Dead Battery
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2002 S430
Dead Battery
I know some owners have experienced this lovely problem. The battery died and I have no idea why? I get a message saying "battery malfunction electrical components turned off", and then it goes away. This morning I go to unlock the car and nothing, it doesnt even unlock..I have not had any problems with my car so far...so this is really odd. If anybody knows or has any idea what the hell is going on please feel free to chime in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
I'm not going to guess why it happened, but this may be one of the problems related to the recall going on now... I've read this complant quite a few times here, so your not alone.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
'04 E500
Happened to me late last year. Woke up one morning and dead battery. Service was claiming some electrical component was drawing current according to their diagnostics and after replacing my overhead lighting unit, voltage regulators, and other parts, the problem persisted. I'd get a malfunction display on my dash that indicated that certain components are not available (e.g., dynamic seats). Each time I took it back, I urged them to just replace both batteries but they didn't and claimed they fixed it each time. 4 tries later, they finally gave me a new battery and I haven't had a problem fixed. I am by no mean a technician but common sense tells me to also replace the battery regardless of the original source of the problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
Originally Posted by Hudson
I've been told there's an auxillary battery but not sure where it is.
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Area
2004 E500 AMG Sport and 2020 GLC300
I had this problem a few weeks after I got the car. Battery was down to 3 volts without load. It took most of the day to charge it. I took the car in to the dealer, but they found no problem in four days. I haven't had this problem since. Freaky! 
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2002 S430
Well Roadside assistance just came and changed the battery completely. Guy said that he had to change the battery of another E-Class last night. He didn't say what the problem was but said that this new "maintenence free" battery is still having problems. I'm gonna take the car into service and see what went wrong. Service Advisor said it could be a bad alternator but I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Originally Posted by Char03
Well Roadside assistance just came and changed the battery completely. Guy said that he had to change the battery of another E-Class last night. He didn't say what the problem was but said that this new "maintenence free" battery is still having problems. I'm gonna take the car into service and see what went wrong. Service Advisor said it could be a bad alternator but I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2002 S430
Just got my car back today and they actually had to do several things. Here it goes:
"Perform Drain Grommet Recall, cheack water drain grommet in front of wheel house on driver and front passenger sides."
"Replace Control Unit- Battery"- and they also did some updated coding
"Perform SBC recall"
In the end the only thing I had to pay for were some new wipers which ran me $74! Now those are some expernsive wiper blades!
"Perform Drain Grommet Recall, cheack water drain grommet in front of wheel house on driver and front passenger sides."
"Replace Control Unit- Battery"- and they also did some updated coding
"Perform SBC recall"
In the end the only thing I had to pay for were some new wipers which ran me $74! Now those are some expernsive wiper blades!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Originally Posted by Char03
In the end the only thing I had to pay for were some new wipers which ran me $74!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2002 S430
I have had the car for a little over two years now, so I thought I needed new blades because they were skipping and noisy. I remember asking the dealer about this a little while back and they replied with, "if it's been over a year then we can't cover that for you." I guess there really is nothing I can do about it now since I already paid for them, but thanks anyways.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,630
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Originally Posted by Char03
I have had the car for a little over two years now, so I thought I needed new blades because they were skipping and noisy. I remember asking the dealer about this a little while back and they replied with, "if it's been over a year then we can't cover that for you." I guess there really is nothing I can do about it now since I already paid for them, but thanks anyways.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
2002 S430
I can't believe it. My car's battery has once again died! This is the second time in under two weeks now. Dealer replaced battery module the first time around, so I am really curious to see the problem is now. There was enough juice to unlock the car this time though. The display read "braking distance increased" or something like that, then I turned the key to start the car and nothing. All I got was another display that read "battery malfunction, electrical components turned off." This is starting to **** me off. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 14
From: Torquay, England
E-class E300e Estate, Sprinter (stretched limo)
Originally Posted by Char03
I can't believe it. My car's battery has once again died! This is the second time in under two weeks now. Dealer replaced battery module the first time around, so I am really curious to see the problem is now. There was enough juice to unlock the car this time though. The display read "braking distance increased" or something like that, then I turned the key to start the car and nothing. All I got was another display that read "battery malfunction, electrical components turned off." This is starting to **** me off.
Your dealer replaced the battery module, but did he replace the battery?
My technician stated straight away the problem was the battery, and touch wood everything is okay, even though we are using more power than the national grid before starting the engine
I feel for you and this type of breakdown is clearly NOT acceptable.
John
Now a nice sunny morning in Torquay
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
All of these nice electronics that can drain the battery sure can cause problems. I understand the "braking distance increased" is caused when the SBC pump doesn't come up to pressure within the allowed time. This could certainly be caused by a battery that doesn't have enough charge to run the pump. I would suspect not only a defective battery but some other circuit that is bleeding off the charge.
Jim
Jim
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Germany
This problem should be solved with the recall which is running at the moment. The generator of many W211s has a problem with the voltage controller getting overheated due to bad "heat conductive paste" with which the controller is fixed to the generator.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 14
From: Torquay, England
E-class E300e Estate, Sprinter (stretched limo)
Originally Posted by drstromberg
This problem should be solved with the recall which is running at the moment. The generator of many W211s has a problem with the voltage controller getting overheated due to bad "heat conductive paste" with which the controller is fixed to the generator.
Thanks for the information, ours has only failed the once, but obviously that is one time to many.
Regards,
John
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Germany
John, perhaps they changed the voltage controller during your last repair so your shouldn't have problems. It seems that the controller mounted to the generator causes the battery not to be charged as it should be. If the brakes also cause problems it may be that even the SBC battery does not get charged.
If I remember correctly only those generators made by Bosch are affected.
If I remember correctly only those generators made by Bosch are affected.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 14
From: Torquay, England
E-class E300e Estate, Sprinter (stretched limo)
Originally Posted by drstromberg
John, perhaps they changed the voltage controller during your last repair so your shouldn't have problems. It seems that the controller mounted to the generator causes the battery not to be charged as it should be. If the brakes also cause problems it may be that even the SBC battery does not get charged.
If I remember correctly only those generators made by Bosch are affected.
If I remember correctly only those generators made by Bosch are affected.
Thanks again for your input. I actually had to call the Emergency Number. A technician simply replaced the main battery and reset all the electronic gadgets. Then he kindly took the car for a quick drive to re-calibrate the tyre monitor.
An excellent speedy service, with a very professional technician.
I have had a letter from my dealer merely informing me to expect a letter from Mercedes-Benz that might tell me if my vehicle needs any further updates!
John
