Red battery symbol?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
Mercedes GL550
Can’t remove seat to get to dead battery. PLEASE HELP
Hi everyone,
im getting a red battery symbol on my 2013 GL550 and while driving it will even turn the power off to my radio. I believe it says “command center turning off”
Do you guys think it’s the battery or alternator?
I believe the battery is still the stock one so it’s never been replaced.
*Just found out the passenger seat motor is faulty. Only one side moves forward and backward so I can’t access the 2 bolts in the back to remove the seat with a socket. I can get a 10mm wrench in there but no way I can loosen with the seat track in the way.
Is there a way to physically slide the seat forward?
Really need help with this one.
thanks in advance
im getting a red battery symbol on my 2013 GL550 and while driving it will even turn the power off to my radio. I believe it says “command center turning off”
Do you guys think it’s the battery or alternator?
I believe the battery is still the stock one so it’s never been replaced.
*Just found out the passenger seat motor is faulty. Only one side moves forward and backward so I can’t access the 2 bolts in the back to remove the seat with a socket. I can get a 10mm wrench in there but no way I can loosen with the seat track in the way.
Is there a way to physically slide the seat forward?
Really need help with this one.
thanks in advance
Last edited by Gerald480; Feb 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,531
Likes: 6,354
Hi everyone,
im getting a red battery symbol on my 2013 GL550 and while driving it will even turn the power off to my radio. I believe it says “command center turning off”
Do you guys think it’s the battery or alternator?
I believe the battery is still the stock one so it’s never been replaced.
thanks in advance
im getting a red battery symbol on my 2013 GL550 and while driving it will even turn the power off to my radio. I believe it says “command center turning off”
Do you guys think it’s the battery or alternator?
I believe the battery is still the stock one so it’s never been replaced.
thanks in advance
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
Mercedes GL550
Here’s the fun part which I’ll add to my op.
The seat won’t move up all the way for me to access the battery because one side is faulty. When I move the seat forward, only one side moves so it goes on an angle. I tried accessing the bolts with a wrench but can’t grab the bolt without hitting the track which eliminates me to loosen them.
I don’t know what to do here. I thought about ordering a motor and replacing but I was told the seat has to be removed in order to do that.
Is there a way to physically slide the seat forward?
Do you have any suggestions?
Last edited by Gerald480; Feb 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,531
Likes: 6,354
Here’s the fun part which I’ll add to my op.
The seat won’t move up all the way for me to access the battery because one side is faulty. When I move the seat forward, only one side moves so it goes on an angle. I tried accessing the bolts with a wrench but can’t grab the bolt without hitting the track which eliminates me to loosen them.
I don’t know what to do here. I thought about ordering a motor and replacing but I was told the seat has to be removed in order to do that.
Is there a way to physically slide the seat forward?
Do you have any suggestions?
The seat won’t move up all the way for me to access the battery because one side is faulty. When I move the seat forward, only one side moves so it goes on an angle. I tried accessing the bolts with a wrench but can’t grab the bolt without hitting the track which eliminates me to loosen them.
I don’t know what to do here. I thought about ordering a motor and replacing but I was told the seat has to be removed in order to do that.
Is there a way to physically slide the seat forward?
Do you have any suggestions?
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 127
Likes: 47
From: Toronto
2013 Mercedes GL350 Bluetec (X166) & 2019 Mercedes A220 (W177) & Retired 2008 Mercedes C300 (W204)
See attached the instructions to remove the front seat cushion. I recall having to do this on my C300 a few years ago.
The seat cushion comes out fairly easily once you unscrew the brackets at the front. Once the seat cushion is out you can see the motor for the seat adjustment and in my case the rod broke and I was able to manually turn the rod for the side that was stuck to move it forward and back. I replaced the rod, made it with stock square steel rod and was back in working order. If you mentioned that 1 side is working, then the motor may not be the issue. Once you have the seat cushion out you may be able to see the reason for only 1 side working.
Good luck.
The seat cushion comes out fairly easily once you unscrew the brackets at the front. Once the seat cushion is out you can see the motor for the seat adjustment and in my case the rod broke and I was able to manually turn the rod for the side that was stuck to move it forward and back. I replaced the rod, made it with stock square steel rod and was back in working order. If you mentioned that 1 side is working, then the motor may not be the issue. Once you have the seat cushion out you may be able to see the reason for only 1 side working.
Good luck.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 355
From: USA - Minnesota
2014 GL350
I would not only replace both batteries due to age, but by starting with the aux you may fix some of the odd electrical behaviors you are experiencing. Failures of the radio and seat motors simultaneously would certainly check the “odd” box.
Last edited by cadetdrivr; Feb 12, 2025 at 06:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
Mercedes GL550
Truly appreciate all the help guys!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
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MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
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Truly appreciate all the help guys!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Truly appreciate all the help guys!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
I think it might be the alternator so I’m getting it towed tomorrow to the mechanic. Hopefully it’s just that for now, but I’ll have him look at the both batteries to see if they need changing too.
I’ll keep you guys posted.
thanks again!
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 13
From: SE Pennsylvania
07 C280 4matic, 2014 GL450, 91 VW Vanagon
To get your battery out. Use jumper cables to bring up voltage so that the seat motors will work stop to stop. Then make sure the seat if operated to the full forward position, then make sure to raise it to the highest position. You will then have enough room to remove the battery. If not forward to the stop and up to the stop, battery won't come out and there will be a lot of furstration and swearing. For me the key was using jumper cables to raise the voltage so the motors would work correctly.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
Mercedes GL550
To get your battery out. Use jumper cables to bring up voltage so that the seat motors will work stop to stop. Then make sure the seat if operated to the full forward position, then make sure to raise it to the highest position. You will then have enough room to remove the battery. If not forward to the stop and up to the stop, battery won't come out and there will be a lot of furstration and swearing. For me the key was using jumper cables to raise the voltage so the motors would work correctly.
MBWorld God!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: USA - Minnesota
2014 GL350
You should still go ahead and replace both batteries IF they are original. 12 years was a great run and they are beyond their expected lifetime. A bad AUX battery will give you endless grief so it’s reasonable to stay ahead of it. A bad main battery will simply manifest as needing a jump start.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 70
Likes: 6
Mercedes GL550
Excellent!
You should still go ahead and replace both batteries IF they are original. 12 years was a great run and they are beyond their expected lifetime. A bad AUX battery will give you endless grief so it’s reasonable to stay ahead of it. A bad main battery will simply manifest as needing a jump start.
You should still go ahead and replace both batteries IF they are original. 12 years was a great run and they are beyond their expected lifetime. A bad AUX battery will give you endless grief so it’s reasonable to stay ahead of it. A bad main battery will simply manifest as needing a jump start.
I think I’ll just wait it out. Thanks for your help
