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Under-hood negative terminal disconnect on a 2013 G-550?

Old May 23, 2026 | 04:16 AM
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Under-hood negative terminal disconnect on a 2013 G-550?

Is there a way to disconnect the negative terminal on a W463 m273 engine without opening battery compartment inside cabin? IOW, when I want to work on the engine, can I disconnect the negative side of the battery from the engine compartment? TIA!
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Old May 23, 2026 | 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Ridefly
Is there a way to disconnect the negative terminal on a W463 m273 engine without opening battery compartment inside cabin?
IOW, when I want to work on the engine, can I disconnect the negative side of the battery from the engine compartment? TIA!
great questions about disconnecting your main battery GND at jumper post under hood.
Show us pic of engine bay passenger side, brass post.

Also consider "AUX batt" must be disconnected before Main so it does not lock up ISM... if so equipped.

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; May 23, 2026 at 08:16 AM.
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Old May 23, 2026 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by CaliBenzDriver
great questions about disconnecting your main battery GND at jumper post under hood.
Show us pic of engine bay passenger side, brass post.

Also consider "AUX batt" must be disconnected before Main so it does not lock up ISM... if so equipped.
will take a pic and post today. Re the "Aux battery must be disconnected first before main"...there is no way to do that in my G-550. The main battery sits in a box and must be pulled out before I can access the aux battery. Are you sure that your statement applies to all Mercedes with aux batteries or the vehicle you're most familiar with. Thanks!
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Old May 23, 2026 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Ridefly
will take a pic and post today. Re the "Aux battery must be disconnected first before main"...there is no way to do that in my G-550. The main battery sits in a box and must be pulled out before I can access the aux battery.

Are you sure that your statement applies to all Mercedes with aux batteries or the vehicle you're most familiar with. Thanks!
... yes what I'm partly familiar with: confirm this is applicable.
AUX supplies the chassis backup power as soon as Main batt goes out.

Hopefully disconnecting main batt. won't drain your AUX batt.
Some AUX use capacitor module instead of actual battery...

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; May 23, 2026 at 10:48 AM.
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Old May 23, 2026 | 11:00 AM
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Originally Posted by CaliBenzDriver
... yes what I'm partly familiar with: confirm this is applicable.
AUX supplies the chassis backup power as soon as Main batt goes out.

Hopefully disconnecting main batt. won't drain your AUX batt.
Some AUX use capacitor module instead of actual battery...
So does that mean, we should be disconnecting and pulling out the main battery completely and then disconnecting the negative terminal of the aux battery before doing electrical/mechanical work on the car? What a hassle. I swear, MB likes to make life difficult!

Last edited by Ridefly; May 23, 2026 at 11:02 AM.
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Old May 23, 2026 | 07:36 PM
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battery NEG disconnection

Originally Posted by Ridefly
So does that mean, we should be disconnecting and pulling out the main battery completely and then disconnecting the negative terminal of the aux battery before doing electrical/mechanical work on the car? What a hassle. I swear, MB likes to make life difficult!
I am not familiar with your wagon [[b]Main + Aux] battery setup.

You simply need to disconnect the NEG(-) side connection (GND) of a battery for it to be out of circuit.

Removing the main battery out is seriously heavy... is it in the way to prevent access to AUX connections ??


beautiful van in China
beautiful van in Mainland CN.

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; May 23, 2026 at 08:54 PM.
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