annoying parktronic Problem

[taeandji]

My 07 GL 450 parktronic started acting up. After 10 to 15 min of driving, when it comes to stop whether due to traffic or red light, it alarms briefly on front right side although there isn't a thing next to the truck and some time it sounds alarm when cars are passing by when I'm at a stop. It is very annoying and took it back to dealer since I still have warranty left but stealers saying they couldn't replicate the problem and said nothing wrong with it. My wife picked GL a couple of days ago and starting yesterday it did it again a several times. What could be the issue? how can I fix this when stealer is not cooperating....?

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[MomsBenz]

Originally Posted by taeandji

My 07 GL 450 parktronic started acting up.
After 10 to 15 min of driving, when it comes to stop whether due to traffic or red light, it alarms briefly on front right side although there isn't a thing next to the truck and some time it sounds alarm when cars are passing by when I'm at a stop.

It is very annoying and took it back to dealer since I still have warranty left but stealers saying they couldn't replicate the problem and said nothing wrong with it.

My wife picked GL a couple of days ago and starting yesterday it did it again a several times.

What could be the issue? how can I fix this when stealer is not cooperating....?

I am having the exact same problem on my '09. Mine has been happening only during the summer for the past two summers. I have taken it in three times and every time they say they can't duplicate my concern. I have a feeling mine is related to heat in some way since it only happens during the summer. It is also my driver side front sensor that comes on. Very frustrating! Please let me know if you find a fix and I will let you know if my dealer ever figures it out. Now that it is fall and cooler mine isn't doing it

[Fourdiesel]

Sounds like a too sensitive transponder on the bumper. (L side on MomsBenz and R side on taeandji's). Ask the dealer to do a test for sensitivity on the individual transponders and replace as required. [It might be easier/cheaper for them to just replace the one that seems to be giving a problem]

[taeandji]

my stealer told me parking sensors are not covered by warranty...
Is that true or bull****?

[BlownV8]

Originally Posted by taeandji

my stealer told me parking sensors are not covered by warranty...
Is that true or bull****?

[JimBarnhart]

Originally Posted by taeandji

my stealer told me parking sensors are not covered by warranty...
Is that true or bull****?

You said 07. Is it still factory warranty? Extended might have loopholes.

[Max Blast]

Originally Posted by JimBarnhart

You said 07. Is it still factory warranty? Extended might have loopholes.

Same issue, left front.
The warranty is bumper to bumper to include what's inside the bumper.
Total and utter bs. That guy deserves a swift kick in the jimmy for trying to pull that one on you.

[fs1013]

I am not sure if this will help because this is on a different vehicle, with similar but not quite the same issue.

But FYI, on my 2010 E350 Coupe that both sides of front sensor alarmed with four red dots (two on each side) from time to time with no real reason, same behavior as you guys described. But an even bigger problem was the Distronic Plus adaptive cruise control. It disengaged itself after 10 to 15 minutes drive and warned me either it was "temporarily unavailable" or "inoperative". At the same time, it would also warn PRE-SAFE Brake inoperative.

I brought it back to the dealer three times and they couldn't find anything wrong in the first two attemps. Luckily(?) it got worse and showed up more often and the dealer was able to experienced it (Distronic Plus issue) when I brought it back the third time. It took them a week to get the car back to me. It's been two months now and I haven't had both issues... knock on wood...

Here is the description from the service log:

"Test drove vehicle. Unable to duplicate. Checked for codes and found code for communication error between Distronic and ESP. Performed extensive test drive and verified messages come on intermittently after car has been driven for 15+ min. Performed ESP tests. Checked version coding, SCN coded, and verified against actual values. Determined radar sensor causing the CAN communications to ESP unit. Tried to update software using 4 different SDS machines (2 crashed during software update). Checked power and ground to radar control unit and found OK but it would not take an update. Manually checked part number of control unit to compare with parts information. Opened TAC case #241145801. TAC called back to let us know they were working on it. Next call received from TAC indicated we should update the radar unit. But we were unable to do so because radar unit will not communicate properly. Replaced radar unit, version coded new, reactivate system, test drove. Rechecked codes and found code for LR radar transmitter. Checked and corrected version coding. Cleared codes, test drove, rechecked codes - ALL OK."

So really they didn't deal with the Parktronic. But I do not have the Parktronic false alarm issue again since I got the car back. Not sure if there is a connection somewhere.

[43221B]

The park sensors are about the cheapest component on our cars. I think the retail is about $70 (dealer cost is probably $30) and they come painted to match. They should just pull your bumper off and and replace the sensors in question for you.

[taeandji]

Mine still has factory warranty and yes it is 07.
It will expire by the end of this month.

[FlavioB]

Sorry for bringing an old thread back to life but has anyone been able to determine the cause of the intermittent alarms and been able to fix ?

Same thing is happening with my 09 GL 450 that I just bought with 15k km on it. Full factory warranty until July and I will extend it for another 4 years.

Has everyone with this problem a front license plate ? Dealer mentioned at first that the plate holder was causing the problem but even recalibrating the sensor didn't help. I'll be bringing the truck to the dealer next Thursday.

Thanks for any help

[rickgi]

Mine acts up only when in my office parking lot. Manual states that outside interference can be a cause. Doesn't happen anywhere else. Go figure.

[ortslike]

Don't mean to be flip, but have you guys tried cleaning the bugs off your bumpers? Anything that reflects the ultrasound back will set off the sensor...

[rickgi]

You're not being flip, that is one cause for sure!

[FlavioB]

First thing that I did. No change.

[alx]

When you wax the vehicle make sure you don't wax the sensors. Some waxes will reflect and activate parktronic. Waxes are generally oily and are hard to remove (just like the white stuff is hard to remove if you wax a black plastic on the exterior).

Most people also tend to wax/ detail their vehicles in the warm months so they get the misbehaving parktronic accordingly.

My 2 cents

[FlavioB]

The dealer's body shop did polish and wax it. I can't see any residue over the sensors but I will clean the sensors with a fluid that removes any wax. Thanks for the suggestion.