Command Dead after Leaving Lights on
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
e63 NA
Command Dead after Leaving Lights on
I drove to work yesterday and it was dark but it was light by the time I arrived at work... and didn't turn my head lights off.
About 2 hours later I was leaving for a quick errand and realized they were on. The car still started fine but obviously had been being drained (have HIDs). Once I was back on the road I turned on the radio and noticed the Command unit would hang on the Mercedes logo, then simply cut out.
When I bought the car the wires connecting the aftermarket sub were a little frayed, and sometimes they would touch and that would kill the battery. I had to diagnose and fix that issue and it's fine since. But during that time when the battery would cut out, sometimes the command would die in similar fashion.
I've fixed this normally by unplugging the battery. I did that last night for about 15 minutes and when I reconnected there was the same issue.
So questions:
1. How long is "long enough" to unplug battery to reset these technical gremlins.
2. What electrical function failed the command because I left my lights on?
3. Search will reveal fuse help but if anyone's replaced these and has some insight.
Any other comments welcome, thanks.
About 2 hours later I was leaving for a quick errand and realized they were on. The car still started fine but obviously had been being drained (have HIDs). Once I was back on the road I turned on the radio and noticed the Command unit would hang on the Mercedes logo, then simply cut out.
When I bought the car the wires connecting the aftermarket sub were a little frayed, and sometimes they would touch and that would kill the battery. I had to diagnose and fix that issue and it's fine since. But during that time when the battery would cut out, sometimes the command would die in similar fashion.
I've fixed this normally by unplugging the battery. I did that last night for about 15 minutes and when I reconnected there was the same issue.
So questions:
1. How long is "long enough" to unplug battery to reset these technical gremlins.
2. What electrical function failed the command because I left my lights on?
3. Search will reveal fuse help but if anyone's replaced these and has some insight.
Any other comments welcome, thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
E55
Or you can remove the fuse for the command for about 5 minutes, located in the trunk.
A hard reset, removal of positive and negative terminals for 5 minutes can't hurt. I did it once when swapping my battery before. All is well.
A hard reset, removal of positive and negative terminals for 5 minutes can't hurt. I did it once when swapping my battery before. All is well.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
e63 NA
Okay I have an update, it seems things never went back to normal fully.
As I said above everything was working fine until I left the headlights on to drain battery (was still able to start it so not full drain).
The one tip I haven't done is to try and disconnect the main electrical harness as Shardul suggested, so that's next to try but here is an update.
When I start the car, the command/stereo typically is working fine. Sometime between 10 seconds and 10 minutes, the Command unit will just Cut out entirely. When this command unit cuts out, the Lighters in the car no longer work, and certain interior lights don't work. Also the heads up display on my gauges will show the radio on but it won't let me change anything (as it's off). Within 5 minutes it will usually cut back on. At this point it will either come back on with full functionality (sub woofer knocking all electronics working), or it will come back with partial electronics and certain interior functions will not work. Then it will go off again.
I replaced a ton of the fuses in the truck, and thought I had isolated it. But then same thing keeps happening.
Any other suggestions would be great. I had my stereo guy take a look at it with me and we couldn't figure out the electrical issue either.
As I said above everything was working fine until I left the headlights on to drain battery (was still able to start it so not full drain).
The one tip I haven't done is to try and disconnect the main electrical harness as Shardul suggested, so that's next to try but here is an update.
When I start the car, the command/stereo typically is working fine. Sometime between 10 seconds and 10 minutes, the Command unit will just Cut out entirely. When this command unit cuts out, the Lighters in the car no longer work, and certain interior lights don't work. Also the heads up display on my gauges will show the radio on but it won't let me change anything (as it's off). Within 5 minutes it will usually cut back on. At this point it will either come back on with full functionality (sub woofer knocking all electronics working), or it will come back with partial electronics and certain interior functions will not work. Then it will go off again.
I replaced a ton of the fuses in the truck, and thought I had isolated it. But then same thing keeps happening.
Any other suggestions would be great. I had my stereo guy take a look at it with me and we couldn't figure out the electrical issue either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,671
Likes: 61
From: NOMAD
EQS AMG, E53 AMG, GLE63s
Maybe the seller who sold you the car should have told you this... LOL!
I had that problem once but didn't think it would come back. I took the radio apart and plugged everything back in. Radio takes about 10-15min to remove.
I had that problem once but didn't think it would come back. I took the radio apart and plugged everything back in. Radio takes about 10-15min to remove.
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