The “Stop vehicle, leave engine running” message is among the most frequent issue you will experience as a Mercedes Benz owner.
This issue mostly occurs in the latest Mercedes-Benz models, such as C300, GLC300, E300, C200, C43 AMG, C250, C180, etc.
However, the good news is that this is typically a minor issue that is simple to resolve.
In this post, we’ll look into what the “Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine Running” warning in Mercedes Benz vehicles means, why it occurs, and how to correct and reset the message.
Table of contents
What Does “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running” Mean?
This warning message simply means that your Mercedes has detected a low battery charge, possibly due to a defective battery or an issue with the battery connections.
Modern Mercedes-Benz C-class vehicles, such as the W205 S205 A205 C205 S-class, GLC X253 and C253, as well as many more models, are renowned for their cutting-edge technology.
Therefore, when there is a problem with the primary battery and the charge status is low or the battery voltage falls below 12.5 volts, the car dashboard will display the warning message “Stop vehicle, shift to P, leave engine running” and the battery icon.
This mostly occurs when you haven’t driven your Mercedes for a while – the charge will deplete over time due to a long duration of parking. Therefore, it is important to keep your engine running so that it can keep the car charged.
Causes of “Stop Vehicle, Leave Engine Running”
1. Using Accessories too Frequently
If you have too many devices permanently connected to your car’s auxiliary outlets, you can ultimately run into a dead battery.
An illustration of this would be if there were five of you in the car and you were all charging your iPhones at the same time. To do this, a USB extension port is used.
Although the automobile radio is also on, it is not a good idea to use it, especially when traveling small distances. Your cell phones or other electrical gadgets won’t charge as quickly.
2. Leaving the Lights for Too Long
The auxiliary battery drains when you leave your interior or exterior light on for too long. Energy loss may occur when the automobile battery supplies electricity to the headlights. However, by using a convenient portable jump starter, you may resolve this by jumpstarting the battery.
Also, you must understand that leaving your lights on for so long can shorten your battery’s lifespan.
3. Damaged Alternator
A faulty alternator can result in the “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running” message. The alternator largely powered the system of the automobile. Because it can transform engine energy into electrical energy. This power is used to recharge the auxiliary battery.
Every time you start your vehicle, the faulty alternator will continually deplete the battery, and this will result in battery failure.
4. Parasitic Drain
A parasitic drain, which takes place when the vehicle’s accessories continue to suck power from the main battery and/or auxiliary battery even after the key has been removed from the ignition, can also bring the mistake on.
Small parasitic drains are frequent and happen when the battery provides power to run the clock, activate security, and save radio presets. However, if the car’s electronic system malfunctions, major systems can operate even when the engine is off, consuming the battery.
5. Faulty Voltage Regulator
Your Mercedes Benz may have a defective voltage regulator if you ever see the warning “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running.” The battery will no longer be able to charge if the voltage regulator in your automobile burns out. The battery will eventually run out of power due to this.
The voltage regulator makes sure that the automotive battery receives efficient, stable charging voltage and power. It is also in charge of giving other electrical components enough voltage and power.
6. Undercharged Battery
If your Mercedes Benz’s dashboard displays the “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running” warning, the battery is probably the source of the issue.
Your car battery might need to be recharged if your Mercedes is parked for a few weeks or if you don’t drive it frequently enough. When not in use, I suggest starting your Mercedes and letting it idle for a few minutes at least once every two days.
It is important to drive your car frequently, especially after installing a new battery. This is so that the alternator can recharge the battery. If you don’t do this, the battery won’t have enough energy stored and will eventually discharge.
7. Poor Installation
Loose cables or rust may be to blame for a battery’s performance problems in a recently manufactured vehicle.
Incorrect installation and loosening of the electrical wires can result in battery failure. You need to make sure that the positive and negative terminals are tightly secured to fix this issue.
If you keep seeing this warning message, we advise you to check your battery’s positive and negative terminals. If there is corrosion, use a battery terminal brush to clean any affected posts.
How to Fix “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running” on Mercedes Benz
1. Stop the Vehicle and Leave Engine Running
This is the best course of action to take. Stop your car and leave the engine running in a safe location.
Ensure to switch off all the lights, A/C (Air Conditioning), and other accessories that require the use of a car’s battery. Let the car run for 20 to 30 minutes before recharging it.
2. Replace or Recharge Your Battery
If you have followed the instruction on the warning message and it doesn’t work, then you need to consider replacing your battery with a new one or charging it.
This charging method still works even when your car has been parked for a long time. You don’t need to keep the engine running for it to operate.
Connect the positive and negative jump-starting posts on the battery in the engine bay to charge. Alternatively, you might remove the battery and charge it.
Read: Dead Car Battery Tricks
Conclusion
When your Mercedes Benz’s dashboard displays the message “Stop Vehicle Leave Engine Running,” it simply means there is a battery problem.
So, whenever you encounter this issue, you simply need to stop the vehicle and keep the engine running for around 10 minutes so that this warning will automatically reset.
However, if this warning doesn’t go off, you can replace the battery.