing. I like the feature because some of us do not get right out of the car and the radio still on is nice. Also some of us get out of the car and take the key but leave someone else in the car while we run and do whatever, so being able to turn on the radio without the key is nice as well.

[MarkL]

Originally posted by session
Has anyone else experienced this problem? My mom, who also has a 2002 C230 coupe, says that her (stock) radio will turn on even without the key in the ignition. She also says that after you turn the car off and take the key out, the radio will keep playing for about 5 minutes. Her service rep is telling her that this behavior is normal; that you can turn the radio on without the key in the ignition for about 45 minutes after you shut the car down.

Is this as patently false to anyone else as it is to me? If it is, I'm just completely shocked her dealer is so deceptive.

My G-d man, RTFM :p

[MarkL]

Originally posted by mctwin2kman
Opening the door turns the radio off. It will keep going for five minutes if you turn the car off, remove the key, but do not open the door. At least this is the way mine operates. As well as most GM vehicles if you think this is just some freaky MB thing. I like the feature because some of us do not get right out of the car and the radio still on is nice. Also some of us get out of the car and take the key but leave someone else in the car while we run and do whatever, so being able to turn on the radio without the key is nice as well.

On my 2002 C240, the radio will shut off when I remove the key. What you are describing sounds like GM's "accesory power retention" feature which I really wish my car had. It allows you to operate other accessories, such as power windows and sunroof for about 10 minutes as long as you don't open a door. I was very surprised to find out I couldn't work the windows for a period after shutting off the ignition.

You have a 2003 coupe right? I wonder if they made a change after '02.

[MB-BOB]

On my Bose-equipped C320 (2001) here is how it works...

1) remove the key, the radio always stops.
2) press and release the volume control and radio resumes play.
3) radio continues to play for 30 minutes, or until manually turned off.
4) opening a door has no effect... radio continues to play for its full 30 minutes. There is no time delay after you close the door, other than the normal 30-minute timer.
5) once radio turns itself off, you may press and release vol. control and radio resumes play for another 30 minutes.
6) Edited to delete 3-21, due to inaccurate statement.

[mctwin2kman]

MarkL,

I have a 2003. I will check again to make sure it does not go off with the key. But I have one heck of a memory and I recall it shuting off when I open the door, as I sometimes pull the key out and do not open the door for a few seconds and the radio is still on. But I will check when I go home and post when I do it.


Jamie

[Matt230K]

Originally posted by MB-BOB
6) It is not possible to run the radio after the car has sat for a while. You must insert the key first.

Bob, is this the explanation in the manual?

I cannot ever recall a time that I had a radio NOT turn on in any MB model regardless of how long the car had been sitting. So I don't think that this part is true.

[session]

I would've RTFM if it were a problem on my car. Unfortunately it's my mom's car and I just posted the problem here as a proxy.

[Outland]

I am beginning to think the MB's somewhat lame response about the consumer reports scores is fairly accurate.

Mr. Heiler believes Mercedes’ poor reliability results often are linked to added technology that the German-U.S. automaker has included in the vehicle that owners often don’t know how to use, so they assume it is flawed.

You can turn the radio on again, if you unlock the doors with key remote after the 30min limit. I think that's why to many of us, the radio seems always powered up. Cool feature.

RTFM Turn off the computer!

[pokerFACE]

Originally posted by Matt230K
Bob, is this the explanation in the manual?

I cannot ever recall a time that I had a radio NOT turn on in any MB model regardless of how long the car had been sitting. So I don't think that this part is true.

MbBob, I agree with everything you said, except, as Matt pointed out #6,

I can turn the radio on anytime no matter how long the car's engine been shut off.. subject to battery charge. I'm also pretty sure that the radio will keep playing for more than 30 minutes.. I've sat in my car waiting for longer than that.

[mctwin2kman]

I am a moron, mine turns off when the key is removed and it is a 2003. I just did not realize it as there is a 1 to 2 second delay on it turning off. Sorry, I admit I was wrong damnit.

[CitronC230K_03]

Originally posted by session
Has anyone else experienced this problem? My mom, who also has a 2002 C230 coupe, says that her (stock) radio will turn on even without the key in the ignition. She also says that after you turn the car off and take the key out, the radio will keep playing for about 5 minutes. Her service rep is telling her that this behavior is normal; that you can turn the radio on without the key in the ignition for about 45 minutes after you shut the car down.

Is this as patently false to anyone else as it is to me? If it is, I'm just completely shocked her dealer is so deceptive.

my 1983 300CD and my 1987 300D worked that way. my VW had that feature as well. i find more handy than a problem.

[MarkL]

Originally posted by Outland

You can turn the radio on again, if you unlock the doors with key remote after the 30min limit. I think that's why to many of us, the radio seems always powered up. Cool feature.

RTFM Turn off the computer!

Sorry, it has nothing to do with using the key or the remote. I leave my car unlocked every night in my garage. In the morning I can turn on the radio after simply opening the door and getting in. The radio is simply on a circuit which always receives power like the interior lights, etc. There must be a local timer which shuts it off after the designated period.

[darkfact]

I remember on our old SE we had to open the door first, leave it open then we are able to turn on the radio or open the windows. we couldn't do that with the door close.

but i guess since that option is not available on the c coupes, we get to turn on the radios while the doors are closed (and we cant open the windows without the keys).

it will turn off after 45 minutes? I don't think so.

LOL, I once left my friend alone in the car (during hot summer). I didn't give him the keys, and he kept listening to the radio for about two full hours!

[MB-BOB]

Matt, pokerface, you guys are right! I humbly stand corrected. My car has been sitting in the garage for 3 days. I just walked out to it, reached inside and punched the button, and the radio is on without the key! I don't know why I couldn't get it to turn on earlier... anyway, good catch, guys.

[pokerFACE]

Originally posted by MarkL
There must be a local timer which shuts it off after the designated period.

does anybody want to confirm this? :p

[MarkL]

Originally posted by MB-BOB
Matt, pokerface, you guys are right! I humbly stand corrected. My car has been sitting in the garage for 3 days. I just walked out to it, reached inside and punched the button, and the radio is on without the key! I don't know why I couldn't get it to turn on earlier... anyway, good catch, guys.

You may have pushed the button too briefly. On a couple of occasions, I've punched the button to turn on the radio and let go too soon -- you may have had a case of coincidence...

[QQQ]

Originally posted by MB-BOB
On my Bose-equipped C320 (2001) here is how it works...

1) remove the key, the radio always stops.
2) press and release the volume control and radio resumes play.
3) radio continues to play for 30 minutes, or until manually turned off.
4) opening a door has no effect... radio continues to play for its full 30 minutes. There is no time delay after you close the door, other than the normal 30-minute timer.
5) once radio turns itself off, you may press and release vol. control and radio resumes play for another 30 minutes.
6) Edited to delete 3-21, due to inaccurate statement.

Same for my car - 2001 C320