my vehicle is dead
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 216
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From: Texas
'08 GL 320CDI
my vehicle is dead
Well, my first problem and I have yet to reach 1,000 miles on my vehicle. The truck is dead as a door nail. First thought is the battery has been drained. I haven't driven it for a few days. I can't see where I left a light on or a door was left ajar. Very frustrating and disheartening 
. Anyone else had this happen? My local roadside assistance tech did not have a new battery on his truck and he said if he jumps it, I would need to leave the vehicle running for a good 45 minutes (easier said than done). Anyway, I decided to wait until Monday morning (I'll be busy with football tomorrow) when he'll bring a new battery out. He even started talking about towing it, depending on the problem, which I hate to do. Aside from the obvious thought that it's the battery, and other ideas out there? Thanks.
. Anyone else had this happen? My local roadside assistance tech did not have a new battery on his truck and he said if he jumps it, I would need to leave the vehicle running for a good 45 minutes (easier said than done). Anyway, I decided to wait until Monday morning (I'll be busy with football tomorrow) when he'll bring a new battery out. He even started talking about towing it, depending on the problem, which I hate to do. Aside from the obvious thought that it's the battery, and other ideas out there? Thanks.
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2004 RX330, 2008 Scion xB, 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid, 2010 Toyot Prius v ATP
STP
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2011 GL350, 2010 S550
Discharged Battery
Hi JDT1,
I just bought a GL450 on Friday and drove it Saturday morning (the car had about 115 miles total), but today (Sunday) around 4PM I went in the garage and heard a beeping comming from inside of the car (like an alarm clock buzzer). Nothing worked on the car and I could not start it (the only sign of life was the continuous beeping and the "MPH" & "x1000" symbols on the instrument cluster were dimmly lit. I called roadside assistance and a guy from the local MB dealer showed up and jumpstart the car.
Now it says "MALFUNCTION" and it displays the car with an arrow pointing up underneath the car. I think is the vehicle rising feature because there is no action and no LED lit when I press that button. This is my third MB IN 4 years and was hoping that they got their act together, but no such luck.
I will take it to the dealer tomorrow and let you know what they said.
Any idea what caused your battery to discharge?
I just bought a GL450 on Friday and drove it Saturday morning (the car had about 115 miles total), but today (Sunday) around 4PM I went in the garage and heard a beeping comming from inside of the car (like an alarm clock buzzer). Nothing worked on the car and I could not start it (the only sign of life was the continuous beeping and the "MPH" & "x1000" symbols on the instrument cluster were dimmly lit. I called roadside assistance and a guy from the local MB dealer showed up and jumpstart the car.
Now it says "MALFUNCTION" and it displays the car with an arrow pointing up underneath the car. I think is the vehicle rising feature because there is no action and no LED lit when I press that button. This is my third MB IN 4 years and was hoping that they got their act together, but no such luck.
I will take it to the dealer tomorrow and let you know what they said.
Any idea what caused your battery to discharge?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Texas
'08 GL 320CDI
Hi JDT1,
I just bought a GL450 on Friday and drove it Saturday morning (the car had about 115 miles total), but today (Sunday) around 4PM I went in the garage and heard a beeping comming from inside of the car (like an alarm clock buzzer). Nothing worked on the car and I could not start it (the only sign of life was the continuous beeping and the "MPH" & "x1000" symbols on the instrument cluster were dimmly lit. I called roadside assistance and a guy from the local MB dealer showed up and jumpstart the car.
Now it says "MALFUNCTION" and it displays the car with an arrow pointing up underneath the car. I think is the vehicle rising feature because there is no action and no LED lit when I press that button. This is my third MB IN 4 years and was hoping that they got their act together, but no such luck.
I will take it to the dealer tomorrow and let you know what they said.
Any idea what caused your battery to discharge?
I just bought a GL450 on Friday and drove it Saturday morning (the car had about 115 miles total), but today (Sunday) around 4PM I went in the garage and heard a beeping comming from inside of the car (like an alarm clock buzzer). Nothing worked on the car and I could not start it (the only sign of life was the continuous beeping and the "MPH" & "x1000" symbols on the instrument cluster were dimmly lit. I called roadside assistance and a guy from the local MB dealer showed up and jumpstart the car.
Now it says "MALFUNCTION" and it displays the car with an arrow pointing up underneath the car. I think is the vehicle rising feature because there is no action and no LED lit when I press that button. This is my third MB IN 4 years and was hoping that they got their act together, but no such luck.
I will take it to the dealer tomorrow and let you know what they said.
Any idea what caused your battery to discharge?
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
only apply a superficial charge. If the battery is deemed salvageable after acid
level, specific gravity and electrical review, the only viable fix is to trickle/slow
charge using a dedicated charger.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
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i found that the truck will not raise/lower if any of the doors are open.
it may be that simple. then again - you might be having a problem...
alex
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 216
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From: Texas
'08 GL 320CDI
Well, my vehicle is back and running. The dealer came out and tried to jump start it. When it wouldn't turn over, he proceeded to install a new battery and voila, started right up. They actually drove it back to the dealership to reset some of the settings and returned it a couple of hours later. I was told that the original battery had a bad cell and a short in it. Overall, it was just a defective battery. I guess problem solved.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 435
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From: FRESNO CA
GL550
Well, my vehicle is back and running. The dealer came out and tried to jump start it. When it wouldn't turn over, he proceeded to install a new battery and voila, started right up. They actually drove it back to the dealership to reset some of the settings and returned it a couple of hours later. I was told that the original battery had a bad cell and a short in it. Overall, it was just a defective battery. I guess problem solved.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 216
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From: Texas
'08 GL 320CDI
It looks great. Actually, there is a color matching plastic cover with thick foam rubber under it that fits over the battery compartment under the front passenger seat. I can't detect that any alteration has been done. My lighter color (Macademia) carpet in the second row footwell, appears to be clean as well.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 435
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From: FRESNO CA
GL550
It looks great. Actually, there is a color matching plastic cover with thick foam rubber under it that fits over the battery compartment under the front passenger seat. I can't detect that any alteration has been done. My lighter color (Macademia) carpet in the second row footwell, appears to be clean as well.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 57
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2011 GL350, 2010 S550
It turns out that one of the Airmatic front control modules went bad and it drained the battery. Also the car was leaning forward due to the malfunction. It should be ready tomorrow I am told. I am bummed since the car has only 135 miles.
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2011 GL350, 2010 S550
Not to mention that my last 05 E500 had transmission problems that started at about 1000 miles (at first it was downshifting when I was accelerating so it would slow down when I was trying to pass - I had a few near misses on the freeway, after several fixes it started to slip and it only got fixed recently with a new valve design).
I wasn't as lucky with the 03 E320 when I rear ended somebody. The car felt like it was accelerating instead of breaking, so I asked the dealer to give me a statement that it was safe to drive. They didn't and shortly after that MB issued large recall for malfunctioning breaks (basically the breaks would not work sometimes) which included mine.
The service manager was a jerk that kept denying there was an issue until the recall happened after which he went into hidding.
After this GL issue I feel like I am dating a ***** that screws me over everythme I give her another chance.
I wasn't as lucky with the 03 E320 when I rear ended somebody. The car felt like it was accelerating instead of breaking, so I asked the dealer to give me a statement that it was safe to drive. They didn't and shortly after that MB issued large recall for malfunctioning breaks (basically the breaks would not work sometimes) which included mine.
The service manager was a jerk that kept denying there was an issue until the recall happened after which he went into hidding.
After this GL issue I feel like I am dating a ***** that screws me over everythme I give her another chance.
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From: North Carolina
BMW 335 Conv.; MB GL 320CDI
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 435
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From: FRESNO CA
GL550
Yes the carpet is to be cut for battery removal. Jump start provision is provided elsewhere, I think under the hood.
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by MoTorque
After this GL issue I feel like I am dating a ***** that screws me over everythme I give her another chance.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
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2008 gl 450
my gl's been dead
I purchased my gl450 2008 in Sept 2007 and it has died on my 5 times and the dealer has not been able to figure out what's wrong with it. The battery dies every time, is able to be jumped, and then drive fine but then a couple of weeks pass and the battery dies again. They've monitored for a drain for 7 days once and they replaced the battery once already. I told them the I would hear the air suspension going on and off but they did not think any thing about that and that was "normal." I've started the process for the car to be a lemon and at this point am going to trying to get a new car. What a disapointment. My father has a 1989 e class that has almost 300,000 and he drives it to work 80 miles every day. I guess they have really changed their standards because this truck really sucks. The first time it died on me was two days after I had it. It only has 2100 miles on it. If any one has any ideas or suggestions as to what else I should do please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a shame, would never have thought this from a company with such a good reputation (I guess they lost that a couple of years ago).
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 57
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2011 GL350, 2010 S550
I purchased my gl450 2008 in Sept 2007 and it has died on my 5 times and the dealer has not been able to figure out what's wrong with it. The battery dies every time, is able to be jumped, and then drive fine but then a couple of weeks pass and the battery dies again. They've monitored for a drain for 7 days once and they replaced the battery once already. I told them the I would hear the air suspension going on and off but they did not think any thing about that and that was "normal." I've started the process for the car to be a lemon and at this point am going to trying to get a new car. What a disapointment. My father has a 1989 e class that has almost 300,000 and he drives it to work 80 miles every day. I guess they have really changed their standards because this truck really sucks. The first time it died on me was two days after I had it. It only has 2100 miles on it. If any one has any ideas or suggestions as to what else I should do please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a shame, would never have thought this from a company with such a good reputation (I guess they lost that a couple of years ago).
Last edited by MoTorque; Dec 19, 2007 at 12:49 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
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2008 gl 450
thanks MoTorque for the info. I'll talk to them about that tomorrow. They've had my car for about a week now, took them 2 days to start working on it, I really need to do something different (or at least they do)
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
I purchased my gl450 2008 in Sept 2007 and it has died on my 5 times and the dealer has not been able to figure out what's wrong with it. The battery dies every time, is able to be jumped, and then drive fine but then a couple of weeks pass and the battery dies again. They've monitored for a drain for 7 days once and they replaced the battery once already. I told them the I would hear the air suspension going on and off but they did not think any thing about that and that was "normal." I've started the process for the car to be a lemon and at this point am going to trying to get a new car. What a disapointment. My father has a 1989 e class that has almost 300,000 and he drives it to work 80 miles every day. I guess they have really changed their standards because this truck really sucks. The first time it died on me was two days after I had it. It only has 2100 miles on it. If any one has any ideas or suggestions as to what else I should do please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a shame, would never have thought this from a company with such a good reputation (I guess they lost that a couple of years ago).
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
2011 GL350, 2010 S550
I owned over 15 cars in the past 11 years and I can say that the only thing left that Mercedes has going for them is styling (int/ext). I wish they contract the rest to somebody like Toyota/ Lexus (I don't care about the Lexus product, but I LOVE their ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING PROCESSES) and get it right.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
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2008 gl 450
Went to the dealer today to get the car. Just like the past 4 times, they once again could not find the problem (I was shocked.) They then said that they probably would not be able to do anything else for me and that I should just have my lawyer get in touch with Mercedes. I got home and then called mercedes and they were no help what so ever. This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! I love the car but a car that I can not drive is worthless.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,548
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by ijustice
Went to the dealer today to get the car. Just like the past 4 times, they once again could not find the problem (I was shocked.) They then said that they probably would not be able to do anything else for me and that I should just have my lawyer get in touch with Mercedes. I got home and then called mercedes and they were no help what so ever. This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! I love the car but a car that I can not drive is worthless.
Become familiar with your state's lemon laws but I do hope it won't come to that and MB will resolve it for you. Looks for posts by AutoSaurus who did get MB to buy his GL back. He has put out some really good information.
All the best.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Went to the dealer today to get the car. Just like the past 4 times, they once again could not find the problem (I was shocked.) They then said that they probably would not be able to do anything else for me and that I should just have my lawyer get in touch with Mercedes. I got home and then called mercedes and they were no help what so ever. This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! I love the car but a car that I can not drive is worthless.
Don't let the service department be the final decision maker for you or the car fix. Good luck...be persistend and patient (not easy but necessary.)
