automatic stop/start not working
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
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E250 Diesel
automatic stop/start not working
My automatic stop/start decided to stop working. I tried to turn the eco button on/off. but nothing works. (10 minute drive or 1 hour drive - don't seem to make a difference). Is there something in the setting that I'm missing?
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Discussed a million times here. ECO Stop/Start is among the first features to be dropped as priority when your main battery is low on charge. Recharge your battery and it should come back. And do a search for other threads on this topic.
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I thought it was a dying aux battery that did that. Check that also and charge it up although many end up getting replaced as they go bad faster than the main battery.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
In my experience, nope. My dealer replaced my main battery under warranty, and ECO Stop/Start returned instantly. I even asked the service tech which battery, and he said the main battery.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I love the feature since we spend quite some time at red lights.
System has about 6 parameters that need to be meet for it to work.
When battery low charge is mostly the case, your guess is as good as mine. Hook up the scanner.
System has about 6 parameters that need to be meet for it to work.
When battery low charge is mostly the case, your guess is as good as mine. Hook up the scanner.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 343
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E250 Diesel
You people are super helpful. I’ll check the battery.
BTW. I Like this feature on my car cuz I don’t have to listen to the diesel clatter when stopped. On a gasoline car, I can imagine it being annoying...
BTW. I Like this feature on my car cuz I don’t have to listen to the diesel clatter when stopped. On a gasoline car, I can imagine it being annoying...
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Joined: May 2020
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C400
I called the parts department at my local Benz dealership and they said the $290 aux battery (voltage converter) was the culprit for my auto start/stop not working. I bought the part and it didn’t solve the issue
I went to my local PartSource and they tested my battery for free and out of 800 CCA I was getting 468 CCA, voltage was around 12.6 V. Clearly the battery was not the strongest although I’ve never had problems with cold starts.
I changed the battery to the Interstate 760 CCA H6 AGM (48 series). It was a little smaller than the stock battery which had me worried, but worked perfectly. Auto start/stop was working within minutes.
I went to my local PartSource and they tested my battery for free and out of 800 CCA I was getting 468 CCA, voltage was around 12.6 V. Clearly the battery was not the strongest although I’ve never had problems with cold starts.
I changed the battery to the Interstate 760 CCA H6 AGM (48 series). It was a little smaller than the stock battery which had me worried, but worked perfectly. Auto start/stop was working within minutes.
Last edited by JamalD; Jul 6, 2022 at 02:49 AM.
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C300 Sport
Battery
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Previous models without ECO have small battery in dash for emergency gear shifting.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
See post 11 (below) for confirmation of this. It appears that dealers misunderstand AUX battery function as much as we owners.
I called the parts department at my local Benz dealership and they said the $290 aux battery (voltage converter) was the culprit for my auto start/stop not working. I bought the part and it didn’t solve the issue
I went to my local PartSource and they tested my battery for free and out of 800 CCA I was getting 468 CCA, voltage was around 12.6 V. Clearly the battery was not the strongest although I’ve never had problems with cold starts.
I changed the (MAIN) battery to the Interstate 760 CCA H6 AGM (48 series). It was a little smaller than the stock battery which had me worried, but worked perfectly. Auto start/stop was working within minutes.
I went to my local PartSource and they tested my battery for free and out of 800 CCA I was getting 468 CCA, voltage was around 12.6 V. Clearly the battery was not the strongest although I’ve never had problems with cold starts.
I changed the (MAIN) battery to the Interstate 760 CCA H6 AGM (48 series). It was a little smaller than the stock battery which had me worried, but worked perfectly. Auto start/stop was working within minutes.
Last edited by DFWdude; Mar 4, 2023 at 04:11 PM.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I have never seen MB publication explaining clearly what aux battery in ECO system does. ECO restart is done by ignition and starter is only directional help.
Forum experience says aux keeps the the voltage for lights, when main battery cranks the engine, so you don't have dimming lights,
One of the batteries also powers electric pump that keeps pressure in ATF system.
Frankly I am not eager to investigate. Why would I?
Point is that like I posted above, there are several parameters that need to be meet for ECO to do the stop.
Both batteries are on the list.
Forum experience says aux keeps the the voltage for lights, when main battery cranks the engine, so you don't have dimming lights,
One of the batteries also powers electric pump that keeps pressure in ATF system.
Frankly I am not eager to investigate. Why would I?
Point is that like I posted above, there are several parameters that need to be meet for ECO to do the stop.
Both batteries are on the list.
Last edited by kajtek1; Mar 4, 2023 at 05:08 PM.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
the aux battery also powers the electronics when the engine is starting. starter motors can drag the system voltage down to like 9 or 10 volts, and stereos, computers don't like that at all, so they are switched over to the aux battery when the main battery is running the starter motor. older cars would just shut the stereo and lights and stuff off when you cranked the motor, but that would be ugly with the COMAND system, having it have to boot back up, relink to your media, figure out what it was doing and resume, meanwhile reload the navigation, etc etc.
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
any decent brand AGM battery with adequate CCA (I think its 760 CCA) and size H6 for gas cars or H8 for diesel . I like Deka/East Penn's Intimidator AGM batteries, 9A48.
Last edited by Left Coast Geek; Mar 4, 2023 at 08:52 PM.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Mostly they put Varta batteries, who can be manufactured in several countries.
If you are in US, I found Costco the best for the batteries.
Just few months ago bought H8 battery for my GLE, what is common battery from E class to Sprinters.
Took my Solar tester with me.
The 1000 CA rated battery delivered 1600 CA, so it is very good start.
Costco also offers no-hassle warranty.
I tend to abuse it from time to time. When I see my replacement warranty is about to expire, I test my battery and when it it on the edge of parameters, I take it back to Costco for full refund. Nobody ever tested if the battery is really bad.
Last edited by kajtek1; Mar 5, 2023 at 02:41 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2023
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C300 Sport
MB doesn't manufacture batteries.....
Mostly they put Varta batteries, who can be manufactured in several countries.
If you are in US, I found Costco the best for the batteries.
Just few months ago bought H8 battery for my GLE, what is common battery from E class to Sprinters.
Took my Solar tester with me.
The 1000 CA rated battery delivered 1600 CA, so it is very good start.
Costco also offers no-hassle warranty.
I tend to abuse it from time to time. When I see my replacement warranty is about to expire, I test my battery and when it it on the edge of parameters, I take it back to Costco for full refund. Nobody ever tested if the battery is really bad.
Mostly they put Varta batteries, who can be manufactured in several countries.
If you are in US, I found Costco the best for the batteries.
Just few months ago bought H8 battery for my GLE, what is common battery from E class to Sprinters.
Took my Solar tester with me.
The 1000 CA rated battery delivered 1600 CA, so it is very good start.
Costco also offers no-hassle warranty.
I tend to abuse it from time to time. When I see my replacement warranty is about to expire, I test my battery and when it it on the edge of parameters, I take it back to Costco for full refund. Nobody ever tested if the battery is really bad.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I don't think outside temp affect ECO, but my car clearly waits till engine reaches 60C before it will start working.
Than cabin comfort is a factor here, so maybe computer keeps the engine running till your cabin gets warm?
If you don't have scanner to read the values, you might try to set your cabin thermostat to low and see is ECO will start working.
Than cabin comfort is a factor here, so maybe computer keeps the engine running till your cabin gets warm?
If you don't have scanner to read the values, you might try to set your cabin thermostat to low and see is ECO will start working.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2023
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C300 Sport
I don't think outside temp affect ECO, but my car clearly waits till engine reaches 60C before it will start working.
Than cabin comfort is a factor here, so maybe computer keeps the engine running till your cabin gets warm?
If you don't have scanner to read the values, you might try to set your cabin thermostat to low and see is ECO will start working.
Than cabin comfort is a factor here, so maybe computer keeps the engine running till your cabin gets warm?
If you don't have scanner to read the values, you might try to set your cabin thermostat to low and see is ECO will start working.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
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From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
yeah, eco also won't shut off the engine if the cabin is hot and the AC is working to bring it down. once the cabin is near the set temperature, then eco can do its thing.
