Radio Acting Strangely
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
Radio Acting Strangely
My wife has a 2016 E350 we bought new. For the last month or so, most of the time when you start the car, you also must manually turn on the radio. Not every time but most. This hasn't been this way since new and if radio was on when you turned the ignition off, it was on when you started again. Any ideas why this would be?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 488
From: Spain UTC/GMT +2 hours
W213 All-terrain
A new good quality ( AGM ) battery is always welcomed, not to mention that once you disconnect old battery a Hard Reset will happen on the Radio.
Also, you can keep pressed the On button on the Radio till a strange noise will occur, meaning the Radio was reseted at a Hardware level.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 6,776
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
consumer load shading
My wife has a 2016 E350 we bought new. For the last month or so, most of the time when you start the car, you also must manually turn on the radio. Not every time but most. This hasn't been this way since new and if radio was on when you turned the ignition off, it was on when you started again. Any ideas why this would be?
As you hinted your battery being original is likely causing that. At this point it would be money well spent (In US, Costco has a nice AGM near $200 Ea.)
You can charge up the battery with CTEK smart charger to see if this helps.... these cars tend to drain unused batteries faster than expected.
Don't rely on the car alternator to charge drained batteries.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
don't forget the aux battery, which is under the trunk area floor near the spare on my 2016 E350 wagon. While the starter engages, the aux battery runs the electronics, and at this point, its 8-9 years old if its not already been replaced. I usually figure those sorts of AGM batteries have a 5 year life if they aren't abused.
btw, there *is* a yuasa motorcycle battery that should fit, but its missing the vent hose connection, which the Mercedes battery has. AGM/VRLA batteries normally don't vent, but they can if they are overcharged or otherwise abused, hence Mercedes specified a vent hose so any acid vapors from an extraordinary venting event would be directed outside the car.
btw, there *is* a yuasa motorcycle battery that should fit, but its missing the vent hose connection, which the Mercedes battery has. AGM/VRLA batteries normally don't vent, but they can if they are overcharged or otherwise abused, hence Mercedes specified a vent hose so any acid vapors from an extraordinary venting event would be directed outside the car.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
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
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
I drove the car myself for a couple of days. When you drive it regularly, the radio would not be on in the morning at first start but would seem to charge and be on at ignition the rest of the day. My assumption is the auxiliary battery in the trunk needs replaced. It is the original and over eight years old. It is $351 installed after checking several sources. I am also replacing the main battery at Costco for $169.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
I drove the car myself for a couple of days. When you drive it regularly, the radio would not be on in the morning at first start but would seem to charge and be on at ignition the rest of the day. My assumption is the auxiliary battery in the trunk needs replaced. It is the original and over eight years old. It is $351 installed after checking several sources. I am also replacing the main battery at Costco for $169.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 488
From: Spain UTC/GMT +2 hours
W213 All-terrain
I drove the car myself for a couple of days. When you drive it regularly, the radio would not be on in the morning at first start but would seem to charge and be on at ignition the rest of the day. My assumption is the auxiliary battery in the trunk needs replaced. It is the original and over eight years old. It is $351 installed after checking several sources. I am also replacing the main battery at Costco for $169.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 1,346
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
I had that not too long ago in my E (Harmon Kardon). Every time, turn on radio....it was not the battery. Some time later (few weeks) is when the pass rear speaker started to smoke and buzz as I was driving down the road......it is a thing. With luck, not your thing....
Of course the battery was my first go to. It (for me) did not resolve the issue. A new AMP (after the OE one fried) fixed the issues (well, but for the blown speakers in the rear door).
Of course the battery was my first go to. It (for me) did not resolve the issue. A new AMP (after the OE one fried) fixed the issues (well, but for the blown speakers in the rear door).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
the Varta does not have the vent hose attachment that the OE battery has. Now under /normal/ conditions, AGM/VRLA batteries won't leak or vent, however if something goes sideways and they get overcharged, they can vent... the hose is to take those highly corrosive vapors out of the interior
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,694
Likes: 1,829
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
This is EXACTLY the problem. Low main battery charge. My car does the same thing, but returns to normal (radio on at ignition) after I charge the battery
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
Just for information, both the regular battery and the auxiliary battery have now been replaced. One would, I think, be amazed at some of the prices quoted to replace either battery. It did not in fact completely fix the problem. Sometimes the radio comes on with the ignition and sometimes you must push the button. Good news, batteries lasted for eight years and are now brand new again!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,694
Likes: 1,829
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Just for information, both the regular battery and the auxiliary battery have now been replaced. One would, I think, be amazed at some of the prices quoted to replace either battery. It did not in fact completely fix the problem. Sometimes the radio comes on with the ignition and sometimes you must push the button. Good news, batteries lasted for eight years and are now brand new again!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 342
Likes: 83
From: SOUTHWEST OHIO
2016 E350 2015 ML250 2002 Z06 CORVETTE
I am aware and that in fact is what the problem was and now still is. Radio on when ignition turned off and off when ignition turned on.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 1,346
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Just for information, both the regular battery and the auxiliary battery have now been replaced. One would, I think, be amazed at some of the prices quoted to replace either battery. It did not in fact completely fix the problem. Sometimes the radio comes on with the ignition and sometimes you must push the button. Good news, batteries lasted for eight years and are now brand new again!
Man - I hope I am wrong...that was happening in my E63 right before the amp fried (and smoked some speakers).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I had a 2004 Tahoe with this and the memory was set with the key FOB, i.e. each driver had this memorized in the key so all settings moved according to the key that was used to unlock the car.
The 2017 Durango that I have has radio memorized with the button in the door that the seat position is saved to...
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 6,776
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Local footwell GND ?
CAN-B faults ?
The unit operate from a 20Amp fuse, so we can expect GND current
in the 15A range
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
2016 E350 4Matic Sport Pkg
this started happening with my e 350 when the stater battery started to go bad also you have a aux battery in the trunk that should be tested that helps keep accessories power stable so what i suggest is have both batteries tested you may have to replace them i will be testing and replacing my batteries not holding up to cold weather
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,923
Likes: 6,776
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
this started happening with my e 350 when the stater battery started to go bad also you have a aux battery in the trunk that should be tested that helps keep accessories power stable so what i suggest is have both batteries tested you may have to replace them i will be testing and replacing my batteries not holding up to cold weather
Use a float charger or so a called "battery tender" to preserve your batteries.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
2016 E350 4Matic Sport Pkg
are you guys aware that when you replace battery with new battery you have to go into the battery control module with a pro scan tool and register the new battery the module actually controls how much the alternator charges the battery it has to be told that there is a new battery and it resets or else you might have issues with stuff not working right and maybe fault lights coming on
