Car is down
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
2003 E55
Car is down
The car won't start. All kinds of error messages popping up on dash, including "Power Steering Malfunction" "Parking Brake Inoperative" ...etc. The doors won't even lock. Car is now being towed to the dealership.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
2003 E55
No I did not jump the battery. I regularly charge the battery with my Ctek charger. The last time I fully charge the battery was a week ago. It would surprise me if the battery failed without any signs. The car was towed back to the dealer the same day however they don't have the time to look at my car yet. I was told that I need to wait a minimum of 2 days before they can look at it.
Update: The car sat at the dealer's lot for 2 days and they were able to start the car multiple times without any issues. They do not see any of the error messages on dash. The battery was good. My service advisor told me if there's any issues with the battery he would have replaced it under warranty for me. A test was performed and nothing can be found that's draining the battery. However, they have found various low voltage codes in multiple control units. Cleared fault codes and that's it I got the car back.
This car sat at an impound lot for a month. 2 weeks ago when I picked up the car it started right up. I drove the car for at least an hour before going back home. The same night I hooked it up to my Ctek charger through the poles under the hood and gave it a full charge which I regularly do with all of my cars to maintain/extend battery life. I don't know if this incident has anything to do with the car sitting for a longer period of time. It's the weirdest thing I've encountered and hope its a one time thing.
Update: The car sat at the dealer's lot for 2 days and they were able to start the car multiple times without any issues. They do not see any of the error messages on dash. The battery was good. My service advisor told me if there's any issues with the battery he would have replaced it under warranty for me. A test was performed and nothing can be found that's draining the battery. However, they have found various low voltage codes in multiple control units. Cleared fault codes and that's it I got the car back.
This car sat at an impound lot for a month. 2 weeks ago when I picked up the car it started right up. I drove the car for at least an hour before going back home. The same night I hooked it up to my Ctek charger through the poles under the hood and gave it a full charge which I regularly do with all of my cars to maintain/extend battery life. I don't know if this incident has anything to do with the car sitting for a longer period of time. It's the weirdest thing I've encountered and hope its a one time thing.
Last edited by D-5; Mar 3, 2018 at 10:10 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 389
Likes: 56
E63 AMG Estate
So would you know it! Cleaned my car today and got the ‘critical level’ warning both in the car and by message. I think that needs looking at. Admittedly I had a proper clean today, probably was at it for 2-3 hours but that shouldn’t happen.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 439
Likes: 74
From: California
2019 AMG C63S
Just start the engine, drive around for 15-20 mins to see if the battery gets fully charged and then leave it overnight to confirm that the battery level holds up. If you still see leaks you might want to get it checked out by the dealership.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 639
Likes: 33
From: London UK
E63s s213 2019 ,SOLD E63 Weistec, E55, C36
old thread , but had the battery changed over under official MB used car warranty today at the main dealers hopefully no more "Critical battery" error and might actually get to use stop start.
worth a call into the dealers if you keep getting the message.
worth a call into the dealers if you keep getting the message.
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 23
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C63S
Was going to say the same thing, dead or dying battery. I had all these messages when I picked up my crash damaged C63s and the first thing I did was replace the battery, and they all went away.
