2013 ML350 wouldn't shift out of Park
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, FL
2018 Audi A6, 2012 Porsche 911 CS
2013 ML350 wouldn't shift out of Park
Our 2013 ML350 4-Matic has recently been having issues shifting out of park. Last week, there were a couple of occasions where it wouldn't shift out of Park. However, after shutting down and restarting (sometimes more than once), I was able to shift into Reverse to reverse out of my garage. On Saturday, even after a few attempts, it wouldn't come out of Park. I read various forum posts on similar issues which required either a battery replacement, or replacing the brake switch or shift lever. I decided to leave the ML350 on a battery maintainer for the rest of the weekend. This morning, it shifts out of Park just fine.
The vehicle was purchased used in 2015, and I believe it has the original battery. I had an appointment scheduled this morning at the Mercedes dealer to check it out, but decided to cancel it and take the vehicle to Advanced Auto or Autozone to have the battery tested rather than pay the $75 dealer diagnostic fee. The service advisor also mentioned that if the vehicle is currently shifting out of Park, then there's probably no need to bring it in. I'm assuming that the battery is the culprit and since we live in hot, humid Florida, it's probably nearing the end of its useful life anyway. Any further thoughts?
BTW, is battery replacement DIY or does it require Mercedes software to "register" the battery with the vehicle?
The vehicle was purchased used in 2015, and I believe it has the original battery. I had an appointment scheduled this morning at the Mercedes dealer to check it out, but decided to cancel it and take the vehicle to Advanced Auto or Autozone to have the battery tested rather than pay the $75 dealer diagnostic fee. The service advisor also mentioned that if the vehicle is currently shifting out of Park, then there's probably no need to bring it in. I'm assuming that the battery is the culprit and since we live in hot, humid Florida, it's probably nearing the end of its useful life anyway. Any further thoughts?
BTW, is battery replacement DIY or does it require Mercedes software to "register" the battery with the vehicle?
Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 236
Likes: 30
From: Florida
2013 ML350 Bluetec, 2016 C3, 2020 Lincoln Aviator
Changed the battery on my 2013 ML Bluetec 2 months ago. My issue was needing to press the start button a couple of times to get it to start. First time all lights and guages would come on but the motor did not fire up. Bought the replacement battery at my local Sam's club (here in FL also). Not difficult to change out. Search here for info and view the youtube video to see how to do it. No special reset necessary. All preset settings stayed the same.
My starting issues have been eliminated.
My starting issues have been eliminated.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, FL
2018 Audi A6, 2012 Porsche 911 CS
Changed the battery on my 2013 ML Bluetec 2 months ago. My issue was needing to press the start button a couple of times to get it to start. First time all lights and guages would come on but the motor did not fire up. Bought the replacement battery at my local Sam's club (here in FL also). Not difficult to change out. Search here for info and view the youtube video to see how to do it. No special reset necessary. All preset settings stayed the same.
My starting issues have been eliminated.
My starting issues have been eliminated.
Just to make sure that I do need to replace my battery, I stopped by two Advance Auto Parts stores yesterday to get the battery tested. The first store performed a test and said that I have a bad cell, but the guy said they don't replace batteries on vehicles with complex electronics. I went to another store to see if the story would be any different...not only couldn't the guy get the tester to read without some "interference" error, but he said he wouldn't change the battery anyway due to it being a Mercedes.
I've done oil changes and brakes, but have never changed a car battery before. I'm a little put off by the potential of frying something. At $163 (with coupon and tax) buying a battery from AA and DIY would save about $150 compared to taking it to the dealer. AutoCraft Platinum AGM 95AH 900CCA. Although, knowing my luck, I'm bound to screw something up...might as well let a shop do it for peace of mind.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 303
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From: Minneapolis/ St Paul
Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 236
Likes: 30
From: Florida
2013 ML350 Bluetec, 2016 C3, 2020 Lincoln Aviator
Thanks for sharing your experience. I reviewed the videos as well -- replacing the battery looks pretty straightforward. One of the videos shows the vehicle hooked up to an external power source to preserve memory and settings, but in another video, the guy says he didn't have another power source and didn't have to reset much after the new battery.
Just to make sure that I do need to replace my battery, I stopped by two Advance Auto Parts stores yesterday to get the battery tested. The first store performed a test and said that I have a bad cell, but the guy said they don't replace batteries on vehicles with complex electronics. I went to another store to see if the story would be any different...not only couldn't the guy get the tester to read without some "interference" error, but he said he wouldn't change the battery anyway due to it being a Mercedes.
I've done oil changes and brakes, but have never changed a car battery before. I'm a little put off by the potential of frying something. At $163 (with coupon and tax) buying a battery from AA and DIY would save about $150 compared to taking it to the dealer. AutoCraft Platinum AGM 95AH 900CCA. Although, knowing my luck, I'm bound to screw something up...might as well let a shop do it for peace of mind.
Just to make sure that I do need to replace my battery, I stopped by two Advance Auto Parts stores yesterday to get the battery tested. The first store performed a test and said that I have a bad cell, but the guy said they don't replace batteries on vehicles with complex electronics. I went to another store to see if the story would be any different...not only couldn't the guy get the tester to read without some "interference" error, but he said he wouldn't change the battery anyway due to it being a Mercedes.
I've done oil changes and brakes, but have never changed a car battery before. I'm a little put off by the potential of frying something. At $163 (with coupon and tax) buying a battery from AA and DIY would save about $150 compared to taking it to the dealer. AutoCraft Platinum AGM 95AH 900CCA. Although, knowing my luck, I'm bound to screw something up...might as well let a shop do it for peace of mind.
You won't fry anything if you follow the one most important rule.....disconnect the negative terminal first, and reconnect it last.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, FL
2018 Audi A6, 2012 Porsche 911 CS
Okay, so I watched the videos several times and finally worked up some courage to just replace it myself. The hardest part was removing the old battery (fortunately i had a pry bar), and removing the positive terminal connector. To be safe, I had covered up the positive connector with electrical tape and a rag. I did not use a battery saver. I do have a battery tender, but I wasn't sure if I could safely use that or not to keep memory settings...and in any case, you then have to be all the more careful with the positive connector. Our ML350 is equipped with Airmatic, so it was interesting to see it had lowered down pretty low while the battery was out. Once the new battery was in, the vehicle raised up just fine, and all my setting seem to be intact. There were no warning lights, and nothing seems to need to be reset or re-calibrated. I'll have to take a longer test drive later before I turn the vehicle back over to my wife (her car). Thanks for the help!
Links to battery replacement videos:
Links to battery replacement videos:
