Strange locking problem
Thread Starter
Super Member


Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
First, this happened to our GLK, but since the locking systems are the same, and because I think there are more tech-savvy members here, I will post in (only) this forum.
Car is a 2015 GLK, with Keyless Go.
Wife keeps the key fob in her purse.
We are in the parking lot, 30 minutes from home, picking up a rental car for a group trip.
She unlocks the GLK, then opens the rear door. She places her purse, with the key fob inside, onto the back seat.
She then closes the back door.
Next she grasps the driver's door handle to open the left front door.
At this moment, the car LOCKS, with the purse, cell phone and key fob inside!
I thought this was never supposed to be allowed by the system interlocks. I had to drive home and get the spare key. Once I walked near the car with key #2, I was able to simply grasp the driver's door handle to unlock the car.
I then tried to replicate the issue, leaving her purse with the key inside the car and attempting to lock the car via the driver's door handle. It would not lock.
Should I rename the car "Christine?" Is this a known issue with keyless entry on MB cars? The car is at the dealer for routine service, and I mentioned this to the SA. I wonder what they will find. . .
Car is a 2015 GLK, with Keyless Go.
Wife keeps the key fob in her purse.
We are in the parking lot, 30 minutes from home, picking up a rental car for a group trip.
She unlocks the GLK, then opens the rear door. She places her purse, with the key fob inside, onto the back seat.
She then closes the back door.
Next she grasps the driver's door handle to open the left front door.
At this moment, the car LOCKS, with the purse, cell phone and key fob inside!
I thought this was never supposed to be allowed by the system interlocks. I had to drive home and get the spare key. Once I walked near the car with key #2, I was able to simply grasp the driver's door handle to unlock the car.
I then tried to replicate the issue, leaving her purse with the key inside the car and attempting to lock the car via the driver's door handle. It would not lock.
Should I rename the car "Christine?" Is this a known issue with keyless entry on MB cars? The car is at the dealer for routine service, and I mentioned this to the SA. I wonder what they will find. . .
I have a 2012 E350 with Keyless Go, and have tried locking the key fob in the car - anywhere in the car or trunk. The car simply refuses to lock.
When I wash my car, I leave the key fob in the car else it will lock every time I get close to any door on the car, plus I don't want a wet key fob!
Sometimes my wife can unlock the door on her side when I am on the driver side with the key in my pocket, but most of the time not. I have to open, or walk around to her side.
When you tried to replicate the issue, did you use the same purse, and did you put it in exactly the same place? The only thing that I can think of is that the moment she got to the door handle, something in the purse or the car blocked the signal between the key fob and the receiver.
My car is always garaged, but since it is a tight in between all my stuff, I have also found that when I have the key in my pocket and just brush past any door it will lock as well. Another observation is that it locks a lot easier than unlocking. Is it possible that you and your wife open and close the doors different?
Let us know if the dealer finds anything!
When I wash my car, I leave the key fob in the car else it will lock every time I get close to any door on the car, plus I don't want a wet key fob!
Sometimes my wife can unlock the door on her side when I am on the driver side with the key in my pocket, but most of the time not. I have to open, or walk around to her side.
When you tried to replicate the issue, did you use the same purse, and did you put it in exactly the same place? The only thing that I can think of is that the moment she got to the door handle, something in the purse or the car blocked the signal between the key fob and the receiver.
My car is always garaged, but since it is a tight in between all my stuff, I have also found that when I have the key in my pocket and just brush past any door it will lock as well. Another observation is that it locks a lot easier than unlocking. Is it possible that you and your wife open and close the doors different?
Let us know if the dealer finds anything!
Thread Starter
Super Member


Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
I don't think it was related to the exact position of the purse. When I tried to reproduce the issue, we had not yet even touched the purse in the car. It remained where she left it. I just unlocked the car with key #2, then tried to lock it again without moving the purse. It would not lock.
Does this have a button to close tailgate and one to close tailgate and lock???
Maybe she hit the lock one... and once tail gate closed and door shut it locked them...??
Maybe she hit the lock one... and once tail gate closed and door shut it locked them...??
Thread Starter
Super Member


Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
It spent a couple of days at a trusted dealer, and the problem did not re-occur. Can't fix what won't act up, so we wait.
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Thread Starter
Super Member


Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 725
Likes: 189
From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
They found that the remote battery was "a little bit weak" - but I know I had changed it with a name-brand battery only a couple of months prior to all this, so I'm not sure that it had any connection to the problem. If that was the case, since she has been driving the car and opening it the same way for four years (and probably 10-12 remote batteries), I would expect it to have happened before - especially when she is driving with the IC warning that the remote battery is low.





