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2018 GLE350 - Battery dead after being parked for 9 days
Today I went to move my GLE which has been parked in the garage for 9 days and the battery is totally dead. And I mean really dead, it won't even take a charge. Modern cars all have some parasitic drain to power things like the remote entry, keyless go, and the startup CAN BUS, but 9 days? How long should one expect the car to be able to be parked for before the battery is dead?
Your definition of parasitic is some what off, read up on the systems.
I think my description of the standby, parasitic draws in a modern MB was sufficiently accurate for the question at hand. No need to go any more in-depth.
Something is definitely wrong with your car. You should get it checked out to see what’s causing such a bad drain on your battery.
My ‘16 has, for the past two winters, stayed in Ottawa’s long term airport parking in sub zero temps for over a month(6weeks) most recently(‘19december) on a 3 year old battery.
So something is certainly wrong with your system~
Perhaps you “double clicked” your start/stop button when parking, and actually left it on accidentally? Just a thought~
Hope you figure out your situation, at least you’re still under warranty.
Maybe consider buying a trickle charger if you can’t take your car in right away?
Good Luck!
Something is definitely wrong with your car. You should get it checked out to see what’s causing such a bad drain on your battery.
My ‘16 has, for the past two winters, stayed in Ottawa’s long term airport parking in sub zero temps for over a month(6weeks) most recently(‘19december) on a 3 year old battery.
So something is certainly wrong with your system~
Perhaps you “double clicked” your start/stop button when parking, and actually left it on accidentally? Just a thought~
Hope you figure out your situation, at least you’re still under warranty.
Maybe consider buying a trickle charger if you can’t take your car in right away?
Good Luck!
Thanks! Yes, I plan to take it in because that amount of standby time is just not right. I didn't really want to deal with MB Roadside Resistance towing it out of my garage, so instead of using my so-called "smart" charger (which just gave up), I used my old fashioned "manual" (from the '70s!) charger to force a charge on the battery. Things got pretty toasty, but I eventually got the car to start (just barely). Of course, now I may have shot myself in the foot because when I take to MB, they will say the battery is fine, even though it is probably heavily sulfated and therefore damaged which means I will be replacing it prematurely. Hopefully, they will at least find the reason for the discharge in the first place. Oy.
My '19 GLE is almost 2 years old (it is not when one buys it, but rather when it was produced). '18 GLE is minimally 2 years old (assuming late MY production) and as much as almost 3 years old (assuming early MY production).
My '19 GLE is almost 2 years old (it is not when one buys it, but rather when it was produced). '18 GLE is minimally 2 years old (assuming late MY production) and as much as almost 3 years old (assuming early MY production).
Sorry, that should have been 19 months old. It was remaining stock at the dealer, so I bought it very late in the year. I should check in the production date which, of course, will be earlier, making it actually "older".
Just got back from the dealer. The battery shorted internally causing it to self-discharge. I find it odd that a relatively new battery would do that though. Replaced under warranty.
My 2016 GLE350 4Matic was parked and locked for 4 days. Came back, battery completely dead. Had to pay $300 for a mobile battery replacement. Dealer kept vehicle over night to check for voltage drain but found none. Absolutely bizarre
I don't know if this is true on the newer models but on my old Benz it was the security alarm siren (I spent months tracing each circuits). Something to look into.
Today I went to move my GLE which has been parked in the garage for 9 days and the battery is totally dead. And I mean really dead, it won't even take a charge. Modern cars all have some parasitic drain to power things like the remote entry, keyless go, and the startup CAN BUS, but 9 days? How long should one expect the car to be able to be parked for before the battery is dead?
-Nothing is wrong with your vehicle. It’s another one of Mercedes defects that they won’t Recall or admit to. I left my 2016 GLE 4Matic parked and locked in the garage for 4 days. Came back and the battery was completely flat - dead 💀. Had to have Mb roadside come and replace it. Took to the dealer and kept the car overnight , hooked up to their system and absolutely nothing wrong - no voltage drain of any kind. Now, we left my wife’s GLC300 parked and locked in the garage for 7 days, my wife started it and drove away and got a message on her dash Battery Warning , Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running. Coincidence!? I think not.
We checked and made sure nothing was on in the cabin before we left. I suggest you write a letter to Mercedes HQ in Atlanta and tell them about your experience. I will do the same.
-Engine Oil Leak - MB won’t admit to it as a defect but will quietly Fix it under warranty
- AC mildew build up and smell - MB won’t admit to it as a defect but will clean it for you for free. Also there a class action settlement against MB but they still won’t admit to it. Tons of people with the same problem. Coincidence!? I think not
I think the batteries they are putting on these vehicles are absolute crap. I parked my vehicle for a week and it was dead. Really, just a three year old vehicle.
I could do 6 good weeks with a 1998 C200 and first battery change was done in 2010.
I think the batteries they are putting on these vehicles are absolute crap. I parked my vehicle for a week and it was dead. Really, just a three year old vehicle.
I could do 6 good weeks with a 1998 C200 and first battery change was done in 2010.
- agree. We have two Mercedes SUVs and the same battery problem. Ironically it’s never happened,ever, with any other brand vehicles. I mean the battery was as flat as Miley Cyrus on the VMAs. Super disappointed ☹️
Good info: I read every message and watched every video
2019 E-450 Wagon being used occasionally, second owner and found out a new AGM battery was installed a year ago or so.
Not a MB battery?
Leaving the wagon in the garage it will drain about 0.1 Volt per day giving me warning messages on the MB App.
In 10 days it may go from 12.6 volts to 11.6 volts..
Bought this little trickle charger recently, with an AGM setting, works great, highly recommended:
After reading this thread I will always double click the FOB when parked in the garage.
I had both FOB keys in a kitchen drawer about 23 feet away from the Wagon, and usually in a faraday cage kind of pocket, but the drawer is being pulled all day.
(Not anymore)
Yes, I understand the FOB movement will only affect the FOB battery life, not the car's battery life.
After reading this thread I will always double click the FOB when parked in the garage.
If you click the "lock" button on the FOB twice in rapid succession it turns the FOB transmitter off. It also locks the car. At home I normally put the fob in a little pocket of aluminum foil that has no gaps around the edges, and then press the lock button twice (by feel). I don't want the car locked while it's in the garage and the foil prevents the signal from the fob getting out to the car.
Yes, I understand the FOB movement will only affect the FOB battery life, not the car's battery life.
I think there is an impact to the car battery life if you turn off the fob without shielding it. If you don't shield it, the doors lock and the alarm system turns on. Neither of those things happen if you shield the fob when you turn it off, which means that the alarm system isn't drawing current from the battery while the car sits there waiting for you to use it again and you don't draw the momentary current to lock and unlock the doors either.
I think there is an impact to the car battery life if you turn off the fob without shielding it. If you don't shield it, the doors lock and the alarm system turns on. Neither of those things happen if you shield the fob when you turn it off, which means that the alarm system isn't drawing current from the battery while the car sits there waiting for you to use it again and you don't draw the momentary current to lock and unlock the doors either.
Hmm, ok: Now I am confused again: I thought the battery drains LESS when the car is locked because it goes into some kind of a SLEEP mode, alarm system notwithstanding?
I will have to measure the battery before and after in both configurations. (Locked vs un-locked)
3 days of each should be enough, starting the trial with a fully charged battery of course. Will try next week, got a couple trips planned this week.
Stay tuned.
Sister's 2012 ML350 had a battery drain of sort. Basically she had to jump several times a week, and always in the mornings.
do not recall where I read it, but told her to remove the keyless go push-start button and check if the drain continues. Guess, that was @ two years ago and now she does not want it fixed (she thinks it will fail again, so why bother). Just use the key to start the car.
I guess her keyless module, under the rear seat must be damaged.
Update on my battery drain. (2019 E-450 Wagon)
Took in in for B service today,
No error codes. Asked the SA about the drain: He said it is NORMAL because the air suspension in the back is always trying
to correct itself (Or level itself)
He said to get a trickle charger,
Hmm, ok...
Sounds like a flaw in the system, maybe something that could be fixed with a software update..
Update on my battery drain. (2019 E-450 Wagon)
Took in in for B service today,
No error codes. Asked the SA about the drain: He said it is NORMAL because the air suspension in the back is always trying
to correct itself (Or level itself)
He said to get a trickle charger,
Hmm, ok...
Sounds like a flaw in the system, maybe something that could be fixed with a software update..
Very strange and not normal. I left my 2017 GLE350 parked for two months outside during the winter while away on holiday. The car started right up once I cleared a path through the snow to get to it.
Last edited by WN1X; Sep 16, 2022 at 07:21 AM.
Reason: wrong vehicle year
Update on my battery drain. (2019 E-450 Wagon)
Took in in for B service today,
No error codes. Asked the SA about the drain: He said it is NORMAL because the air suspension in the back is always trying
to correct itself (Or level itself)
He said to get a trickle charger,
Hmm, ok...
Sounds like a flaw in the system, maybe something that could be fixed with a software update..
that kind advice is preparing a customer for a major repair: new battery, new air compressor, and of course the root cause of the air leak (assuming the rear of the car needed self leveling)
I guess rear tires also need refill at night based on the SA advice
that kind advice is preparing a customer for a major repair: new battery, new air compressor, and of course the root cause of the air leak (assuming the rear of the car needed self leveling)
I guess rear tires also need refill at night based on the SA advice
Not sure he tried to prepare for a major repair or not, the car is still under warranty, not my problem. (Well..yes it is)
The rear does not need leveling, especially when parked at night, only a factor when loading up with cargo, the system wants to always keep the wagon level
Not a problem with daily driving, but my car sits for a week or more without being used, then it becomes a problem.
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that kind advice is preparing a customer for a major repair: new battery, new air compressor, and of course the root cause of the air leak (assuming the rear of the car needed self leveling)
