SmartKey Not Detecting
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14
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AMG E63S Wagon
SmartKey Not Detecting
Hi, I am having the same issue with my AMG E63S station wagon and it only has 300 miles so it’s brand new. I can open and close car doors by pressing key fob buttons but the car doesn’t turn on with the fob in my pocket. I tried both fobs and same issue. I can only turn the car on by placing the fob inside the little nook in front of cup holder in center console which the manual calls the marked spot to operate in emergency mode. Very annoying and trying to figure out if there is a way to fix this at home...after a lot of online research I think it has something to do with software / driver authorization system / IMMOBILIZER?
the Error message I get is “The SmartKey detection function is malfunctioning” and “place the key in the marked space see operators manual”...I read the manual and the marked space is the little nook where I have to physically place the key fob and the car starts in emergency mode. But of course Keyless Go etc doesn’t work at all.
Just before all of this happened I had walked about 15 feet away from the car with the car on and my key fob in my pocket to close the front door of my house wondering if this tripped something in the computer related to the anti theft software and then took the key fob out of the driver authorization system...just a hunch!
the Error message I get is “The SmartKey detection function is malfunctioning” and “place the key in the marked space see operators manual”...I read the manual and the marked space is the little nook where I have to physically place the key fob and the car starts in emergency mode. But of course Keyless Go etc doesn’t work at all.
Just before all of this happened I had walked about 15 feet away from the car with the car on and my key fob in my pocket to close the front door of my house wondering if this tripped something in the computer related to the anti theft software and then took the key fob out of the driver authorization system...just a hunch!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 811
From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
I have the same annoying issue as you. Multiple software updates and fob key battery replacement did not resolve it at all. I was told my cell phone may have some signal interference with the fob key signal. My issues are sometimes it happens and sometimes not, so it is very random.
As for that error message, my Service Advisor simply tell me to press on the left hand side "home/menu" button and it will be gone. don't worry if the car will be immobilized while driving.
As for that error message, my Service Advisor simply tell me to press on the left hand side "home/menu" button and it will be gone. don't worry if the car will be immobilized while driving.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 811
From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
Fob Key itself is not the main issue. It’s the software inside the car that detects the key
my problem has existed from day 1 and now nearly 15 months later, I have learned to live with it. 😕
my problem has existed from day 1 and now nearly 15 months later, I have learned to live with it. 😕
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 811
From: Toronto, Ont, Canda
go fast grocery getter wagon
I have given up. Every time I bring it in, it’s a 3/4 day event and waste of my time as the end result is the same. My last software update was in Jan 2019. Maybe if this annoying issue gets much worse, I will go in . For now, it’s random.
lets hope you have better luck
lets hope you have better luck
Last edited by bobblehead; Mar 3, 2019 at 09:28 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4
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2016 GL 450
I have given up. Every time I bring it in, it’s a 3/4 day event and waste of my time as the end result is the same. My last software update was in Jan 2019. Maybe if this annoying issue gets much worse, I will go in . For now, it’s random.
lets hope you have better luck
lets hope you have better luck
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
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AMG E63S Wagon
Thank you for your response to the thread. I will continue researching the issue and plan to make some calls this week to corporate to see if we can get an engineer to look into this and the thread will be helpful to demonstrate it seems to be an issue for a number of people. Will revert with anything I am able to find out.
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 70
Likes: 46
From: San Diego, CA
2019 E63S Wagon
Lemon law
I believe the Lemon Law requires them to refund your purchase price or give you a new car if the car has been in 4 times for the same problem during the first year .
Suggest you ask service manager for the procedure to file a lemon law claim.
Suggest you ask service manager for the procedure to file a lemon law claim.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
E63s AMG Estate (W213)
I had exactly the same issue and the key was being jammed by a Mi-Fi hotspot that used NFC and/or 5 GHz band Wi-Fi. Not sure what it was, but once I removed this from my car the problem went away. Hope this helps, Paul.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14
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AMG E63S Wagon
I called MB Customer Service and was lucky to speak with Bert (ext. 6289). He seemed to know a lot about the keys. He suggested I leave the key fob in the area / nook directly in front of the cup holder in the center console for a few drives and the computer should re-synch the key fob on its own. After a few drives the key did resynch and I was back in working order. Then last night I had the car running and I stepped out of it to get something out of the trunk while the car was still running and with the key in my pocket...when I got back into the driver's seat I realized the key had become "disconnected" from the computer and I am back to square one. The key fobs are extremely sensitive!
Does anyone know if MB has a manual on these keys? The owners manual in the car doesn't have enough detail and I am sure there is a lot more to learn. Will try to call Bert back.
Does anyone know if MB has a manual on these keys? The owners manual in the car doesn't have enough detail and I am sure there is a lot more to learn. Will try to call Bert back.
