S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

Memory Glitches

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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 08:42 AM
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From: Newnan, GA
Lunar Blue 2013 S550
Memory Glitches

Hello all,

Our 2013 S550 has exhibited a couple of glitches recently. The first thing I noticed is after startup, the cabin temp was set to 76 F (both sides). Neither my wife nor I ever set it that high. It seems to have done this while just sitting in the garage. The second thing is my wife reported her #1 seat memory was lost. She had to readjust and reset the memory after which both memory 1 and 2 appear saved, for now. This third thing is the car cranked but didn’t start on the first attempt. On the second attempt, the car started and ran normally. This has happened twice so far. So, it sounds like some electrical issue. The battery was replaced in October 2022, so I don’t think it’s a weak battery. Not sure but I don’t believe our 2013 has a secondary (memory) battery. No battery or other warning lights, any Ideas?

Thanks!
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 09:09 AM
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2021 S450 4Matic
I think your W221 2013 S550 has two batteries. Main one is in the engine compartment (ie under the hood). Second one is in the trunk (under its floor or behind the rear seats).
Go to your car and physically check it.
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 09:18 AM
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2003 S55 (SOLD) , 2012 S550
2013 has only 1 main battery under the hood and a small backup battery in the dash. When that one goes low or bad you will get a notice in the display. Check the terminals on the main battery and also the ground cables. You might have a iffy connection somewhere.

Good Luck.
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 10:25 AM
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S500
new batteries are not as well made as the originals, they seem to more easily lose charge and only last 18 months before playing up

it might be connected - but I think its two issues, not just this later one - many Mercedes seem to become more and more power hungry as they get older - now that's not possible IF things stayed as they were - but they don't - various comms seem to become more and more muddled and various bits remain part alive dragging down the current

you don't need to believe me - but you do need to be on top of the energy demand your car needs to play happy

old e classes used to get water in the door handles and that would drain their battery, then roof and screen drains slowly clog and damp builds under carpets and canbus networks "oddly placed hidden in damp areas" start to get random, then the comand fan wears and that starts to get hot and bothered and this forgets to fall asleep - but the real fun starts when the SAM modules take a bath and circuit boards fur up
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by PillDrive
2013 has only 1 main battery under the hood and a small backup battery in the dash. When that one goes low or bad you will get a notice in the display. Check the terminals on the main battery and also the ground cables. You might have a iffy connection somewhere.

Good Luck.
Sounds like a good place to start. I recall when I replaced the battery the last time the terminals looked clean so I just attached the cables to the new battery. I'll detach, lightly sand the terminals, make sure their surgically clean, then snug them up. Its a relatively low millage, 46M car that mostly sits in the garage up to a week at a time between uses. My observation from 8 years of ownership is these cars eat batteries. I seem to get only about 2.5 years per battery. Otherwise, we love the car, so capable, comfortable and fast.
Thanks!
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 11:57 AM
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2007 S600, 2007 Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2000 C5 Corvette, 2017 Mustang GT, 2023 300C, and a 2019 Lincoln
You may also have a parasitic drain on the battery from a stuck relay or another iffy component causing your problems. After the clean up you mention, if this happens again; try hooking up a multimeter and check voltage and miliamps after the car is shut down and goes to sleep. Report the numbers back here to us. You can also remove one fuse at a time looking for the bad draining circuit. And of course, the obvious, check for an interior light or glove box light that doesn't go to sleep with the rest of the car on shut down. My bet is something is draining your battery.
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Old Apr 27, 2023 | 12:15 PM
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2013 S550 4MATIC
Originally Posted by John E
Its a relatively low millage, 46M car that mostly sits in the garage up to a week at a time between uses. My observation from 8 years of ownership is these cars eat batteries. I seem to get only about 2.5 years per battery.
Thanks!
That is your issue. Get a battery maintainer and hook it up when the car is not being driven.
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Old Apr 29, 2023 | 11:16 PM
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W222 AMG S63
Some of these cars may actually have 3 batteries:
  1. A large one under the hood.
  2. An even larger one behind the rear seat, accessible via the trunk.
  3. A small one in the area behind the light switch as seen below. This is the one that saves your settings when you remove the other two batteries.


EDIT: SOME of these cars may have a third battery. I just checked my car (2008, pre-facelift) and it does not have that third battery behind the light switch. The car in the video above is a 2010 facelift version. Maybe it was added then.

Last edited by CQHall; May 1, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
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Old May 1, 2023 | 10:14 AM
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For those following this thread, I've edited my post above. Not all of these cars have a third battery. My 2008 S63 does not.

EDIT: I also called the dealership parts department and gave them my VIN and they also said that there are only two batteries for my car.

Last edited by CQHall; May 1, 2023 at 10:40 AM.
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