Comand causing battery drain?

[trainer]

The Comand was left out of my car by the garage at my request so I have to connect it up each time I want to test it. There have been no issues with current drain over the past week with the Comand removed so it looks like the Comand is the culprit.

I only use the car occasionally as I have a company car. My wife drives the C32 as a daily driver and works late. Saturday was the first opportunity to connect it up and try the burned CD. The short of it is it doesn't load.

I am going to try and get down to Woking to see the guys from Comand UK if they are available between Christmas and New Year.

 

[trainer]

Last night a car alarm started going off for no reason. I looked out of the window and couldn't see any flashing lights so I thought it was a neighbours car. At 3.30 am I went downstairs and outside to hear that it was my car. I went to unlock it but the remote wouldn't work. I used the actual key opened the door but the electronic key would not locate in place - dead battery.

The alarm kept on going off whilst I disconnected the battery and eventually stopped. I am going to get a new battery as I think that the garage was wrong when they said it was okay.

 

[Chas]

Go into COMAND diagnostics and see what version it says. I would think you have the latest if you have the MB logo

Some times on older cars the battery will drain in cold weather very quickly if they dont get a lot of use. I had to charge mine last week. My car needs at least 13 volts to turn the starter, 12 volts =no start, 14.2 volts =fully charged.
Perhaps a new battery might help ?

My experience on this forum suggests the guys on here know more than some of the MB experts. I have saved a fortune and loads of time by listening to people on here who have experienced similar problems.

Like I said 12 volts =NO START, 14.2 volts =fully charged.
My COMAND shut down due to the cold weather this week to save the battery,as I had been using seat warmers, rear screen heater, wipers, headlights, foglights ,COMAND, heater on full etc. all at the same time on short journeys. Fortunately I knew from help on this forum that it was normal, and would be ok after about 40 minutes. I charge mine up every weekend in the exceptionally cold weather

 

[trainer]

Thanks Chas,

I should know the members on this forum have the answer.

The garage I went to wasn't a MB gargae but they told me they had tested the battery and it was fine. I took the battery to Halfords who got 7.2V.

I have a new battery and will see how it goes over the next few weeks. I will be taking the car on regular weekend long trips as I am fit for running again which means 2 hours driving round trip to the hills.

Thanks for the help

 

[trainer]

Up until now the car has been running fine unless I have left the Comand fuse in. However, I went to run my sons girlfriend home and the car wouldn't turnover. Lights etc came on but no start. The Comand fuse has been out for 3 days. The car has only been driven 15 -20 miles a day since then.

The battery is new, the comand fuse is out - what next?

 

[Alfie]

Up until now the car has been running fine unless I have left the Comand fuse in. However, I went to run my sons girlfriend home and the car wouldn't turnover. Lights etc came on but no start. The Comand fuse has been out for 3 days. The car has only been driven 15 -20 miles a day since then.

The battery is new, the comand fuse is out - what next?

Does the car have TV? If so, remove the fuse for the TV.

 

[BenzedUP]

I don't think it's the command unit mate, it's the memory seat's unit under the seat - do you have memory seats on both sides?

I had exactly the same problem on my old C32 and also on my brothers C320 and it was draining the battery.

You could replace it but it's really simple to fix your self!

 

[jaymanek]

normally is the memory seats on these..

Mercedes here in Coventry only charge £58 to diagnose a battery drain issue.. may well be cheaper than messing about.

 

[Swozza]

Yes I can confirm what Jay has just said. Mine took quite a long time to diagnose. In the end in was only MB who found what was responsible.

My advise would be to take it to a main dealer and have them sort it out, it may cost the earth but it was piece of mind in the end..

My C32 drain was due to memory seat controller. It had a 3amp drain

 

[Alfie]

Agree with all here except I have seen a few TV tuners do this aswell as the well documented comand battery drain issue.

 

[trainer]

Hi,

Alfie there is no TV tuner in my Comand.

Benzed Up, Swozza and Jay there are memory seats on both sides. I have an MB dealer on the way to work who could run a test. However, if it is simple test I can do myself then if you can tell me how I would appreciate it.

 

[BenzedUP]

Hi,

Alfie there is no TV tuner in my Comand.

Benzed Up, Swozza and Jay there are memory seats on both sides. I have an MB dealer on the way to work who could run a test. However, if it is simple test I can do myself then if you can tell me how I would appreciate it.

I'll PM you a copy of the instruction on how to do it your self instead of spending £300+ with mercedes for the memory seat unit!

I use to unplug the cable from the unit at night so it doesnt drain the battery!

 

[skymastor]

Trainer,

I had a similar problem on my W203 for a while and it turned out to be the rear SAM unit. MB diagnosed and replaced it and the car has been good ever since.

Just a thought.....

 

[trainer]

Hmmmm, I think I need to get a diagnoostic done at MB. We will have t osee if my salesman friend can put his money where his mouth is and get it done for free.

 

[Swozza]

Trainer. I purchase my car from Jay and for all his great efforts (taking into account that he's an independent dealer and has excellent engineering facilities) couldn't find the drain. It was first diagnosed as the command system and they replaced some parts. Unfortunately it wasn't to be and it was MB who found the actual drain within hours. It was the near side seat controller and cost about £400 include diag cost to fix. Yes expensive, but the job was done.

 

[jaymanek]

Since the above we have had 2-3 of these issues.. its always been one of the seat controllers.

 

[trainer]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the info. I will try and get a diagnostic booked in with MB as my independent doesn't have star. Benzed up is sending me the fix for the seat controllers just in case I am capable of fixing it.

 

[trainer]

Hi all, had the results back from the MB dealership. As a few of you had thought it was actually the seat controller. Thankfully it was the passenger side so no major issue there. Benzed up sent me instructions on a quick fix, nut think this will disable the memory. Still it is a solution. Thanks for all your help

 

[Northerner]

I'll PM you a copy of the instruction on how to do it your self instead of spending £300+ with mercedes for the memory seat unit!

I use to unplug the cable from the unit at night so it doesnt drain the battery!

Hi - My C32 is suffering from the same problem, any chance you could pm these instructions to me as well?

 

[Northerner]

Hi all, had the results back from the MB dealership. As a few of you had thought it was actually the seat controller. Thankfully it was the passenger side so no major issue there. Benzed up sent me instructions on a quick fix, nut think this will disable the memory. Still it is a solution. Thanks for all your help

How long did it take for your battery to drain from recharging to the car not starting?