Distronic inoperative
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
The radar sensor must be clean according to the manual. The sensor is behind the Mercedes star in front of the car. I've seen that item covered with bugs and it still worked is my disclaimer to that idea.
If it's a Hard Fail like yours seems to be, then the dealer should be able to easily diagnose it. MOney required for this idea. You might make sure the electrical connector on the sensor is connected and has not fallen off for whatever reason.
I've had intermediate failures of Distronic on a CL550 and with intermediate failures..........the dealer isn't going to be able to fix squat. Intermediate failures can be a loose electrial connector or dirty pins/sockets in a plus or gosh knows what else.
Does your Distronic EVER engage??? Ever? Or is it a hard failure?
I agree..........my post is almost useless on this. Usually if you lose Distronic you also lose other items related to it. Are you also losing 'other' features? LIke Lane tracking and the like?
If it's a Hard Fail like yours seems to be, then the dealer should be able to easily diagnose it. MOney required for this idea. You might make sure the electrical connector on the sensor is connected and has not fallen off for whatever reason.
I've had intermediate failures of Distronic on a CL550 and with intermediate failures..........the dealer isn't going to be able to fix squat. Intermediate failures can be a loose electrial connector or dirty pins/sockets in a plus or gosh knows what else.
Does your Distronic EVER engage??? Ever? Or is it a hard failure?
I agree..........my post is almost useless on this. Usually if you lose Distronic you also lose other items related to it. Are you also losing 'other' features? LIke Lane tracking and the like?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2
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From: Suffolk UK
E350
Thanks HAILERS2, Electrical connection looks good, can't see front of sensor as its behind the grille. Some of the threads I've read say the Distronic has a battery in the boot(trunk), and replacing this might solve the problem, but I've got no idea where it's located or what it looks like. Coincidentally, this morning tried to start, but battery totally flat. The car has not been driven for 7 days, prior to that it did 70 miles each day for 3 days, should be fully charged. This happened a year ago, had the battery checked and was okay. It could be that the main battery has been going flat over a period of time and the Distronic Inoperative was the first symptom. ALL advice greatly welcome!
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Thanks HAILERS2, Electrical connection looks good, can't see front of sensor as its behind the grille. Some of the threads I've read say the Distronic has a battery in the boot(trunk), and replacing this might solve the problem, but I've got no idea where it's located or what it looks like. Coincidentally, this morning tried to start, but battery totally flat. The car has not been driven for 7 days, prior to that it did 70 miles each day for 3 days, should be fully charged. This happened a year ago, had the battery checked and was okay. It could be that the main battery has been going flat over a period of time and the Distronic Inoperative was the first symptom. ALL advice greatly welcome!
Alternator problem would also explain the flat battery.
Last edited by Arrie; Aug 8, 2015 at 01:42 PM.
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From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
For reference, my voltage readings are 13.5v while idling and 14.3v while under load. Have someone rev the engine and hold it about 2k rpm under load (with ac blowing, radio on, etc.) while you check the voltage. Or as Arrie mentioned, many places will check for free - at least in the US anyway. Just make sure they test the alternator not just the battery as that's what is providing power to distronic and other components while you're driving.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
It does sound battery related. I found the following video on YouTube:
It's sort of dark and I found it hard to see everything he talks about, but I wasn't all that interested. Give it a try. Or search for other videos or do a search on this forum for E350 battery replacement.
It's sort of dark and I found it hard to see everything he talks about, but I wasn't all that interested. Give it a try. Or search for other videos or do a search on this forum for E350 battery replacement.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
Here is a video of a battery change in a S550, not a E350, and there is a part 1 and part 2 to this video. But the part two that is attached has some helpful hints on changing a battery that will relate to Your changing the battery in your E350.
He mentions an adapter that can be plugged into the OBDII port that will keep power going to the computers while you remove and replace the battery. But to use that adapter you need to have another battery to hook it up to for it to work.
He mentions an adapter that can be plugged into the OBDII port that will keep power going to the computers while you remove and replace the battery. But to use that adapter you need to have another battery to hook it up to for it to work.
