Middle display went dark for a few minutes, left is OK
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Middle display went dark for a few minutes, left is OK
Middle display went dark. It came back after I turned off power, went outside, locked the car, waited 5 minutes, unlocked car, went inside. Seems like a part or cable problem. Service rep says "software update". How do you do a software update on a display?
Car is currently at dealer. They say there is also a fuel line recall they want to do?
I see electrical problems in my future.... I've only had this car for a few weeks.
Car is currently at dealer. They say there is also a fuel line recall they want to do?
I see electrical problems in my future.... I've only had this car for a few weeks.
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 228
Likes: 126
From: Zürich, Switzerland
S560 Long 4Matic (DE) MY 2018
Middle display went dark. It came back after I turned off power, went outside, locked the car, waited 5 minutes, unlocked car, went inside. Seems like a part or cable problem. Service rep says "software update". How do you do a software update on a display?
Car is currently at dealer. They say there is also a fuel line recall they want to do?
I see electrical problems in my future.... I've only had this car for a few weeks.
Car is currently at dealer. They say there is also a fuel line recall they want to do?
I see electrical problems in my future.... I've only had this car for a few weeks.
Went to the dealer, they confirmed the issue and they said they've fixed it with a software update. I can tell something is different because the volume pop up was of a different colour when I got the car back and the problem didn't resurface.
As such, it is not impossible that this might actually solve your problem, though, like in my case and since I come from a software engineering background, I have to wonder wtf and how tf did they develop the software for these had units for it to be causing issues like these. The heck, Mercedes?
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 228
Likes: 126
From: Zürich, Switzerland
S560 Long 4Matic (DE) MY 2018
Very true. My other thought was that they lied and replaced the head unit, but... since they replaced mine under warranty, I cannot find a proper motive for lying about the software vs the hardware.
Oh, as for minor electrical gremlins, I have had my share of those:
* Twice in the last year, the automatic window closing functionality for the driver's side window would stop working for 10 minutes. I had to keep the button pressed to close it.
* Once, after a long trip the back button on the left side of the steering wheel would stop working. After leaving the car for 20h (I was on a ferry) it would work again. Has never happened again.
* Oil level measurement would not work, for hours. Next day, all is well again.
* Sometimes the middle screen would not turn on automatically when I turn on the engine. I know this happens if you turn off the screen manually before you turn off the car, but that wasn't my case. Had it happen 3 times in the last year (it would turn on immediately when pressing the power button however).
* My favourite. COMAND actually crashing once. Screen frozen, buttons not working. Long press at the COMAND power button and problem solved with a soft reset.
These have happened very rarely for me to be concerned at all, but they make me wonder what's next. I've used Carly regularly and no serious issues pop up (though I hate carly, 4 years after the S560's release and they still don't support the engine officially).
Oh, as for minor electrical gremlins, I have had my share of those:
* Twice in the last year, the automatic window closing functionality for the driver's side window would stop working for 10 minutes. I had to keep the button pressed to close it.
* Once, after a long trip the back button on the left side of the steering wheel would stop working. After leaving the car for 20h (I was on a ferry) it would work again. Has never happened again.
* Oil level measurement would not work, for hours. Next day, all is well again.
* Sometimes the middle screen would not turn on automatically when I turn on the engine. I know this happens if you turn off the screen manually before you turn off the car, but that wasn't my case. Had it happen 3 times in the last year (it would turn on immediately when pressing the power button however).
* My favourite. COMAND actually crashing once. Screen frozen, buttons not working. Long press at the COMAND power button and problem solved with a soft reset.
These have happened very rarely for me to be concerned at all, but they make me wonder what's next. I've used Carly regularly and no serious issues pop up (though I hate carly, 4 years after the S560's release and they still don't support the engine officially).
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 228
Likes: 126
From: Zürich, Switzerland
S560 Long 4Matic (DE) MY 2018
It's an OBD2 diagnostic that uses a phone app to supposedly get better details on error codes that come up with the car, compared to other off the shelf diagnostic tools. Sometimes this works, others it leaves a few things to be desired (I'm hearing it works great with BMWs however).
Yes, it's under the Service menu, for all cars (at least for the facelift versions, as far as I know) with the exception of the diesel versions if I'm not mistaken, which use a dipstick. In my S560 there no dipstick, only the digital measurement.
Yes, it's under the Service menu, for all cars (at least for the facelift versions, as far as I know) with the exception of the diesel versions if I'm not mistaken, which use a dipstick. In my S560 there no dipstick, only the digital measurement.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Could you please explain what you mean by restart? Turn off car? Get out of car? Lock / unlock? Turn off/on did nothing for me. Did you ever take to a dealer?
Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 228
Likes: 126
From: Zürich, Switzerland
S560 Long 4Matic (DE) MY 2018
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 29
From: Eastern PA
2020 S 560 4 Matic
It seems to reset after I turn the car off and wait a bit.
By accident I might have figured out a way to restart it sooner, but I am not sure.
The last time it was out, I used the button on the console to change the massage function for my seat.(couldn't do it on the display!)
That seemed to reboot the central screen.
I haven't had the opportunity to try it again so I am not sure if that will do the trick or if it was a fluke.
The central screen even blacked out on the test 560 I drove from the dealer!
I try my best to not take the car to the dealer for stuff that's intermittent as they usually screw stuff up or try to upsell me on needless stuff.
By accident I might have figured out a way to restart it sooner, but I am not sure.
The last time it was out, I used the button on the console to change the massage function for my seat.(couldn't do it on the display!)
That seemed to reboot the central screen.
I haven't had the opportunity to try it again so I am not sure if that will do the trick or if it was a fluke.
The central screen even blacked out on the test 560 I drove from the dealer!
I try my best to not take the car to the dealer for stuff that's intermittent as they usually screw stuff up or try to upsell me on needless stuff.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
It seems to reset after I turn the car off and wait a bit.
By accident I might have figured out a way to restart it sooner, but I am not sure.
The last time it was out, I used the button on the console to change the massage function for my seat.(couldn't do it on the display!)
That seemed to reboot the central screen.
I haven't had the opportunity to try it again so I am not sure if that will do the trick or if it was a fluke.
The central screen even blacked out on the test 560 I drove from the dealer!
I try my best to not take the car to the dealer for stuff that's intermittent as they usually screw stuff up or try to upsell me on needless stuff.
By accident I might have figured out a way to restart it sooner, but I am not sure.
The last time it was out, I used the button on the console to change the massage function for my seat.(couldn't do it on the display!)
That seemed to reboot the central screen.
I haven't had the opportunity to try it again so I am not sure if that will do the trick or if it was a fluke.
The central screen even blacked out on the test 560 I drove from the dealer!
I try my best to not take the car to the dealer for stuff that's intermittent as they usually screw stuff up or try to upsell me on needless stuff.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,801
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
free quick fix 😊
Are you handy with a screwdriver and a 10mm wrench?
Do you want to fix this yourself ?
Can you spare 90mn ?
Is free good enough ...
pull the front carpet to clean the PAINTED GND posts.
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 29
From: Eastern PA
2020 S 560 4 Matic
Thanks
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,801
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
start with driver side then passenger footwell area.
90mn is my honest estimation of time necessary.
Battery will need to be disconnected when dealing with GND returns.
90mn is my honest estimation of time necessary.
Battery will need to be disconnected when dealing with GND returns.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 14, 2022 at 06:24 PM. Reason: editor tool was jacked...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,801
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
poor GND connections
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
I tried fixing electrical problems on a Volkswagen 30 years ago. I decided I’m no auto mechanic.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,801
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
Inaction vs. course of action....
With your above questions, I am not sure how to best help with your next move.
In your particular case, I suggest the best would be to drop your car at a trusted specialist.
---If you picked the right one you'll be golden under $1k,
--- if not it'll be business as usual.
Action oriented ppl will gather clues and quickly act on them to loose that issue.
Knowing the root cause diagnosis renders the fix trivial.
😎
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 14, 2022 at 06:27 PM. Reason: editor was jacked...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Thanks. What I am TRYING to say is that your instructions which I just read again seem to be.
pull up the carpet?
clean or somehow repair ground posts?
That’s it. That’s all.
I would guess most of us NOT ALL will let a mechanic do this.
Would be nice of you care to share how you figured this out.
Thanks for your help.
Just to be clear, this is a vehicle I bought 3 weeks ago. So the people working on it are at the dealership. Where I have taken two other vehicles.
pull up the carpet?
clean or somehow repair ground posts?
That’s it. That’s all.
I would guess most of us NOT ALL will let a mechanic do this.
Would be nice of you care to share how you figured this out.
Thanks for your help.
Just to be clear, this is a vehicle I bought 3 weeks ago. So the people working on it are at the dealership. Where I have taken two other vehicles.
Last edited by zitsky; Aug 14, 2022 at 01:02 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 6,801
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
helping to expedite a dealer fix...
Thanks. What I am TRYING to say is that your instructions which I just read again seem to be.
pull up the carpet?
clean or somehow repair ground posts?
That’s it. That’s all.
I would guess most of us NOT ALL will let a mechanic do this.
Would be nice of you care to share how you figured this out.
Thanks for your help.
Just to be clear, this is a vehicle I bought 3 weeks ago.
So the people working on it are at the dealership.
Where I have taken two other vehicles.
pull up the carpet?
clean or somehow repair ground posts?
That’s it. That’s all.
I would guess most of us NOT ALL will let a mechanic do this.
Would be nice of you care to share how you figured this out.
Thanks for your help.
Just to be clear, this is a vehicle I bought 3 weeks ago.
So the people working on it are at the dealership.
Where I have taken two other vehicles.
How to help your trusted dealer expedite fixing this problem for you..?
> Tell 'em your helpful facts: "when my screen blanks out, the seat button brings things back to near normal..."
> You can't instruct a dealer to "I need my front carpet GND looked at"
> Unless you can comme up with a published TSB guided fix, they'll say it is "not applicable to your options"
- Some dealers are above standards, a few are clearly below.Dealers have the latest tools and access to advanced support ressources.
Hopefully they'll get down to it sooner than letter.
Everything depends on who gets assigned to work on your car
> Validation steps:
You may want to evaluate the trunk for the same poor GND condition likely present at the front footwell.
1 -- Have a quick look around the trunk area behind the liner for the condition of GND Posts...
2 -- The trunk GND's should give you a pretty good example of what the GND messing up your screen look like.
Doubting is a healthy thought process
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Aug 14, 2022 at 06:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Very true. My other thought was that they lied and replaced the head unit, but... since they replaced mine under warranty, I cannot find a proper motive for lying about the software vs the hardware.
Oh, as for minor electrical gremlins, I have had my share of those:
* Twice in the last year, the automatic window closing functionality for the driver's side window would stop working for 10 minutes. I had to keep the button pressed to close it.
* Once, after a long trip the back button on the left side of the steering wheel would stop working. After leaving the car for 20h (I was on a ferry) it would work again. Has never happened again.
* Oil level measurement would not work, for hours. Next day, all is well again.
* Sometimes the middle screen would not turn on automatically when I turn on the engine. I know this happens if you turn off the screen manually before you turn off the car, but that wasn't my case. Had it happen 3 times in the last year (it would turn on immediately when pressing the power button however).
* My favourite. COMAND actually crashing once. Screen frozen, buttons not working. Long press at the COMAND power button and problem solved with a soft reset.
These have happened very rarely for me to be concerned at all, but they make me wonder what's next. I've used Carly regularly and no serious issues pop up (though I hate carly, 4 years after the S560's release and they still don't support the engine officially).
Oh, as for minor electrical gremlins, I have had my share of those:
* Twice in the last year, the automatic window closing functionality for the driver's side window would stop working for 10 minutes. I had to keep the button pressed to close it.
* Once, after a long trip the back button on the left side of the steering wheel would stop working. After leaving the car for 20h (I was on a ferry) it would work again. Has never happened again.
* Oil level measurement would not work, for hours. Next day, all is well again.
* Sometimes the middle screen would not turn on automatically when I turn on the engine. I know this happens if you turn off the screen manually before you turn off the car, but that wasn't my case. Had it happen 3 times in the last year (it would turn on immediately when pressing the power button however).
* My favourite. COMAND actually crashing once. Screen frozen, buttons not working. Long press at the COMAND power button and problem solved with a soft reset.
These have happened very rarely for me to be concerned at all, but they make me wonder what's next. I've used Carly regularly and no serious issues pop up (though I hate carly, 4 years after the S560's release and they still don't support the engine officially).
I'd like to confirm something. You said you can restart COMAND by "long press" the COMAND power button. I think you said press and hold? I ask because I just tried this on a GLC loaner and that did nothing. Are there different software versions for COMAND where some have this "power button reset" and some software versions do not?
Last edited by zitsky; Aug 15, 2022 at 11:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 635
Likes: 68
From: Raleigh, NC
2020 S560 4Matic
Dealer says my car is ready. They replaced a fuel line under recall and updated the COMAND software. I told them too late, I just bought a Toyota Corolla. I pick up the car late this afternoon.
