Electrical power loss
I purchased a 2014 E350 coupe about 3 weeks ago. Car runs great but it did have the "loud engine" noise associated with fatigued engine mounts.
I didn't drive the car much the first 2 weeks with the holidays but I had no issues when I did.
Last Sunday I decided to try and change the engine mounts. I successfully replaced the passenger side but ran out of time before I had a solution as to how to remove the driver side.
When I went to drive the car down off of the ramps I pushed the Start/Stop button and everything went dead. No dash lights, no interior lights, no power. I had the trunk open
the whole time so initially I thought I must have drained the battery with the light on (yeah, I couldn't believe that either) anyway, I opened the hood to look for a jump terminal,
didn't see one so I assumed the battery was in the trunk. I closed the hood. When I did, interior lights came back on, dash lights on, car started right up. So, I'm thinking OK first
car I've had with keyless-Go must be something I don't know, maybe a key, something, I don't know. The car started and ran fine every time since then.
Changing the passenger side engine mount didn't do much for the noise though. We're expecting a big snow here tomorrow and I had a little time today so I thought the trans mount might
be easy enough to do in the time I had and I'd see if that makes any difference. Which it did the car is significantly quieter. However, I finished the trans mount replacement.
Then I went to the store. When I came out of the store. Opened the door interior lights on, power good. Put the groceries in the car, get in and push Start/Stop, everything dead again.
So, I know from last week, I open the hood, nothing, close it lights come back on. Push Start/Stop, dead again. Open the hood, close it back on. I did this four times, each time it failed
when I pressed Start/Stop. The fifth time, I removed the Start/Stop button and used the key and the car started. I replaced the button and I restarted the car just fine, several times now with the button.
I mention all of this detail because I am an IT professional by trade. Part of my job is noticing patterns that machines/software make.
I this case I'm seeing two. 1.) The failure has only occurred in the 2 instances where I had the car jacked up. 2.) Each time I open the hood and then close it the power comes back on. (What the hell)
That looks like some kind of a feature, like a reset. But I have no clue as to what. A bad key, a bad Keyless-Go module. Does these symptoms sound familiar to anyone?
I'm not a mechanic but I've had motorcycles, boats, SeaDoos, a bunch of cars. I have an 83' 500SL Euro I've been working on for 22 years. If someone told me each time they closed the hood electrical power was restored
I would say at best its a coincidence, at worst, you're nuts.
It's cold as **** here now (Pittsburgh) and 12-18" of snow expected. The last thing I want is to end up stranded somewhere with this car I just bought. But, I don't even know where to begin with this one. All thoughts are welcome.
I appreciate you indulging me.
Thanks Marc
I have not had a chance to check, but I will go back and check all connections.
Thanks, I appreciate the follow-up.




Test a few things:
Battery voltage above 12.5V
GND Strap chassis to engine
Keyfob 3V cell
OBD2 bus scan for errors
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 25, 2022 at 02:37 PM.
I will check each of your suggestions as soon as it warms up a bit. I would think though if the battery were weak enough to cause a complete loss of power: A) it wouldn't come back on and eventually start the car
and B) after sitting outside for days at a time in this weather it would not turn over or at least crank slower, which it hasn't.
Grounds, I have thought of, but how does that equate with opening and closing the hood bringing back the power each time?
I did in fact receive a key fob battery low message, and replaced the key fob battery, shortly before this incident occurred. I have not received the message after replacing the battery. I have used both keys since.
I do have a bluetooth scanner here somewhere. I will look.
I appreciate the reply


