sprink49

Our S500 is now 2 years old and the Keyless Go remote seems weak in one key but strong in the other.

sosh

I have never had to replace one. Had my 98 ML 39 months, my 02 ML500 4 years, my 01 E 320 over 4 years. The vehicles I now have are less than a year old so not even to be considered. Not a big deal to replace though. The key will perform all but the remote functions with a dead battery.

Josh K

I've had my car for 6 years and I'm still on the original battery. Keyless Go might have a shorter life span?

Skylaw

Had similar experience with 3 yr old keys. Just kept swapping for the stronger one (and re-mating for the seat positions, etc). If you have a battery replaced (even for just one), however, the dealer will need all of your electronic keys.

sosh

Do not believe that is correct. The dealer will need only the key with the battery to be replaced.If it needs to be resynched you can do that yourself. The key battery has nothing to do with the actual starting of the vehicle and powers only the remote functions.

Jayhawk

I've had my two keys for nearly six years and they both work just like new (knock on wood). How does one "re-mate" a key?

sosh

I think you mean resynch the key. If the remote functions do not work there is a proceedure spelled out in the manuals for re synchronizing the key functions (lock/unlock, alarm, etc.). I do not actually know the proceedure as I have never had to do it. Check your manual

Jayhawk

Of course I meant "resynch!" Just didn't know how to spell it. My bad...

Will begin the review of my library of several owner's manuals in the morning. It shouldn't take more than a week of study.

Thanks for the all of the help and kind words...

Skylaw

When I wrote remate originally, I indeed meant re-synch, to set mirrors, seat positions, etc. Procedure is in the manual, and though it is simple, I have to look it up every time (I don't do it often).

C'mon Jayhawk - you're an academician - a little research can't be all that daunting! - Oh, I forgot - it's the Mercedes owner's manuals. Strike that!

But there's an online owner's manual at http://www4.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars...mdetail15.html that should help. Even if it's for the right-hand drive version of the '07 S-class (it was recently updated).

You can access an owner's manual for your car in .pdf format at http://www.mbusa.com/sitemap.do if you're registered with MBUSA; at least the .pdf is searchable. Now, if we could just remember the exact term they used....

I believe the procedure entails enabling the "Key-dependent" feature on your instrument cluster MFD (you may already have done that, but check it) - then inserting the key you want to "mate" (synchronize) - and calling up the seat/mirror memory settings you want to "mate" with that key. To do that, press "memory" on your door control, then within 3 seconds, press the memorized position number you want stored with that key.

One of the nicer features is that you can also set your passenger side mirror to tilt downward for assistance backing up, when the car is placed in reverse; and that setting is also retained for different drivers.

To carry the discussion a bit further - your keys are also coded for your specific car, and when the batteries in the keys require replacement, the dealer must have all electronic keys to re-code them for your car. Then you get to re-synch them!

Jayhawk

Thanks Skylaw! Who needs an owners manual w/ you around?

I don't really need to re-synch my keys, I was just curious about the procedure in case I ever do. My coment was intended as a cheap-shot at the other guy's terse remarks to me. :=)

Thanks again

Skylaw

I know, Jayhawk, I know. But it was fun to pull your chain. Plus, a chance to locate those electronic manuals, download the ones for my car (so I don't have to run down to the parking garage 3 stories below to reference it), and put them into my bookmarks foir future use in answering questions.