SL/R230: System Gremlins?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 87
From: Northwich
R230 350SL
System Gremlins?
Hi All hope you can help.
At the moment when I drive my car I’m getting lots of random system faults and undemanded actions happening pretty much simultaneously, which then stop for a while and then reappear.
These include:
Suspension rising to maximum
ABC suspension going into Sport
Bulb out warning out on dash
Battery low on dash
When I select suspension to normal height and ABC to comfort, while this is all happening, the car doesnt hold the setting I select it goes straight back to whatever it wants ie suspension to high and sport again.
After a few minutes All will stop and I can recover all settings to whatever I demand. Car will then drive normally, but this will all suddenly reoccur without notice again at some point.
Just before I start trying to make sense and run some codes off, has anyone had any similar experiences and is it possibly linked to a low battery?
Any help much appreciated.
At the moment when I drive my car I’m getting lots of random system faults and undemanded actions happening pretty much simultaneously, which then stop for a while and then reappear.
These include:
Suspension rising to maximum
ABC suspension going into Sport
Bulb out warning out on dash
Battery low on dash
When I select suspension to normal height and ABC to comfort, while this is all happening, the car doesnt hold the setting I select it goes straight back to whatever it wants ie suspension to high and sport again.
After a few minutes All will stop and I can recover all settings to whatever I demand. Car will then drive normally, but this will all suddenly reoccur without notice again at some point.
Just before I start trying to make sense and run some codes off, has anyone had any similar experiences and is it possibly linked to a low battery?
Any help much appreciated.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 520
Likes: 203
From: Scottsdale AZ
2015 SL550 & 2012 S550 4matic
Perhaps the Gurus can weigh in here but it sounds like Electrical issues. Is "Consumer not available" message on frequently? These cars definitely like to have charged batteries! Can you trickle charge you battery system? Is your starter battery fully charged? "Bulb out" do you have a bulb out or is this the gremlin showing its face? It seems that the switches for Suspension regulation think you are changing them when you are not. The car behaves after driven for a while (or batteries are recharged to a sufficient level?). How old are the batteries?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 87
From: Northwich
R230 350SL
Yes I’m definitely looking in the direction of battery. I don’t use the car very much this time of year to avoid salt, but just start it every now and again and run it up to temp for about 15 mins before shutting off.
I put a trickle charger across the consumer battery this pm and it initially read 9.0V but after 4 hours was up to 12.2v. I’ll see how much it’s held tomorrow but if it’s dropped again to the 9V level think I’ll be looking into a new battery.
There are no bulbs actually out when it all starts kicking off.
If I get the red dash battery warning which battery does it relate too? Starter or Consumer?
I put a trickle charger across the consumer battery this pm and it initially read 9.0V but after 4 hours was up to 12.2v. I’ll see how much it’s held tomorrow but if it’s dropped again to the 9V level think I’ll be looking into a new battery.
There are no bulbs actually out when it all starts kicking off.
If I get the red dash battery warning which battery does it relate too? Starter or Consumer?
Last edited by matk; Jan 10, 2020 at 08:17 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
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From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
You might want to measure the drain on the consumer battery while the car is in sleep mode (it never really sleeps). It takes a while after you park it and shut down.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
It usually if not exclusively indicates a problem detected with the starter battery. I don't think the rear battery could be an issue. Note that you can disconnect your rear battery and still start and drive your car normally with just the starter battery connected.
When the anomaly is occurring I would measure the voltage on both batteries. If there is nothing unusual, then I don't know what to do other than scan all of the vehicle controllers for faults. An inexpensive Star Diagnosis system can do this quickly. If you have iCarsoft, then I would first look at the vehicle power supply controller for faults/events and live data.
When the anomaly is occurring I would measure the voltage on both batteries. If there is nothing unusual, then I don't know what to do other than scan all of the vehicle controllers for faults. An inexpensive Star Diagnosis system can do this quickly. If you have iCarsoft, then I would first look at the vehicle power supply controller for faults/events and live data.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,493
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I keep a CTEK battery charger on my SL all the time when I don't drive it regularly, especially during winter (colder) months. CTEK chargers are included as standard items on some high end vehicles, rebranded as Mercedes, BMW, etc., so I put my trust in the brand. A little more expensive, but not much more.
