When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Dashboard going crazy (visit workshop - multiple warnings-battery-ABC-SRS--trunk open
Hello gang
i just picked up a new to me 2004 SL55 in silver with the SL65 rims and just gorgeous. It was a 2 owner car with 69k miles and all stock and in immaculate condition and drives amazing (no CELs or codes)
I drove it home this weekend from Ohio where the seller was located to Chicago where I live and and it drove fantastic until about 2 hours into my drive when the dashboard lit up like crazy with just about every warning possible and the speedometer and tach were going crazy also, plus the ABC and ride height were going on and off by them selves and the trunk open snd roof open warnings were going off and on.
This happened several times on the drive as the dash would return to normal after about 3-4 mins of this and then go crazy 30 mins later.
I took a quick video of it here - the car drove totally fine during these episodes and I did pull over and shut off the car and shut the trunk firmly and things were fine for about 30 min and then it happened again.
Car didn’t show no CELs or codes coming up from this as far as my ODB tool showed.
i just picked up a new to me 2004 SL55 in silver with the SL65 rims and just gorgeous. It was a 2 owner car with 69k miles and all stock and in immaculate condition and drives amazing (no CELs or codes)
I drove it home this weekend from Ohio where the seller was located to Chicago where I live and and it drove fantastic until about 2 hours into my drive when the dashboard lit up like crazy with just about every warning possible and the speedometer and tach were going crazy also, plus the ABC and ride height were going on and off by them selves and the trunk open snd roof open warnings were going off and on.
This happened several times on the drive as the dash would return to normal after about 3-4 mins of this and then go crazy 30 mins later.
I took a quick video of it here - the car drove totally fine during these episodes and I did pull over and shut off the car and shut the trunk firmly and things were fine for about 30 min and then it happened again.
Car didn’t show no CELs or codes coming up from this as far as my ODB tool showed.
Beautiful car! I've had similar issues with multiple German cars, low voltage makes them go nuts. Porsche is another one that is bad, a marginal or failing battery will cause all sorts of gremlins. If the rear battery date is more than 4-5 years old I would replace it, if nothing else just for peace of mind.
Get a new auxiliary battery(trunk). Even if it doesn't solve the problem it can't really hurt as if they aren't on trickle charge they can go down hill in a matter of just a couple years or sooner. Be the easiest thing to do and order a nice ctek maintenance charger on amazon for like $60 to $80 bucks or so.
Get a new auxiliary battery(trunk). Even if it doesn't solve the problem it can't really hurt as if they aren't on trickle charge they can go down hill in a matter of just a couple years or sooner. Be the easiest thing to do and order a nice ctek maintenance charger on amazon for like $60 to $80 bucks or so.
Skylolow - thanks for the feedback and I went and ordered a CTEK maintenance charger as you suggested.
I've had the rear battery on my trickle charger and seems to have helped the rear battery. I drove the car today for about 45 mins on the high way and none of the "dashboard" errors occurred and the ABC and ride height functions are working totally normally now.
thanks all for the feedback and i'll continue to check the rear battery voltage and at this point may just buy a new one.
i just picked up a new to me 2004 SL55 in silver with the SL65 rims and just gorgeous. It was a 2 owner car with 69k miles and all stock and in immaculate condition and drives amazing (no CELs or codes)
I drove it home this weekend from Ohio where the seller was located to Chicago where I live and and it drove fantastic until about 2 hours into my drive when the dashboard lit up like crazy with just about every warning possible and the speedometer and tach were going crazy also, plus the ABC and ride height were going on and off by them selves and the trunk open snd roof open warnings were going off and on.
This happened several times on the drive as the dash would return to normal after about 3-4 mins of this and then go crazy 30 mins later.
I took a quick video of it here - the car drove totally fine during these episodes and I did pull over and shut off the car and shut the trunk firmly and things were fine for about 30 min and then it happened again.
Car didn’t show no CELs or codes coming up from this as far as my ODB tool showed.
QUICK. Update - I’ve had the trunk battery on a trickle charger every night since I posted this and I’ve driven the car quite a bit and the issue has not come back.
Appears I had a weak battery and I’ll just go ahead and buy a new one at this point but really appreciate all you guys feedback here helping me sort this out!
Now I’m trying to sort out do I do a crank pulley or a supercharger pulley to start some basic mods .
QUICK. Update - I’ve had the trunk battery on a trickle charger every night since I posted this and I’ve driven the car quite a bit and the issue has not come back.
Appears I had a weak battery and I’ll just go ahead and buy a new one at this point but really appreciate all you guys feedback here helping me sort this out!
Now I’m trying to sort out do I do a crank pulley or a supercharger pulley to start some basic mods .
Were you driving in the rain from Ohio by any chance? This sounds like a similar issue with a car that the front fuse box “SAM” lid wasn’t attached and properly locked. Water got in and did exactly what you described. The only time I have seen these issues is when the fuse boxes or SAM’s get moist or wet, and they will if the lid isn’t on correctly.
Were you driving in the rain from Ohio by any chance? This sounds like a similar issue with a car that the front fuse box “SAM” lid wasn’t attached and properly locked. Water got in and did exactly what you described. The only time I have seen these issues is when the fuse boxes or SAM’s get moist or wet, and they will if the lid isn’t on correctly.
cdk hi. No it wasn’t raining during the drive back when I picked up the car but thx for the suggestion to check the front Fuse box SAM lid to make sure that doesn’t become an issue with moisture getting in there.
I haven’t had the crazy dash issue since that drive and just been keeping the rear battery on a trickle charger which holds the battery at 14.0 approx when it’s driven. I only manage to drive the car about every 10 days since it’s a 4th car and I’m in Chicago but try to get it out when it’s dry - when spring comes I’ll get a new battery which isn’t too expensive at about 200 bux.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
.
