2004 SL 600 "electrical consumers offline" malfunction

[cspears1]

I have a 2004 SL 600 (with about 17K miles on it) which starts and runs fine for about 10mins. The last couple times I've driven it (I have been driving it every day for the last 2 weeks, prior to that very little) I have been getting the message "electrical consumers offline" malfunction. The radio seems to quiet down when the msg comes on too. This malfunction does not seem to exist for the first 8-10 mins of driving.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by cspears1

I have a 2004 SL 600 (with about 17K miles on it) which starts and runs fine for about 10mins. The last couple times I've driven it (I have been driving it every day for the last 2 weeks, prior to that very little) I have been getting the message "electrical consumers offline" malfunction. The radio seems to quiet down when the msg comes on too. This malfunction does not seem to exist for the first 8-10 mins of driving.

You may want to Search the R230 Forum and post your question.

[bobterry99]

Originally Posted by cspears1

I have been getting the message "electrical consumers offline" malfunction.

The electrical system of your car includes a control module and two batteries. The "Starter" battery is in the engine compartment, and the "Systems" battery is in the trunk.

One of the functions of the control module is to monitor the voltage on the Systems battery. If the voltage falls below 10.8 volts, then the control module goes into "Emergency" mode. In this mode certain accessories are disabled or limited, and the driver is notified by the "consumers offline" message in the instrument cluster.

It would be normal for a car that has been sitting unused for some time to go to Emergency mode at start-up, since the systems battery would be somewhat run-down. But for the system to go to Emergency minutes after the car has started is unusual to me.

Since the batteries seem to be recharging, I would suppose that the alternator is not the problem. That leaves the control module for the batteries, and my guess is that is the problem.

If you have a voltmeter, you might measure the voltage on the Systems battery after you start the car. If the voltage were continuously well-above 10.8 volts, then I think this would tend to confirm a faulty control module.