Phoenix Woman Tries to Change Mercedes Battery. Then She Notices Something

A woman learns the hard way that Mercedes-Benz vehicles do require specialized tools and knowledge to maintain.

TikTok user Emily (@rredavlogs) posted a video with her realization on Aug. 1. In the video, she shows herself driving the Mercedes in question with a worried look on her face. The camera flips around and shows a “stop vehicle; leave engine running” alert on the display. In the on-screen text, Emily writes, “So it’s true. You do need special tools for a Mercedes-Benz.”

The video cuts to a clip of what’s under the Mercedes’ hood. It appears that the warning light came on after she replaced the Mercedes’ battery. “I’m just trying to change this battery, man,” Emily writes in the caption.

Viewers React to the Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Revelation

In the comments section, several Mercedes owners and technicians came to the rescue with advice based on experience.

“You can’t even just change the battery,” wrote one person. “You have to plug a computer and recalibrate the whole system. Otherwise, you’ll fry the electric.”

A second user agreed. “You need to let the car know it’s a new battery. It’s your first baddie (Euro car), I see,” they wrote.

A third person said, “You need an OBD2 scanner to replace a battery.” Emily replied, asking for more specificity. In response, the user explained, “Basically, when you replace a battery you need to tell the computer of the car that you put a new battery in it. To do that you need a special tool.”

Of course, other viewers weighed in with jokes or unsolicited advice. “Everyone wants a foreign ‘till it’s time to take care of a foreign,” wrote one person.

Someone else advised, “Never get a foreign unless it’s brand new.”

Are Mercedes-Benzes Easy to Maintain?

According to Mercedes-Benz of Smithtown, changing a Mercedes-Benz battery is actually achievable for the home mechanic. However, the dealership does recommend against trying to do bigger jobs, like brakes or alternator replacements, yourself.

Midtronics explains that some vehicle brands—including BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi—require battery registration after a replacement. These vehicles come with a system that manages the battery and makes sure it’s running efficiently. 

As the battery degrades over time, the system adjusts to run on less than a full charge. When you put a new battery in, an OBD-II device lets your car’s electrical system know that it’s dealing with a fresh battery. If you skip this step, the electrical system won’t recognize the new battery, and that can cause an overload.

Motor1 contacted Emily via email for comment.