///MB

For some reason, the brake pedal will not depress, so we cannot start the car. Is there any way to bypass having to push the brake? I'm hoping the pedal will work once the engine is running.

Does anyone know how this would happen? We did not pump the brakes while the car was parked. This just happened on its own.

Waiting for a tow now. Thanks.

02S430

i believe u can take out the start button on your dash for the keyless go and use the key mannually should snap out

///MB

We tried that too. I think you still need to press the brake, even when using the key to start.

Edit: It turns out that the battery was weak. The tow truck jumped the car and it started.

Diesel Benz

The car should start without brake being applied as long as "P gear" is selected.

Odd if the starter battery was flat. The rear battery can go flat but the front one should not, even if the car was parked for a reasonably long time as consumers would only use the rear battery. The only way I could see the front go flat is to drive really short trips really many times, so that the front battery does not gain power from the the generator as much as it loses for starting.

Did you consider having the front battery checked?

///MB

We just got the car back from the dealer. I believe they replaced the front battery under warranty. The tow truck jumped the car from the front yesterday, then we drove it straight to the dealer and the car wouldn't start again. It must've been a defective battery since it only lasted 2 years and 27k miles.

Oh and this happened after a 30+ mile freeway drive, we stopped to go in a store and when we came out, it was dead. After the jump start, it was a good 10 mile freeway drive to the dealer, which should have been plenty of time to recharge the battery.

It's great they designed the car with two batteries so the accessories don't drain from the starter battery. It would've been even better if the batteries could back each other up. So, if one fails it could draw power from the other then display a message stating a battery has failed and to go to service.

Diesel Benz

I hope it was the battery and not the controller taking care of the front battery charging. The MB workshop must have checked this.

Considering backup from the rear battery, this is what the diesel model does at very cold weather, if needed. This is more important for the diesel engine as it takes more power to crank it and to gain sufficient cylinder heat for combustion. But I'm not sure if it works when the front battery is completely dead, like drive authorisation would need to be able to work from either battery while the other is dead. Will have to have a look at this at some point.

///MB

I hope so too. It would be pretty careless if they didn't check to see if there was another reason why the battery failed.

BoushiBimmer

Is everyone having starter problems? Call roadside and see if they can do anything. They are trained Tech's and should know the car well enough.

///MB

We did call roadside. They came and jump started the car. It seems like roadside just dispatches a tow company, same as AAA does. I would hardly call them trained techs, from my experience.

Diesel Benz

I thought there was only one car with a bad front battery and everyone talking about that single car. I don't think everyone should call assistance.