battery protection: convenience functions temporarily unavailable - new E

[calum]

Hi all,

I'm starting to get this warning message "battery protection: convenience functions temporarily unavailable" every day now, every time I take the car out. It's starting to get really annoying. This is on a new E (had it two months).

At the moment the car does tend to get used only for short runs: is this msg really "normal" in those conditions, or should I suspect a problem? I do have COMAND, and I have seen a thread suggesting that it's normal, but another suggested that it might be a wiring problem.

Nothing seems to stop working; there's no functional problem at all. Any idea what "convenience functions" are actually unavailable? The manual doesn't say (as I recall).

 

[Stratman]

Two months old? Take it back and let the Stealer worry about what's causing it. That's what you paid for remember.

 

[Satch]

All the basics work but stuff like the electric cabin heater, surround lighting, power seats etc are switched off.

This is the subject of the global recall announced 7 weeks ago: battery control software & altenator control packs. May be worth dialing the hotline to see if your car is afflicted even if it is quite new: component problem & software issue.

EDIT: this one

31-3-2005: Worldwide Recall: On vehicles with six and eight-cylinder petrol engines built between June 2001 and November 2004 the voltage regulator in the alternator is being checked and if necessary replaced. On E-Class and CLS-Class models made from January 2002 to January 2005, new battery control unit software is to enhance the on-board power supply. In addition, the braking systems on E-Class, SL-Class and CLS-Class models from the production period June 2001 to March 2005 are also to be updated. Customers are being informed in writing. Mercedes-Benz has set up a special hotline to answer customers' questions: Hotline for Europe: 00800 1 777 7777

I experienced this message a few times, usually after doing short runs for while or not using the vehicle for 5 or 6 days. A long run puts it right. Dealer advised me to switch off the surround lighting feature from the menu unless I really needed it. This lights up quite a few items, front foglamps included, every time you open the car up with the remote.

May be coincidence but since having disabled this not seen the message.

 

[Shude]

Two months old? Take it back and let the Stealer worry about what's causing it. That's what you paid for remember.

Prepare yourself for "no fault found"

 

[calum]

Two months old? Take it back and let the Stealer worry about what's causing it. That's what you paid for remember.

Yes, absolutely, but before I get fed a lot of old manure I would like the expert opinion of the forums here, so I'm prepared thanks.

 

[calum]

All the basics work but stuff like the electric cabin heater, surround lighting, power seats etc are switched off.

This is the subject of the global recall announced 7 weeks ago: battery control software & altenator control packs. May be worth dialing the hotline to see if your car is afflicted even if it is quite new: component problem & software issue.

Thanks; I did wonder about the recall, but forgot to mention it in my post. I had already rung them, and got some detail - still awaiting my letter from MB. Have others had theirs, yet?

 

[Brian WH]

I have had this too.

I do a lot of short runs and it is then that it comes on. I have turned off the surround lighting and that has stopped it happening.

A battery needs 10 miles to recover from a start.

 

[calum]

thanks Brian; I do have the surround lighting on, and a lot of < 10 mile journeys recently. Still, it will be interesting to see if it continues past the recall/fix, if I ever get my letter.

 

[saorbust]

Its the recall notice for sure. I've had the work done to mine, and had no issues since. I used to get the dynamic seats switching off without warning - particularly after a long journey or after the heating being on for extended periods. Now I no longer have the issue.

Get the work done - its worth it.

Clarky.

 

[RichardM]

Its the recall notice for sure. I've had the work done to mine, and had no issues since. I used to get the dynamic seats switching off without warning - particularly after a long journey or after the heating being on for extended periods.

I've never had this but probably because I haven't got any of these fancy options

 

[saorbust]

I've never had this but probably because I haven't got any of these fancy options

It usually helps !

 

[calum]

thanks much,
have you chaps had your recall letters, yet? No sign of one here.

 

[calum]

off-topic: our W169 arrived today. marvelous

 

[RichardM]

What's a W169??

I haven't had any letter yet either.

 

[calum]

What's a W169??

sorry, the new A-class. Old A was W168.

 

[RichardM]

Thanks, the only numbers I know are W210/W211 and W202/W203!

 

[Brian WH]

No letter either yet?

Last service they carried out 6 recalls with no letters about any of them, so expect this one will be done at next service?

 

[glojo]

At the moment the car does tend to get used only for short runs: is this msg really "normal" in those conditions, or should I suspect a problem? I do have COMAND, and I have seen a thread suggesting that it's normal, but another suggested that it might be a wiring problem.(as I recall).

I think those of us that have a number of options do indeed need at least a ten mile run (before getting into the car) to put back what we took out.

Our vehicle refused to start a couple of weeks ago, it came up with a message about SBC no longer working and the vehicle needing longer distances to stop. I called the 0800 number, a technician came down from Exeter replaced the main car battery, (under warranty) then gave the car a thorough check over. On completion he had to drive the car a mile or so to re-set the tyre pressure monitor. Since then no further problems. The car is now just over fourteen months old.

I once made a list of everything that is activated prior to starting the engine and it was quite surprising. I cannot find it at the moment, but there is the remote central (un)locking, the headlights come on, the SBC activates, my wife uses the electronic moving floor, the easy entrance\exit feature, glow plug (for diesels), interior lighting, folding mirrors etc etc.

Our car does quite a lot of short 8 mile round trip journeys so I can perhaps understand the problem. Fingers crossed it does not happen again.

The condition of the battery on your car can be checked and that is something I would recommend you do as soon as is convienant.

Good luck with the car,
John

 

[Ady]

The only time I had this was when I picked the car up but we did sit in it for well over an hour going through ALL the options and without running the engine at all. I noticed it as I went to drive away, so I stopped and asked the nice young handover lady what it meant and she explained and assured me it would be OK after a few minutes of driving. Sure enough after about 4 minutes it cleared not to be seen again.
It is nice to know that there are two batteries though so even if you do flatten the main one the car will still unlock and start .

I have had the dynamic seat switch its self off though. At first I used to fumble for the button (how can they pay so much attention to detail for everything else and then put those buttons in such a stupid position ) until I realised I could get it back on by pressing the memory 1 button again.

 

[calum]

thanks for the comments. My experience suggests that perhaps I do have a problem. I drive the car immediately after unlocking it, and after perhaps 2 minutes I get the msg. Every time I go anywhere. I'm not sitting playing with the gadgets. So perhaps mine is indeed the battery control software. I will see if I can get it sorted out at the dealers (although they have already said "c'est normale").
thanks again, all.