Easy Entry/Exit *Hidden?* Feature...
This happened after having parked the car in my garage, where the seat and wheel had moved out of the way and were in there "exit" position. I leave my doors unlocked and the key in the ignition, turned off of course, when I park in the garage. An hour or so later, I returned to the car and first opened the right, rear door. Upon opening the door, the driver's seat began moving forward. I thought this was really cool since it would allow for the rear passenger to get into the car more easily.
But here's the problem....this is the ONLY time I have noticed this happening, and I can't get the driver's seat to move forward again when opening the rear door. I have tried several times.
Has anyone experienced this?
But I did discover another trick. I'm tall, so my seat is pretty far back normally. "steering wheel + seat" would do nothing - I guess because the seat was already back. In the "both" position, if the seat is too far back nothing will happen - neither the seat nor the wheel will move
I set it to "steering wheel" and now at least the wheel moves up.
By the way, if I were you I would NOT leave the keys in the ignition - if a bad guy gets into your garage it's all over - and it is pretty easy to break into most garages.
I used to do that, too, but my wife convinced me otherwise.
At least, that's what the owners' manual of my Porsche says.
On modern cars, they also often control power based on the presence or abscense of the key, so leaving the key in the ignition may cause your battery to drain.
At least, that's what the owners' manual of my Porsche says.
Is this normal?.
I went away for 10 days and came back and couldn't stat the car. The Deakership changed my battery.....for the second time!.
They blamed the cold and told me to disconnect the battery if I go away for more than a week....... is this rght???
Thanks
Moser
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But I did discover another trick. I'm tall, so my seat is pretty far back normally. "steering wheel + seat" would do nothing - I guess because the seat was already back. In the "both" position, if the seat is too far back nothing will happen - neither the seat nor the wheel will move
I set it to "steering wheel" and now at least the wheel moves up.
JHillman, as Matt points out, you should not leave your keys in the ignition, even if it's the "Off" position. The electronic ignition is always ON whenever the keys are in the EIC so the battery IS draining. The Multi-Function Display warns you to remove the Key when the car is switched off... for this reason.
Also, to clear up part of the mystery, if your seat is positioned in any other place than one of your memory settings, the seat can move forward when the key is in the ignition and the door is opened. For instance, if I have my seat in the memory position, it will not move forward and back, because it is set too far back. However, if I manually move it forward (not using memory) to allow someone to enter the rear seat, the seat will move back and forth when I take turn off the car and take out the key (even if the memory position easy out doesn't work) Reason is that when moving the seat forward, it trips over the auto cut off position, and then functions normally (cylces) Not sure if this is what you observed.
Moser, the BS about the battery needing disconnection if not used for a week is just that, BS. The dealer needs to find the source of the drain, not make excuses...
Last edited by MB-BOB; Jan 9, 2003 at 08:27 PM.
MB-BOB: I don't quite understand your last post about the seat position and memory. I'm actually more confused now.
First, on the matter of leaving the key in the ignition. I do take the key completely out and then I stick it back in before leaving the car. ...do you guys still think there's a problem with leaving the key in the car?
MB-BOB: I don't quite understand your last post about the seat position and memory. I'm actually more confused now.
You have an electronic ignition. The EIC has an electrical induction coil that surrounds the ignition slot. If the induction coil senses the Smart Key in the slot, it turns on various systems in the car that remain on until the key is removed from the slot. This induction coil is like a digital switch... it either senses the key within its field, or not, and I understand is always "on" when the key is in the slot, "off" when the key is removed. For reliable operation, I wouldn't think you want it to work any other way.
I don't think you can "fool" the system by removing and replacing the key in rapid succession. In fact, some of the diagnostic procedures for keys involve inserting/removing/inserting the keys several times, so it's apparent to me that the EIC recognizes the key and powers systems everytime it's present in the slot.
As far as my sliding seat description, I can't think of any other way to describe it. It confuses me, too.
On a side note, the few MB's that still have regular keys will work this way. When you turn the key off, it still knows it is there and beeps when you open the door. But if you remove they key, you will hear a click and then if you put it back in, I don't think it knows that it is there until you turn it. On cars like these (ML's and SLK's), I usually pull the key out and put it back in. But on those with smart keys, I never leave them in ignition.
Bob, I don't think that would fool the system either. If you take it out and then put it back in, it would think you are going to start the car again. I think it would be better to just turn it off and never remove the key. Then maybe it would turn some of those things off because you had just shut off the car. But either way, I still think it will drain power.
I don't lock my car doors while parked in the garage, but I never leave the keys anywhere in the car or garage. You never know when the wife will park her car in the garage after you and forget to lower the garage door. This leaves the car available to anyone, whether it be curious kids who can hurt themselves, mischievous teens wanting to listen to the CD player in daddy's Benz, leading to the inevitable joyride, or thieves.
I understand some insurance companies will fight a claim if it can be proven you left your keys available in the car. Keeping key and car separate is just a good habit to develop.
I'm confused, too. If you take the key out of the ignition and put the keys on the console, you have no problem (you must not have teenage kids, though, LOL!). However, your first sentence implies you remove the keys from the EIC and then reinsert them in the ignition. IMO, this is a problem. Yes, I suppose you can "fool" the warning system.
By the way, if I were you I would NOT leave the keys in the ignition - if a bad guy gets into your garage it's all over - and it is pretty easy to break into most garages.
I used to do that, too, but my wife convinced me otherwise.
...When I stick it back in, the only thing I hear happening is the sound of the steering column unlocking...at least that what I think that sound is--it's like an on/off sound you hear each time to put the key in (on) and then take it out (off).
Also when the seat starts moving forward if you twist the key to start the engine the seat will stop moving and then continue once the engine has sarted.
Upon shut down the seat will immediately start traversing rearward and the steering wheel will move up.
Originally posted by jhillman
...When I stick it back in, the only thing I hear happening is the sound of the steering column
unlocking...at least that what I think that sound is--it's like an on/off sound you hear each time to
put the key in (on) and then take it out (off).
I don't get any of these sounds might be time to head for the dealer to get a loaner (I currently have a C320 - sweeet! but I miss my Coupe )
My car battery drains flat if I don't start the car for three days.
Is this normal?.
I went away for 10 days and came back and couldn't stat the car. The Deakership changed my battery.....for the second time!.
They blamed the cold and told me to disconnect the battery if I go away for more than a week....... is this rght???
We've never had a problem with battery or starting. (Of course, now that I open my mouth I know I'll regret it.)
I don't get any of these sounds might be time to head for the dealer to get a loaner (I currently have a C320 - sweeet! but I miss my Coupe )
No, this sound is normal. You probably are just used to it. When you insert the key, you hear a sound that sounds like something unlocking and that allows the key to turn. I don't know if it is unlocking the steering column though. This might not happen until you turn the key to the on position.
I just verified...it is the steering column unlocking when you stick the key in. Try turning your wheel without the key--it reaches a stop in both directions. Then put the key in (you hear the sound) and you can turn the wheel past the point it stopped previously. Just FYI..


