Auxillary battery?
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Auxillary battery?
This is a new one as far as I know......had a battery symbol show up on the multi-function-display when I started the GL. Stayed there until I shut down and restarted......did this two days in a row. Checked the manual and it says "possible problem with the charging system" So I deliver it to my mechanic at the dealership who tells me that if the symbol had been red ( it was white ) then there indeed was a charging issue BUT white most likely is an issue with the "auxillary battery" that provides emergency power for the electronic shifting control. Point is I did not know that such a battery exists! They are replacing mine and then must let it sit and do a cold start to see if that has cured the problem.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Ottawa, Canada
2008 GL320CDI
My 320 has the same problem, and is going in Thursday to have the aux battery replaced.
It began a few weeks ago on a cold morning (-25), then went out after the second or third start of the day. I attributed it to the battery accepting a charge at a rate outside the range of 'acceptable' for the monitoring system due to the cold, thus triggering a fault. I was wrong.
As time went on, it gradually got worse and worse, and came on during warmer and warmer temps, until now it's there all the time.
It began a few weeks ago on a cold morning (-25), then went out after the second or third start of the day. I attributed it to the battery accepting a charge at a rate outside the range of 'acceptable' for the monitoring system due to the cold, thus triggering a fault. I was wrong.
As time went on, it gradually got worse and worse, and came on during warmer and warmer temps, until now it's there all the time.
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From: Minnesota
2015 Ram 2500, former 2013 GL350, 2007 GL450
Interesting, I had the battery warning message come on twice when my GL sat outside on very bitterly cold days (minus 30-40F). It hasn't been on since, but I will watch for it. Mine was in red on the display.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 118
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From: Ottawa, Canada
2008 GL320CDI
Same here. But you have to wonder why a battery would 'fail' in this day and age.
In the same visit, I had them check the rear door, which won't lock properly unless another door is open in the car. Weird. They said it showed a low voltage fault and had a previous software version, so they upgraded the software and said I'd be fine. If failed again the first time I used it
In the same visit, I had them check the rear door, which won't lock properly unless another door is open in the car. Weird. They said it showed a low voltage fault and had a previous software version, so they upgraded the software and said I'd be fine. If failed again the first time I used it
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
Same here. But you have to wonder why a battery would 'fail' in this day and age.
In the same visit, I had them check the rear door, which won't lock properly unless another door is open in the car. Weird. They said it showed a low voltage fault and had a previous software version, so they upgraded the software and said I'd be fine. If failed again the first time I used it
In the same visit, I had them check the rear door, which won't lock properly unless another door is open in the car. Weird. They said it showed a low voltage fault and had a previous software version, so they upgraded the software and said I'd be fine. If failed again the first time I used it
If rear hatch (door) is closed using the remote vs the button on the door, AND if another door on the car is not opened/closed manually after that, THEN the SAM unit may draw down the battery to too low a voltage. Sounds weird, but that is what they said. My comment was that they must be using Microsoft to program their computers!
Last edited by Fourdiesel; Feb 14, 2009 at 06:31 PM. Reason: spelling
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So I spoke to one of my friends who is a tech at an MB dealership and he said that this "white see picture" battery image on the display, not be confused with the "red" warning, is letting you know that the auxiliary battery is low on juice and that if it is a working unit to drive the car and it will charge the battery. Of course if the battery is defunct then it would have to be replaced. Chuck said that it is the size of a flashlight battery and its function is to allow the driver to put the car in park even if the main battery is dead. Cold weather has been blamed as the culprit here. Hope this helps.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,425
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From: Minnesota
2015 Ram 2500, former 2013 GL350, 2007 GL450
So I spoke to one of my friends who is a tech at an MB dealership and he said that this "white see picture" battery image on the display, not be confused with the "red" warning, is letting you know that the auxiliary battery is low on juice and that if it is a working unit to drive the car and it will charge the battery. Of course if the battery is defunct then it would have to be replaced. Chuck said that it is the size of a flashlight battery and its function is to allow the driver to put the car in park even if the main battery is dead. Cold weather has been blamed as the culprit here. Hope this helps.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Milwaukee,WI
2008 GL320 CDI
Interesting how there has been a run of the same problem. I had the same white battery message 2 weeks ago. Drove it for a week and no change. Finally brought it into dealer who changed out battery. Hope this does not happen every winter.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
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From: New Jersey, USA
2007 GL450, 2006 Porsche 911, 2004 VROD
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
On my '08 320CDI the aux battery IS under the R front seat, in the same battery well as the main battery. It is just to the right of the main battery in the photo. see post 24 -- https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/344697-2010-gl450-battery-issues.html
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Small batteries simply don't last like normal car-sized batteries and the Mercedes aux battery is a small one.
My approach with my motorcycles is if I'm not on the road riding, a battery tender is attached.
