The “Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine running” is a warning message common among Mercedes Benz owners. However, most people don’t know how to respond to the message or how severe it is.
If the message ever displays on your dashboard while driving, then the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to stop your vehicle by shifting to P and leaving your car’s engine to run for a few minutes.
The most exciting thing about this car trouble is that it usually comes on when you never expect it, especially while driving. However, you don’t have to freak out as a minor power glitch causes it.
In this article, we’ll show you all you need to know about the “stop Vehicle, Leave Engine running” message, including its causes and how to get it fixed.
Why Does My Mercedes Say Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine Running
As we said earlier, the stop Vehicle Leave Engine running message is common among Mercedes Benz cars, especially those produced between 2015 and above. This includes the C300, E300, C43 AMG, etc.
The “Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine Running” is a malfunction on your dash when there’s a low battery voltage. This warning message is exclusive to Mercedes Benz users.
On the other hand, a low battery voltage can be caused by various reasons, including a bad or low car battery, a failing alternator, or faults in the wiring harness of the car’s electrical system.
It’s left to the owner to diagnose and fix the issue. However, the general solution is to stop the vehicle and let the engine run for at least a few minutes to reset the error message.
While this works most of the time, there are times when it might not work, and there’s also no assurance that this will resolve the issue, depending on the cause of the low voltage.
You should diagnose the issue’s root cause and fix it once and for all.
What Causes Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine Running
The “stop Vehicle, Leave Engine running” is a low voltage issue attributed to a low or bad battery, a failing alternator, or a problem in the wiring connection.
Let’s see how these individual scenarios could contribute to the error message on your Mercedes dashboard.
Low Battery
Your car battery powers your car and other electrical components in it, and with the help of an alternator, it gets recharged as the vehicle is in motion.
However, if you leave the headlights or other electrical appliances turned on, especially when the car Engine is turned off, then your battery might run down quickly.
Also, If you keep your battery on a cold surface or when you don’t store the battery correctly, the battery will discharge, causing a failure.
You can jump-start the battery and leave the engine running to get the battery recharged by the alternator.
Dead Battery
Mercedes Benz comes with a primary and auxiliary battery, which could result in an issue like this if they ever go wrong. The problem occurs when the battery has been used for a long time and needs replacement.
Failure to replace the bad battery will result in frequent “stop Vehicle, Leave Engine running” notices on your dashboard. This is one of the signs of a dying battery.
Faulty Alternator or Voltage Regulator
The alternator is crucial in ensuring the battery is recharged while driving. If the alternator fails, the battery won’t be recharged, leading to low voltage.
This will cause any battery installed into the vehicle to wear out or damage faster. This is because there’s no functional support system, which is the alternator.
You can contact a mechanic to help inspect your alternator, but it’s best to replace it every six years under normal driving conditions.
An issue in the Wiring Harness
The wiring connection between the battery and the alternator down to the ignition must work correctly for the engine to crank. If there’s corrosion, break, or tangle in the connection, then issues like this arise.
It would be best if you employed a professional to look into the setup of your car’s electrical components to prevent your vehicle from running into low battery voltage while in motion.
Other causes include;
- Damaged or Off serpentine belt
- Too many electronic devices connected to the auxiliary outlets
- Too many electronic devices are connected to the auxiliary socket
- Loose battery connection
- Keeping the headlights on
How to Fix Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running on Mercedes Benz
Most times, you need to park the car with the engine running for some time for the message to clear from your dashboard. However, sometimes you’d need to recharge the battery or change a faulty Alternator.
In this section, we will discuss all the possible techniques you can employ to fix the stop Vehicle Leave Engine running issue on your Mercedes Benz.
Leave the Engine Running
As the error message states – “stop Vehicle, Leave Engine running” – the issue might be resolved if you park your car and leave the engine running for some minutes.
Once you notice the message while driving, shift to P and leave your Engine steam for some time while watching your dashboard closely.
This should recharge your battery and eliminate the low power voltage issue, which is the root of the problem. If this doesn’t work, you should take the next step.
Charge your Batteries
After you’ve confirmed the number of batteries that come with your car and the proper techniques you can use to charge them, you can jump-start the vehicle and allow the batteries to be recharged by the alternator.
To charge the batteries, move the vehicle on the highway for at least 20 minutes or more. While the message might still appear on the dashboard during the process, the error will clear once the batteries are fully charged.
Also, If the battery is completely dead, you can take it to an auto repair shop to recharge it with their car battery chargers, or some specialist can replace the lead acid in the battery to make it more efficient.
In addition, you can use a trickle charger or a battery maintainer if you’ll be away for a very long time.
Test and Replace the Batteries
If charging the batteries on your Mercedes Benz doesn’t fix the dashboard notice, you should consider testing and getting a battery replacement.
You can use a multimeter to check if your car battery is still functional before getting a replacement.
Here are some maintenance techniques you can employ to make sure your battery serves you to the fullest.
- Avoid placing the battery on cold ground.
- Prevent corrosion on the battery terminals by keeping them far from water or moisture.
- Test drive your car at least 30 minutes weekly
- Use a trickle charger if you’ll be away for a long time.
- Regularly inspect your battery for any physical damage or bulges.
With all this in place, you can rest assured that your battery will serve you.
Change the Alternator
If you’ve changed several batteries and the problem persists, then the problem is from a faulty Alternator. In this case, you must replace the alternator to eliminate the trouble.
You can take your car to an auto repair shop and have them help you with this process, as any defect in the wiring harness can result in more trouble.
Call a Mechanic
If you’re a novice in car repairs and don’t know how to check your battery or alternator, then contacting a mechanic is the best solution.
They’ll help you diagnose, troubleshoot, and fix the cause of the stop Vehicle Leave Engine running message on your dashboard.
FAQs
How long does a Mercedes battery last?
The battery of your Mercedes Benz usually lasts 4 to 5 years from the purchase period. Also, driving and maintenance conditions can impact your Mercedes battery’s duration.
How can you tell if your Mercedes-Benz battery is going bad?
Here are some symptoms associated with a bad Mercedes-Benz battery:
- Headlight dims on idling
- The headlight brightens on the revving engine.
- Visible corrosion on battery and terminals
- Longer engine start-up times on your Benz
- Regular jump starts are needed.
There are other symptoms, but there are significant signs to look out for in a Mercedes Benz that’ll let you know that your Batteries are going bad.
RESOURCEFUL LINKS
— Check Engine Light Blinking then Stops: Solved
— How To Remove A Broken Bolt From An Engine Block
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