2003 E500 Main Battery replacement: Issues
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 33
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From: Annapolis Maryland
1999 SLK Sport & 2003 E500 Sport, 2014 GLK350 4matic
2003 E500 Main Battery replacement: Issues
So I had my main battery replaced in my E500 today. Now both my remote smart keys do not work, The cruise control speed indicator (the part that lights up on the cluster) is lit up from 0 RPM to 120MPH...car not moving just sitting in my driveway....and to top it off I had to reset everything back to English/MPH from Spanish/KM (No lie: it switched over to Spanish......F/Magic)
Anyone ever see this random stuff ??? I will pull/reset the cables on both the aux and main battery Tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.
Thanks,
Rick
Anyone ever see this random stuff ??? I will pull/reset the cables on both the aux and main battery Tomorrow and see if that makes a difference.
Thanks,
Rick
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,779
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From: Long Island, NY
2004 E320
Rick...that's the strangest thing I've heard yet, when replacing a battery. Should have been very straightforward with only a windows and sunroof re-sync. ( and headlights if you have "active" ones)
Who changed it, an indie or MB shop?
Who changed it, an indie or MB shop?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 33
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From: Annapolis Maryland
1999 SLK Sport & 2003 E500 Sport, 2014 GLK350 4matic
Sam's club. I also disconnected the neg post both the main and aux battery and let it set for a while...reconnected the aux first, then the main one hoping it would clear up the issues. No good.
Both remote keys still do not work since main battery change (as in opening or closing the locks: starts the car) but a very interesting thing when I use one of the keys (have 2 for the car).
When I use one of the keys the cruise control setting (as I mentioned eariler in this post) lites up on the instrument cluster from 0MPH to 120MPH with the car sitting still (it does not light up when I use the other key).
And when I engage the cruise control at any speed going down the road with the key that lites up the instrument cluster the lights go out BEFORE the set speed. For example if I set the cruise for say 50MPH above 50 is lit up to 120MPH...below 50 is out with the cruise engaged.
(Cruise control works as it should). When I disengage the cruise it lites up from 0MPH to 120MPH again. Again with just the one key.
Also replaced the batteries in the keys as well......and both keys worked fine before the main battery change out.
VERY strange......next option is to get code reader to clear the codes out....does not display any malfunctions but I am drawing at straws at this point. Everything else works fine (windows, roof, radio etc....)
Open for suggestions......Thanks.
Both remote keys still do not work since main battery change (as in opening or closing the locks: starts the car) but a very interesting thing when I use one of the keys (have 2 for the car).
When I use one of the keys the cruise control setting (as I mentioned eariler in this post) lites up on the instrument cluster from 0MPH to 120MPH with the car sitting still (it does not light up when I use the other key).
And when I engage the cruise control at any speed going down the road with the key that lites up the instrument cluster the lights go out BEFORE the set speed. For example if I set the cruise for say 50MPH above 50 is lit up to 120MPH...below 50 is out with the cruise engaged.
(Cruise control works as it should). When I disengage the cruise it lites up from 0MPH to 120MPH again. Again with just the one key.
Also replaced the batteries in the keys as well......and both keys worked fine before the main battery change out.
VERY strange......next option is to get code reader to clear the codes out....does not display any malfunctions but I am drawing at straws at this point. Everything else works fine (windows, roof, radio etc....)
Open for suggestions......Thanks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 33
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From: Annapolis Maryland
1999 SLK Sport & 2003 E500 Sport, 2014 GLK350 4matic
1/14/12: Replaced main battery again with another one...no change. checked aux battery shows about 13 volts.
Checked all fuses in both front and rear boxes with meter(all good)...reseated relays in rear box. No change.
Pulled and checked battery voltage on all key batteries...shows 3+ volts on each battery.
Both Keys lock and unlock car when the car is cold (first thing in morning or sitting for a few hours (live in the N/east cools down quick): locked and unlocked several times: no issues) When it warms up neither key works the door locks...both still start the car (with the one key still lighting up the cruise from 0MPH to 120MPH....assume they left the key in when they changed the battery...key I guess is done....)
Have no idea what it could be.....as I mentioned both worked fine before initial battery change....something electronic was fryed....where to start....will keep digging.......
Checked all fuses in both front and rear boxes with meter(all good)...reseated relays in rear box. No change.
Pulled and checked battery voltage on all key batteries...shows 3+ volts on each battery.
Both Keys lock and unlock car when the car is cold (first thing in morning or sitting for a few hours (live in the N/east cools down quick): locked and unlocked several times: no issues) When it warms up neither key works the door locks...both still start the car (with the one key still lighting up the cruise from 0MPH to 120MPH....assume they left the key in when they changed the battery...key I guess is done....)
Have no idea what it could be.....as I mentioned both worked fine before initial battery change....something electronic was fryed....where to start....will keep digging.......
Last edited by rdp3430; Jan 14, 2012 at 02:09 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 15
From: Northern VA
W211
Could be your BCM, battery control module that went bad or may be your voltage regulator to the alternator. At this point, you may need to have the car hooked up to a STAR Diagnosis that will tell you whats wrong.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 33
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From: Annapolis Maryland
1999 SLK Sport & 2003 E500 Sport, 2014 GLK350 4matic
Another note...tried to reset the moonroof after reconnecting the battery.....now just clicks.....will not open. Checked voltage at battery posts with car running was about 14 V or so.......thought about BCM and tried to search info on what exactly it does....looks like the front of it comes off with screws...will take a look at it Tomorrow to see if anything was fried.....tonight disconnected both batteries again and will let sit overnight.....do not think it will do a thing but makes me feel better trying something.....thanks.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Another note...tried to reset the moonroof after reconnecting the battery.....now just clicks.....will not open. Checked voltage at battery posts with car running was about 14 V or so.......thought about BCM and tried to search info on what exactly it does....looks like the front of it comes off with screws...will take a look at it Tomorrow to see if anything was fried.....tonight disconnected both batteries again and will let sit overnight.....do not think it will do a thing but makes me feel better trying something.....thanks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 33
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From: Annapolis Maryland
1999 SLK Sport & 2003 E500 Sport, 2014 GLK350 4matic
03 E500 battery change: Smart key(s) problems....
2/25/12: Still have issue with keys: When it is cold both keys lock and unlock the car fine...when the car heats up...both keys do not lock or unlock the car (car does start up with either key). And still have the issue of one of the keys still lighting up the cruise from 0MPH to 120MPH....the other key works fine running the car (no lighting up of the cruise control on the dash). All of the windows work and the sunroof works, etc.
A bit of history below....looking for ideas before I go to the stealer.....
__________________________________________________ ______________
1/12/12:
Checked all fuses in both front and rear boxes with meter(all good)...reseated relays in rear box. No change.
Pulled and checked battery voltage on all key batteries...shows 3+ volts on each battery.
Both Keys lock and unlock car when the car is cold (first thing in morning or sitting for a few hours (live in the N/east cools down quick): locked and unlocked several times: no issues) When it warms up neither key works the door locks...both still start the car (with the one key still lighting up the cruise from 0MPH to 120MPH....assume they left the key in when they changed the battery...key I guess is done....)
Have no idea what it could be.....as I mentioned both worked fine before initial battery change....something electronic was fryed....where to start....will keep digging.......
A bit of history below....looking for ideas before I go to the stealer.....
__________________________________________________ ______________
1/12/12:
Checked all fuses in both front and rear boxes with meter(all good)...reseated relays in rear box. No change.
Pulled and checked battery voltage on all key batteries...shows 3+ volts on each battery.
Both Keys lock and unlock car when the car is cold (first thing in morning or sitting for a few hours (live in the N/east cools down quick): locked and unlocked several times: no issues) When it warms up neither key works the door locks...both still start the car (with the one key still lighting up the cruise from 0MPH to 120MPH....assume they left the key in when they changed the battery...key I guess is done....)
Have no idea what it could be.....as I mentioned both worked fine before initial battery change....something electronic was fryed....where to start....will keep digging.......
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
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From: Sacramento CA
'03 E500 SPORT
03 E500 battery replace
New here. Saw the below posts and want to make sure I do this correctly. Was just at car detail and wash,. They finished, went to start no juice. Pretty sure key was in while they were detailing. Clock started spinning in reverse, computer then said services temporarily unavailable. . Garage had a little powerstart charge, hooked it up to main battery, car started right up. Took car home, let it run for 10 minutes. Shut it off, jsut went back out and started right up, computer working again. Just a dying main battery issue? Time to replace it?
