help with remote start
 

on 2022 GLS,
My daughter's new car.

i need your help dad,* *can you ask the mercedes forum if anyone has experienced*the new cars' remote start not working when it is real cold?* * I think the computer system froze on my new car this week,* and the computer wouldn't*turn on right away when I got in the car, AND my remote start would not work either,* I assume*because the computer froze.* *The dealership said they had never heard of such a thing,* but of course a remote start freezing*when*it is below freezing*kind of defeats the purpose.
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Anybody have any info on this subject please?

Indiana? Just for grins what was the temp?

columbus oh....temp? dunno ...enough to freeze a remote start.

OEM-installed remote starters usually review the status of certain conditions before allowing the engine to start. For example, on my Honda Pilot, the OEM remote start will not activate if the car's four-way flashers are on. Another condition has to do with battery voltage. Even though we are discussing a new car, I would wonder if the extreme cold has lowered the battery voltage to a point where the remote starting system will not work.

Prior to the non-start event, when was the last time that the vehicle was driven? With new cars drawing a fair amount of current with the engine off, and cold weather hindering battery efficiency, perhaps the battery was marginal.

Thanks Paul!

I was doubtful about a weak battery causing the problem your daughter is having so I reached out to one of my former MB colleagues and asked about this issue.

It turns out that this may be caused by the control unit (HERMES), which is in charge of the remote start feature (as well as a bunch of other stuff), may have been affected by an over-the-air update. This update would’ve taken place without your daughter being aware of it. If this is the case she’ll need to bring the vehicle to her dealer and they’ll perform an “initial start-up” on HERMES. This issue has only surfaced recently. The root cause is that MB switched from AT&T to Deutsch Telekom as the service provider, which was the reason for the over-the-air update. Keep in mind that the remote start feature may not work in areas of poor cell coverage.

Of course, a weak battery may be at fault. Another member posted that the rest-current draw on newer cars can drain the battery after periods of non-use but I disagree. For the last several years MB has gone to great lengths to minimize this. Believe it or not, a modern MB draws far less current at rest than the older ones. Your daughters car has a rest-current draw of ~15 mA (0.015A). By comparison, a W124, W203, W163, etc. will draw around 50 -70mA.

Anyhow, I hope this helps, please let us know how it goes.....

Thanks!