GLK goes dead at stop light
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GLK 350
GLK goes dead at stop light
Hey everyone. So I have a 2013 GLK 350. On the way to work today stopped at some lights. ECO is working (so engine shut off normally) everything else looked fine. Then all of a sudden every light turned off and car was completely dead. Hazards would not work..nothing. I tried the manual key start..nothing. Even the break pedal felt locked. Battery is 1 year old. Towed to MB and 3 hrs later they call to say it started right up for them on first try. They are going to put it on diagnostics and see what it says. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Thanks
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From: South Texas
2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
Only feedback I have for Aux battery (for our 2014 GLK350 Base) ... it's for ECO which we disable. Our Aux battery died a while back , but we continued to drive it. (I think I posted about it). The only reason we replaced it is to get rid of the constant "Aux battery failure" message on the dash.
But yea, if the dash message is shown, replace it.
Also, the Aux has a different purpose depending on year and model
But yea, if the dash message is shown, replace it.
Also, the Aux has a different purpose depending on year and model
Last edited by calder-cay; May 23, 2025 at 08:53 PM.
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GLK 350
I've replaced both Aux battery (2 years ago) and main (last year) MB says all connections are fine. So far they can't find anything wrong and there were no fault codes in computer.
Not sure the computer could write any codes to memory if there was an instantaneous loss of electrical power?
Not sure the computer could write any codes to memory if there was an instantaneous loss of electrical power?
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From: South Texas
2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
A crazy thought (typical for me). We absolutely despise the ECO option - can't believe MB designer /engineers thought, "hey, great idea". Excessive / unnecessary engine starting is detrimental to the life of a vehicle.
Just after firing up the GLK, we tap the ECO button.
Have you tried that? Quite possibly the ECO option is contributing to the GLK going offline (?)
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From: Lac Ste. Marie, Quebec
2006 Alfa Romeo Brera, 2010 GLK350, 2018 BMW 640i GT, 1997 Subaru SVX, 2012 Moto Guzzi Norge GT8V
Any feedback yet?
A crazy thought (typical for me). We absolutely despise the ECO option - can't believe MB designer /engineers thought, "hey, great idea". Excessive / unnecessary engine starting is detrimental to the life of a vehicle.
Just after firing up the GLK, we tap the ECO button.
Have you tried that? Quite possibly the ECO option is contributing to the GLK going offline (?)
A crazy thought (typical for me). We absolutely despise the ECO option - can't believe MB designer /engineers thought, "hey, great idea". Excessive / unnecessary engine starting is detrimental to the life of a vehicle.
Just after firing up the GLK, we tap the ECO button.
Have you tried that? Quite possibly the ECO option is contributing to the GLK going offline (?)
Last edited by Silver Shadow; May 30, 2025 at 09:27 PM.
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I think I saw something on a news broadcast the other day about requiring that Eco start-stop have a disable feature setting. Unlikely it will be retroactive, though.
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Last edited by calder-cay; May 31, 2025 at 03:36 PM.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
2013 GLK350 Canada
I believe the Eco thing can be programmed to be normally "Off", seen talk of it here. I love it, it was designed to save fuel and emissions and it works. I noticed that my fuel consumption rose about 10% after the Auxilliary battery in the trunk died, I didn't have the $$ to replace it for about 6 months (Eco stopped working - started working again after battery replacement). Saves a little bit at each stop light - we have many of them here, lol.
No problems with it or starter etc. after 300,000 Km (187,500 miles). Seeing some north american cars copying, let's hope they are built a little more robust to stand up to the challenge!
No problems with it or starter etc. after 300,000 Km (187,500 miles). Seeing some north american cars copying, let's hope they are built a little more robust to stand up to the challenge!
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2013 glk 350
Echo Stop= Echo Stupid. No it can’t be programmed off, you must sit at stop lights alot . It’s not good for the motor. How do you think your motor lasts so long with metal to metal contact ? Oil is UNDER PRESSURE, Your oil pressure goes to zero then with Zero pressure you fast start and hit the accelerator , how dumb and bad for a motor . No pressure and power on the main bearings and piston rings - cilinders. All for maybe 1/10th a mpg , not 10%. All this bs for the EPA. It’s a fact the majority of engine wear occurs on STartup , when there is no oil pressure. Every time you stop the motor , pressure goes to zero immediately.
Last edited by Mmr1; Jun 1, 2025 at 06:11 AM.
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From: South Texas
2014 GLK350 base model (active) ; 2001 E320 base (retired); 2001 Wrangler soft-top
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2013 glk 350
I do not believe any code reader can permanently disable auto stop start . Can you show a link to disabling it . If it was possible there would be no market for 250$ plug in disablers that are being sold . Mid City’s unit was originally 350 or more and it sold , it’s now 150. In one second I can google and see 8 for sale . These would not have been produced and would not sell if a simple code scan could disable it . My scanners can not do it . I would like it disabled 😁
Last edited by Mmr1; Jun 1, 2025 at 03:30 PM.
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I had a mid range Autel that couldn’t do it. It took a coder at the indie shop. But when the GLK had a CEL that required a software update to clear, it got set back to normally on. Just left it after that and used the button to turn it off.
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I do not believe any code reader can permanently disable auto stop start . Can you show a link to disabling it . If it was possible there would be no market for 250$ plug in disablers that are being sold . Mid City’s unit was originally 350 or more and it sold , it’s now 150. In one second I can google and see 8 for sale . These would not have been produced and would not sell if a simple code scan could disable it . My scanners can not do it . I would like it disabled 😁
I agree with all of that. I think M-B had to get the average m.p.g. "fleet level" up to a certain point for the U.S market to make the EPA happy and or help avoid Gas Guzzler tax. Otherwise they would not have added all that complication and cost to the GLK and other models. With that in mind, there's no way they could/would allow genuine M-B dealers to defeat it (although it seems BMW maybe did with some of their vehicles). Independent M-B garages, with the legit equipment, probably could/can but maybe without providing a receipt for the work ;-) With any aftermarket device we "civilians" can buy I'm sure it will never be a possibilty. Hell, we can't even get the ABS activation brake bleed function, it seems.
It is a bit odd that the O.P. has not provided any response. For someone that seems to have joined the forum in 2013, the O.P. does not seem to be very "interactive" or make much in the way of contributions.
Last edited by MBKLUE; Jun 2, 2025 at 01:45 PM.
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2013 GLK350 Canada
Looks like the feature was introduced in 1974 by Toyota. Here's a Wikipedia link that shows history. Check out the link to the "European Emission Standard" in the "History" section for more detailed history. Not quite so new, after all and looks like it was later adopted by the European market, then brought to NA (Canada, Mexico, US). I really enjoy the $$ it saves, and have had no trouble with it over 4 cars (2013 C300, 2016 B200, 2019 B250, 2013 GLK).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system#
Looks like the bugs may have been ironed out.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system#
Looks like the bugs may have been ironed out.
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Looks like the feature was introduced in 1974 by Toyota. Here's a Wikipedia link that shows history. Check out the link to the "European Emission Standard" in the "History" section for more detailed history. Not quite so new, after all and looks like it was later adopted by the European market, then brought to NA (Canada, Mexico, US). I really enjoy the $$ it saves, and have had no trouble with it over 4 cars (2013 C300, 2016 B200, 2019 B250, 2013 GLK).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system#
Looks like the bugs may have been ironed out.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system#
Looks like the bugs may have been ironed out.
The whole concept is weird. Apparently it was never an option. If you bought the car you got it. Yet... you are allowed to very easily defeat it every time you start the car. More ridiculous and non-sensical big brother crap. "We're going to force it on you and you're going to pay for it in the purchase price but we'll let you defeat it but we're going to make it annoying for you." Pathetic...
Not criticizing your interest in it, use of it or appreciation of it but it shouldn't be shoved down our throats.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
2013 GLK350 Canada
Heres one example of how to disable it. Searched on "eco". There are many others....
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ii-reader.html
It's simply a default part of the car now (and on many other brands) but can be shut off.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ii-reader.html
It's simply a default part of the car now (and on many other brands) but can be shut off.
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GLK 350
Update: From the day i dropped it off at MB the car has worked perfectly. Started fine for MB and al diagnostics were 100% good. Was driven 7 days in a row with no issues. They think the Pre-fuse circuit board crashed but is fine now. It can't be tested since it's a sealed unit. Batteries tested fine.
I have the car and driving it with ECO disabled for now.
I have the car and driving it with ECO disabled for now.
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2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Update: From the day i dropped it off at MB the car has worked perfectly. Started fine for MB and al diagnostics were 100% good. Was driven 7 days in a row with no issues. They think the Pre-fuse circuit board crashed but is fine now. It can't be tested since it's a sealed unit. Batteries tested fine.
I have the car and driving it with ECO disabled for now.
I have the car and driving it with ECO disabled for now.
FYI-The Prefuse box isn’t really sealed and there’s only one electronic component in it that could shut the car down then reset. Everything else is a fuse. There’s no board. Maybe they were talking about the front SAM(?).
