2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 4MATIC Batteries

651 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
Close doors
to lock themYou wanted to lock the vehicle but not all
doors were closed.Close doors and lock vehicle again.
Do not
forget keyThis display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine turned off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.Take the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you when leaving the ve-
hicle.
Please
remove keyYou have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Change
key batteriesThe batteries in the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* are discharged.Replace the batteries (page 676).
Key
still in vehicleA SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the ve-
hicle from the outside.Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* out of
the vehicle.

676 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey/SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* are discharged, the ve-
hicle can no longer be locked or unlocked.
It is recommended to have the batteries re-
placed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 671).1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Insert mechanical key 1 into opening.
Press mechanical key 1 in direction of
arrow.
The battery compartment is unlatched.
Pull battery compartment 2 out of the
housing.
Warning!G
Batteries contain poisonous and corrosive
substances. Therefore keep the batteries
out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
iWhen inserting the batteries, make sure
they are clean and free of lint.
iWhen changing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are available
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

677 Practical hints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
3Batteries
4Contact springs
Pull out batteries3.
Using a line-free cloth, insert new bat-
teries 3 under contact springs 4 with
the positive terminal (+) side facing up.
Return battery compartment 2 into
housing until it locks into place.
Slide the mechanical key back into the
SmartKey/SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Check the operation of the SmartKey/
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.

692 Practical hints
Batteries
Your vehicle is equipped with two batter-
ies:

The starter battery, located in the en-
gine compartment

The battery for electrical consumers
(consumer battery), located in the
trunk
The batteries should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated ser-
vice life. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
battery maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for short-dis-
tance trips, you will need to have the bat-
tery charge checked more frequently.
When replacing the batteries, always use
batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz.
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about
steps you need to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12-volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
Warning!G
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth-
ing, especially gloves, apron and
faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills immediate-
ly with clear water. Contact a
physician if necessary.
Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.

693 Practical hints
Batteries
!The consumer battery located in the trunk is
a v
alve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery, also
referred to as “fleece” battery. Such batteries do
not require topping-up of the electrolyte level.
VRLA batteries therefore do not have cell caps
and the battery cover is non-removable. Do not
attempt to open the consumer battery as other-
wise the battery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require top-
ping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the bat-
tery condition must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test. Refer to
Maintenance Booklet for battery condition test-
ing intervals.
As with any other battery, disconnect the con-
sumer battery if you do not intend to operate
your vehicle for an extended period of time to
prevent battery discharge or connect an acces-
sory battery charge unit expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model to main-
tain the battery charge. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further information.!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the facto-
ry-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation and the later-
al plug must always be securely installed when
the vehicle is in operation.
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Take care that you do not become statically
charged, e.g. by wearing synthetic clothing
or rubbing against textiles. For this reason,
you also should not pull or push the battery
over carpets or other synthetic materials.
Never touch the battery first. First touch the
outside body of the vehicle in order to re-
lease any possible electrostatic charges.


694 Practical hints
Batteries
Starter battery (example illustration from
S550)
1Negative terminal
2Positive terminal
Disconnecting starter battery
Secure vehicle in place with electronic
parking brake (
page 395).
Shift the automatic transmission toP
(
page 399).
Do not rub the battery with rags or cloths.
The battery could explode if touched due to
electrostatic charge or due to spark forma-
tion.
!Switch off the engine and switch off the ve-
hicle’s internal electrical functions (
page 695)
before you disconnect or remove the battery’s
terminal clamps. You could otherwise destroy
electronic assemblies such as the generator.
Have the battery checked regularly by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Refer to Mainte-
nance Booklet for maintenance intervals or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
further information.
!Do not connect any consumers directly to
the starter battery. The starter battery will other-
wise be discharged.
iOnly replace a discharged battery with a bat-
tery recommended by Mercedes-Benz. The con-
sumer battery is installed in the trunk in such a
way that it is safeguarded as much as possible
against mechanical destruction in the event of
an accident.
iRemove SmartKey from starter switch (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the vehicle’s
on-board electronics have status 0)
(
page 344) when you turn off the engine and
no longer require any electrical consumers. The
vehicle then uses very little power and the con-
sumer battery is spared.
iIf the consumer battery is discharged, you
must use the mechanical key to unlock the vehi-
cle (
page 671). Since the vehicle has a sepa-
rate starter battery, however, you can still start
the vehicle.
!Always disconnect the starter battery in the
order described below. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle’s electronics.
!Switch off the vehicle’s internal electrical
functions before disconnecting the starter bat-
tery. If the vehicle is stationary for more than one
hour with the SmartKey removed, you do not
need to switch off the vehicle’s internal electrical
functions.


695 Practical hints
Batteries
Switching off vehicle’s internal
electrical functions
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 1.
Wait for 30 seconds.
The vehicle’s internal electrical func-
tions are switched off.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0.Disconnecting starter battery
Open the hood (page 541).
Use a 10-mm open-end wrench to dis-
connect the battery negative lead.
Remove cover2 (page 694) from
the positive terminal.
Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing starter battery
Pull out the battery ventilation hose
from the battery (depending on battery
arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).
Fold bar on starter battery up.
Take out the starter battery.
Charging battery
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
KEYLESS-GO button (
page 345) and use the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO like a normal
SmartKey.
!Do not remove the SmartKey!
iFor your convenience, have the starter bat-
tery removed by a Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the bat-
tery in its installed position. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge battery
in accordance with the separate instruc-
tions for the accessory battery charger.
iHave the batteries charged by a
Mercedes-Benz Center. If you charge the batter-
ies yourself, follow the operating instructions for
your charging device.

696 Practical hints
Batteries
Starter battery
Connect the switched-off charging de-
vice to the terminals of the starter bat-
tery. Observe the operating
instructions in the manual for the
charging device while doing so.
Reinstalling starter battery
Install starter battery in engine com-
partment.
Swing retaining bar down.
Reconnecting starter battery
Make sure that the consumer battery in
the trunk is correctly installed and con-
nected.
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to po-
sition 0 and remove.
Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover2 (
page 694).
Connect negative lead1
(
page 694).
Attach ventilation tube.
Switch on the ignition (page 344).
Start the engine (page 389).
Check vehicle functions.
!Only use charging devices with a maximum
charging voltage of 14.8 V.
Warning!G
During the charge procedure, there is a risk
of acid burns due to gases escaping from
the battery. Do not bend over the battery
during the charge procedure.
!The battery and the battery ventilation hose
must always be securely installed when the vehi-
cle is in operation.
!Always connect the starter battery in the or-
der described below. Otherwise, the vehicle’s
electronics could be damaged.
Warning!G
Do not drive without a properly installed and
connected consumer battery.
Have any work on the consumer battery car-
ried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
!Never invert the terminal connections.
!Make sure that the battery has a plug where
the ventilation tube is attached to it.