Engine not starting - for a while
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 79
Likes: 8
From: Erie, CO
2016 GL550
Engine not starting - for a while
I had a very strange experience yesterday: After some highway driving, I took the off-ramp and at the stop light, the engine (M278) just stalled. I was unable to restart it. The starter woudn't even turn on, instead the dash became dark, every time I tried it. It felt like either the engine or starter was seized or the battery almost empty.
After the police pushed me out of the way and the tow druck finally arrived, I could start the engine normally again......
At home, I tried to read the ECU error codes, but there were none stored in the system.
So, now I'm puzzled about what actually happened and waht might have caused this.
In particular I don't want to be stuck again.
Any ideas could be really helpful!!!
My current thinking is that maybe the gas I filled up about 15 min before might have been bad (contamination, water, dirt,...) or maybe some sensor was detecting something incorrectly which might have been corrected by pushing the car a bit.
Anything else that could be sensitive to heat (and is not triggered after the eninge cooled down a little).
After the police pushed me out of the way and the tow druck finally arrived, I could start the engine normally again......
At home, I tried to read the ECU error codes, but there were none stored in the system.
So, now I'm puzzled about what actually happened and waht might have caused this.
In particular I don't want to be stuck again.
Any ideas could be really helpful!!!
My current thinking is that maybe the gas I filled up about 15 min before might have been bad (contamination, water, dirt,...) or maybe some sensor was detecting something incorrectly which might have been corrected by pushing the car a bit.
Anything else that could be sensitive to heat (and is not triggered after the eninge cooled down a little).
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 355
From: USA - Minnesota
2014 GL350
Many, many, "weird" issues on this truck can be caused by a worn battery, and especially the aux battery that many folks don't realize is back there.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 79
Likes: 8
From: Erie, CO
2016 GL550
Start with inspecting the condition and age of the batteries---BOTH of them. There is the main battery under the front passenger seat and also an auxiliary battery in the right rear of the cargo compartment.
Many, many, "weird" issues on this truck can be caused by a worn battery, and especially the aux battery that many folks don't realize is back there.
Many, many, "weird" issues on this truck can be caused by a worn battery, and especially the aux battery that many folks don't realize is back there.
I actually replaced the main battery under the seat earlier this year, but not yet the aux battery.
Last edited by steh-fan; Sep 25, 2022 at 05:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 79
Likes: 8
From: Erie, CO
2016 GL550
When I read the fault codes, it didn't indicate any shorts (but of course there still could be some).
I replaced the aux battery and whether it helped or not, I have not had any issues again so far.
Hopefully it stays that way.....
