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1) 2025 Maybach S580 | Cirrus Silver | White interior 2) 2023 China Blue G63 3) 2025 GLE 450e
Battery malfunction and safety features disabled
Hi folks i need some help. I had to jump start my 2016 S550e this morning after it died yesterday. I kept the car started for about 6 hours. During the time it was on it kept giving me the message “stop the car. Keep the engine running” which went away after about 2-3 hours. Since then it has been giving me a “battery malfunction “ error and other errors related to some safety features getting disabled. I tried driving the car on the local street and it drove fine. I was not wearing the seatbelt but it didn’t have the audio warning, backup camera never showed up etc
I looked it up online and most people have had the “auxiliary battery warning” problem but I couldn’t find any tips on “battery malfunction”
is this just a matter of getting the main battery replaced?
1) 2025 Maybach S580 | Cirrus Silver | White interior 2) 2023 China Blue G63 3) 2025 GLE 450e
Originally Posted by CaliBenzDriver
How old is the main battery?
Do you own a battery charger?
Do you have a battery tester or voltmeter?
CEL is on... scan the car for faults is faster than replacing good parts.
One can guess your car has a voltage issue, specifically a low voltage condition. What caused that is a good question to seek answer to.
Is the alternator control charging or draining the battery?
Hope this helps 🤞
1) no idea how old the battery is. It hasn’t been replaced since i bought the car in july 2019 as a CPO
2)i tried charging the battery using a charger but it didn’t help. It didn’t do anything overnight. Which is when we decided to jumpstart it and i kept it running for 6 hours. I guess i can try again now that it has some battery in it
3) i do not have a battery tester or voltmeter. I’m imagining you’re asking to test the voltage in the battery and battery health?
4) Is the alternator control charging or draining the battery? - no idea what this means. How do i check?
1) 2025 Maybach S580 | Cirrus Silver | White interior 2) 2023 China Blue G63 3) 2025 GLE 450e
So after the car standing for over 15 hours and engine off, i started it this morning and it started right off. So I guess keeping the car started for 6 hours yesterday helped. The panel still shows batter malfunction but i can drive it.
Does this still mean the battery needs replacement or is it a matter of charging it ? Not sure how to make that call?
I can also take it to an auto parts shop to get it checked but just wanted to see how much i can diagnose at home
thank you for all your help so far
Last edited by cblueG; Aug 5, 2022 at 12:37 PM.
Reason: added a sentence
So after the car standing for over 15 hours and engine off, i started it this morning and it started right off. So I guess keeping the car started for 6 hours yesterday helped. The panel still shows batter malfunction but i can drive it.
Does this still mean the battery needs replacement or is it a matter of charging it ? Not sure how to make that call?
I can also take it to an auto parts shop to get it checked but just wanted to see how much i can diagnose at home
thank you for all your help so far
It's up to you to decide if you want to buy a $200 battery or if you'd rather wait and pay $300 for a tow truck.
Your current battery may be just fine: One time it doesn't charge, next it holds charge well... so I am on the fence to lean either way - I'd say be safe.
1) 2025 Maybach S580 | Cirrus Silver | White interior 2) 2023 China Blue G63 3) 2025 GLE 450e
Originally Posted by CaliBenzDriver
It's up to you to decide if you want to buy a $200 battery or if you'd rather wait and pay $300 for a tow truck.
Your current battery may be just fine: One time it doesn't charge, next it holds charge well... so I am on the fence to lean either way - I'd say be safe.
sorry one last question before heading to the auto shop. How do i know this is because of the main battery and not the auxiliary battery?
sorry one last question before heading to the auto shop.
How do i know this is because of the main battery and not the auxiliary battery?
This message is definitely NOT about the AUX✌️
Replacing the battery may only bring temporary relief to this issue. Other factors may be at play to make the battery look bad.
My best advice would be not to rely on a parts store to service your Benz with a parts-canon... I'd take this opportunity to develop a relationship with an honnest local MB specialist.
If this problem returns, you will be in a much better position to get joy.
With that being said, if your battery is 5, 6, 7 or more years old, then $200 is definitely money well spent without question.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 6, 2022 at 01:23 AM.
My battery was weak, which died while I was doing my brake pad replacement, and I had to get a portable jumper. Everything came back on except for the camera's. On reverse, the camera does not show on the screen. Through the settings I am able to open the camera and see the front and rear camera's, so I know that part works.
Also when I press the Camera/Parking option to get views, nothing shows, but i do see the camera/Parking icon on the dash.
Any idea what may have gone wrong or what I need to look for?
My battery was weak, which died while I was doing my brake pad replacement, and I had to get a portable jumper. Everything came back on except for the camera's. On reverse, the camera does not show on the screen. Through the settings I am able to open the camera and see the front and rear camera's, so I know that part works.
Also when I press the Camera/Parking option to get views, nothing shows, but i do see the camera/Parking icon on the dash.
Any idea what may have gone wrong or what I need to look for?
what's gone wtong is low voltage condition.
Use a battery charger overnight
clear all fault codes
if that's not enough disconnect all power source for 15mn to reboot chassis computers.
I replaced the battery with an OEM last week and cameras still did not work. Had a jumper on while doing this to retain settings - per a youtube video. Should I disconnect the main battery / everything again, including the aux battery and try again? PITA to get back there with a messed up shoulder and back
I replaced the battery with an OEM last week and cameras still did not work. Had a jumper on while doing this to retain settings - per a youtube video.
Should I disconnect the main battery / everything again, including the aux battery and try again? PITA to get back there with a messed up shoulder and back
Let me check the codes too
Read all the chassis faults once before clearing them then go drive.... then rescan later.
Disconnecting all power testarts modules that are always powered on otherwise. Its a good relief but only temporary according to faulty CAN traffic.
I have a 2016 550e as well, when I did my tuning with Benzninja my battery went dead but I was able to charge. The Aux battery went bad 2 years ago, I am closely checking on my main battery tested perfect last week at my indy mechanic's test and he was ready to sell me a new one and told me good for another year. Just replace it with OEM or like battery NOT at Autozone!!
My battery was weak, which died while I was doing my brake pad replacement, and I had to get a portable jumper. Everything came back on except for the camera's. On reverse, the camera does not show on the screen. Through the settings I am able to open the camera and see the front and rear camera's, so I know that part works.
Also when I press the Camera/Parking option to get views, nothing shows, but i do see the camera/Parking icon on the dash.
Any idea what may have gone wrong or what I need to look for?
as an update: So it turned out the Parking Module got fried when the battery drained and I jumped it from a portable jumper. Interesting that the module controls the camera.
as an update:
So it turned out the Parking Module got fried when the battery drained and I jumped it from a portable jumper.
Interesting that the module controls the camera.
It's interesting experience to read.
not JUMP low batteries...
but CHARGE LOW Batteries. one bing 2500Amp punch... into electric hell
-- Jumping may well pound out a 6 or 700Amps spike into the low battery.
-- Charging would slowly feed 5 to 10Amp Max overnight.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jan 24, 2025 at 09:42 PM.
Previously my battery issue was with the AC compressor since it uses the HV battery to start the pump. This was replace under warranty. Please see the link for warranty. But now another issue with the HV battery not charging my 12V battery and left my wife stranded. The alternator also uses the HV battery to charge the 12V. Why didn’t they just put a belt for these 2 components. Electrical components fail at a higher rate than mechanical components. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...53707-0001.pdf
Previously my battery issue was with the AC compressor since it uses the HV battery to start the pump. This was replace under warranty. Please see the link for warranty. But now another issue with the HV battery not charging my 12V battery and left my wife stranded. The alternator also uses the HV battery to charge the 12V. Why didn’t they just put a belt for these 2 components. Electrical components fail at a higher rate than mechanical components. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...53707-0001.pdf
This winter, my 5 YO main battery would not even light up the drivers panel when the temperature was under at first 32ºF then later at 40ºF.
Both times (not a cold winter in Texas) I used the CTeK charger and the battery would not take a full charge (even after 36 hours).
CTeK indicates it would only take 2/3rds of full charge (from the maintenance charge setting).
So, while the car would start with that charge, various other functions (pre-safe, lane warnings, ... did not work,) the car was drivable.
12 volt battery in your GLC 350e is covered under warranty for four years/50,000 miles.
Where the 12 Volt battery isn’t getting charged there are software updates and/or components that get replaced.
It needs to be seen by MB.
Thanks John, At this point I’m trying to just get the gas engine going so I can take it to MB. I did put the battery on my charger and it did receive a full charge, but the car still doesn’t do anything.
Thanks John, At this point I’m trying to just get the gas engine going so I can take it to MB. I did put the battery on my charger and it did receive a full charge, but the car still doesn’t do anything.
Ring MB at 800-222-0100. That is roadside assistance. They can arrange for it to get drug to MB for the attention it needs.
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