Troubleshooting Mercedes Me Pre Climate Control Not Working?
When Mercedes me pre-climate control does not work, it is most often a communication problem between the app and the car. Start the car manually, switch it off, get out and try again from the app. If that fails, check that the climate settings on the infotainment screen have not been erased, check that the feature is switched on in the app, and check that your remote services subscription has not expired. If the air itself is not cold, the cause is in the A/C system: compressor, refrigerant or cooling fans.
Mercedes-Benz drivers can cool or heat the cabin before they even open the door, using the Mercedes me app (in the US now called the Mercedes-Benz app) on a compatible smartphone. The app also covers other remote functions such as locking the doors and starting the engine.
TL;DR
- Most common cause: a communication problem between the Mercedes me app and the car.
- First fix: start the car manually, stop it, get out, then retry pre-climate from the app.
- Next: re-enter the climate settings on the infotainment screen if they were erased.
- Run time: up to 5 minutes when opening with the SmartKey, up to 50 minutes plugged in, 20 minutes unplugged (high voltage battery charged).
- Stopped after the free period? Mercedes-Benz USA says most remote services are complimentary for 1 year, then need renewing.
- No cold air at all: compressor lockup, refrigerant leak or faulty cooling fans, which need a workshop.
- If the engine will not start from the app either, read Mercedes remote start failure.
Table Of Content
- Why is Mercedes me pre-climate control not working?
- How do you fix the Mercedes me communication problem?
- What else stops pre-entry climate control from working?
- Is Troubleshooting Mercedes Me Pre Entry Climate Control Necessary?
- Conclusion
1. Why is Mercedes me pre-climate control not working?
If your Mercedes-Benz pre-entry climate control isn't working, it is frequently a communication issue. When you open the car with the SmartKey, it can be pre-cooled or pre-heated for up to 5 minutes if the high voltage battery has enough charge.
While the vehicle is parked and before it is started, this function can cool or heat the inside. It works plugged in or unplugged (as long as the high voltage battery is charged).
| Situation | How long pre-climate can run |
|---|---|
| Opening the car with the SmartKey | Up to 5 minutes |
| Parked and plugged in | 50 minutes |
| Parked and unplugged | 20 minutes |
2. How do you fix the Mercedes me communication problem?
- Start the car manually first, then stop it and get out.
- From outside, try to start pre-climate control again. It should work this time.
- If it doesn't, check the settings on the infotainment screen to make sure they haven't been erased (the MBUX complete guide shows where the settings menus are).
- If they have been erased, re-enter them and try pre-climate control again.
3. What else stops pre-entry climate control from working?
Apart from a communication problem between the Mercedes me app and the infotainment system, check these:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| App command does nothing | Communication problem between app and car | Start the car manually, stop, get out, retry from the app |
| Still nothing after the retry | Climate settings erased on the infotainment screen | Re-enter the settings |
| Worked in the old app, not the new one | Feature switched off in the new Mercedes me app | Deactivate and reactivate the feature, or switch it on in the car |
| Stopped after the free period | Remote services subscription expired | Renew the service |
| Fan runs but the air is not cold | Compressor lockup or refrigerant leak | Workshop repair |
| No air blowing | Faulty cooling fans | Replace the fans |
- It could be a compressor lockup, meaning the compressor is stuck in either the on or off position. The usual fix is to replace the part.
- Another common problem is a refrigerant leak. This is a relatively simple repair, so the car should be in and out of the shop quickly.
- The cooling fans may need replacing. Faulty fans will not blow air into the car, and the only fix is to replace them. On a Sprinter, also see the Sprinter blower troubleshooting guide.
Using pre-entry climate control with the old Mercedes me app does not usually cause big problems. In the new Mercedes me app, however, the feature is always switched off by default.
If the methods above have failed, try the following:
- Deactivate and reactivate the feature from a laptop browser.
- Use the car's own controls to disable and re-enable pre-entry climate control.
- Check that pre-entry climate control in your Mercedes me app hasn't expired. When the subscription expires, the feature stops working and you need to renew it. Mercedes-Benz USA says most remote access services are complimentary for one year, and most remote services stop working when the complimentary trial ends.
- Make sure your phone's battery is fully charged.
4. Is Troubleshooting Mercedes Me Pre Entry Climate Control Necessary?
Yes. The Mercedes me app lets you control vehicle features remotely or locally from your smartphone, so it is worth getting it working again.
- In a few steps, you can connect your Mercedes, your smartphone and your home (pairing is explained in the Mercedes me QR code guide).
- You can check your vehicle's mileage, tire pressure, charge or fuel level and more at any time.
- You can use digital assistance to find charging points, gas stations and parking spaces.
- The basic services in the app help you keep your Mercedes in good condition.
5. Conclusion
The Mercedes me app puts vehicle control, remote access and help in one app, with the most important functions on the home screen. When pre-climate control stops, work through the communication fix first, then the settings, then the subscription, and only then the A/C hardware. For model-specific details, check your car's manual on the Mercedes-Benz USA owner's manuals page.