I noticed that for my w209 (2004 CLK320 Coupe), I would get a malfunction and the alert would go away after I restarted the car. Fortunately, this happens only occasionally, maybe once in 1-2 months and mostly on lightings.

Is there any reason why restarting the car would clear the alert?

For instance, I had a malfunction on the 3rd brake again this morning. This is the 2nd time in the past 2 weeks and were raining both times. I restarted the car and no more malfunction.

 

There is no doubt a reason, but the reason or reasons that these cars can do funky electrical stuff is apparently not well understood, and therefore often attributed to "gremlins." The forum is full of "I restarted the car and it went away" stories. There may be a good explanation of the third brake light issue you describe, but maybe not for the next issue. My audio system used to have weird static that increased and decreased with the vocals, but would stop if I restarted the car, but it has not done it once in the last five years. My steering wheel sometimes does not lower automatically when I start the car, or more often lowers in two stages. But always moves properly if I press the memory button on the door. Door controller? Gremlin? You be the judge.

 

Good to know, I thought these mind boggling gremlins only happen to me. LOL,

As for the 3rd brake light, I will eventually remove it and apply a thin layer of caulking around the LED. Last time I removed the trunk liner to repair the 3rd brake light, there were 12 rivets to remove! BTW, are these rivets standard size, do I have to get them from the MB dealership?

 

Yeah, but with the proper tool (one of those forked plastic pry bars) you can remove those 12 plastic rivets in under a minute. I imagine a generic rivet you can get at an auto parts store will work but I'm nuts enough that they would have to match. At least at MB parts like that are not too expensive. If it were an Audi they would be about $10 each.

 

Actually, since it was my first time to remove the liner, it took me time just to look for these rivets. I had no idea there were so many of them. Lol..

Are these rivets reusable?

 

Yes. They are meant to be reused. I've probably removed and replaced some in my trunk 10 times.