Frenetic

Yesterday, right when I pulled into my garage, a malfunction message popped up. It didn’t register in my brain at first and I just instinctively shut the car down like I automatically always do without seeing any other message, it just said MALFUNCTION in the center screen. I think, although I’m not sure, the AC wasn’t as cold in that brief moment in the garage before I shutdown and lost the message. I could also have just been imagining that. Nothing else seemed wrong as far as I could tell.

I started the car back up and no message or light. So, ok…

Sleeper Benz

"Malfunction" usually followed by a "Visit Workshop" = if out of warranty, immediately donate to the MB dealer fund if not educated in ways to decode what it's displaying.

Better yet, get yourself a decent Mercedes compatible code reader that may put you at ease that it wasn't anything major that can self-reset or can be reset by you and keep you out of the MB Stealerships.

W205C43PFL

The logo usually indicates what kind of malfunction it is, next time (hopefully it was just a glitch and will never come back) you can also select "OK" on the "i" it should tell you briefly what type of malfunction and troubleshooting steps pulled from the digital operator's manual.

You can also scroll through ASSYST Plus and see if there are any messages there that has to do with the malfunction.

TimC300

I wouldnt worry about it. Few times a year I will have a message pop up and I'll be worried something is broken but no, it goes away. Things like the battery warning, traction control, even tire pressure.

I bought a decent obd reader with Mercedes software in case. I have yet to really need it, I scan the car once in awhile and everything seems fine. And if I get a different brand car I can always buy the software pack for that car so its a good investment.

Frenetic

I get a few random warnings as well but I’ve never seen a malfunction warning before. It’s no longer there so hopefully it is indeed just an anomaly. Although I just started it without driving. I’ll drive it around later today and see if it comes back.

Another thing I remember is hearing the air suspension hiss rather loudly after I shutdown without reading the entire error message.

Are these malfunction messages saved anywhere that is accessible without an obd reader?

TimC300

I believe they are just shown on the dash in the Service Menu in "Messages". Look in your Operators manual for more details. For my W204 the operators manual says "Malfunction and warning messages are only indicated for certain systems and are intentionally not very detailed." The messages should just be current issues, turning the car off should reset it.

Frenetic

I found where the saved messages are supposed to be and there were no saved messages for me. Based on the user’s manual (page 503), my malfunction is “low priority.” High-priority messages do not go away. So, hopefully it is indeed minor and won’t come back.

Also, according to the manual, these messages automatically get uploaded to Mercedes. I would to love to access that database and see all of the logged messages.

crabman

W205C43PFL

Do you remember that colour of the message? If it is red, it is serious but if it was yellow it is not as bad, if it was in white text then it is not as much of a problem as yellow.

Hmmm, that gives me an idea, anything show up in the Mercedes Me app?

Frenetic

I believe it was yellow. I looked in the app and nothing.

W205C43PFL

I see, I guess all you can do right now is just monitor it, it might just not come back. Glitches happen from time to time.

Highline-Autos.com

It was probably a glitch with your parking sensors as you entered the garage. It happened to me in a 2024 SL43 AMG when the vehicle thought is was going to be in a collision in the middle of an empty road, lights all over the dash. I turned it off and on at the next light... it all went away.

Trenton O. Gibson
tgibson@highline-autos.com
Highline Autos
Direct: 602.909.9216
Office: 480.348.0777

Frenetic

That’s certainly plausible. I just wish I wasn’t on autopilot when I pulled into the garage. I really would have liked to see what malfunction it was.

crabman

I'm guessing no one remembers that one; the episode with a pre Trek Shatner on a plane with a mischievous gremlin.

BobinIL

[QUOTE=crabman;8997201]I'm guessing no one remembers that one; the episode with a pre Trek Shatner on a plane with a mischievous gremlin. [/QUOTE
I remember the episode back in the day.

Fried Chicken

At this point Mercedes should just include the diagnostic computer onboard integrated with the ICE.

Diesel Benz

The car could have some integrated code reader capabilities but including complete diagnostics computer capabilities would not make sense. Not much worth either as this "tool" is all you need with this car for complete workshop diagnostics tasks (plus a standard laptop with proper SW). Worth less than $20 (excluding the laptop).

Mem30306

Every now and again, I get a black box with red text complaining about this, that or the other thing. Usually it is crying about automatic lane changing not working while using cruise. My ageing eyes can barely see a building five feet in front of me (kidding a bit), so if Mercedes wants me to read these messages, they need to change the color combo.

W205C43PFL

A couple days later since the initial thread, OP didn't say the issue come back so that is good news : )

Frenetic

Yeah, it hasn’t returned. Although I’m sure I just jinxed myself by posting this and it will return tomorrow lol.

W205C43PFL

nah : )