Huh! My first letdown! No crank
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Silver/calcium/lead AGM OE battery load tested - it's fine
Ran Star diagnosis - zero found wrong
Roadside Assistance diagnosis - failed starter motor & car to be flatbed trucked to dealer.
My reply - BS
Please check relay & fuses.
Fuse 52 (15 amp) blown. Replaced & she fired up.
Waste of my time & money GRRR!!!! I should have checked myself & not jumped to conclusions. A learning in there somewhere
Callout cost $114 outside Motorplan - not bad considering they come well equiped, Star & all.
New OE battery cost in SA US$ 285 (100 Ah - Ag/Ca/Pb). I think it's time to change.
Calling Johnand.
John - "Start enable" is fuses 31,52,57. You mentioned there was a bulletin from MBUSA that some fuse should be elevated in value to 20A. Can't find your reference. What fuse was that?
Off to a barbeque with wheels again
Ran Star diagnosis - zero found wrong
Roadside Assistance diagnosis - failed starter motor & car to be flatbed trucked to dealer.
My reply - BS
Please check relay & fuses.Fuse 52 (15 amp) blown. Replaced & she fired up.
Waste of my time & money GRRR!!!! I should have checked myself & not jumped to conclusions. A learning in there somewhere
Callout cost $114 outside Motorplan - not bad considering they come well equiped, Star & all.New OE battery cost in SA US$ 285 (100 Ah - Ag/Ca/Pb). I think it's time to change.
Calling Johnand.
John - "Start enable" is fuses 31,52,57. You mentioned there was a bulletin from MBUSA that some fuse should be elevated in value to 20A. Can't find your reference. What fuse was that?
Off to a barbeque with wheels again
Fuse 52 is supposed to be 20A now. You have found your problem. Throw a 20A fuse and there, and you are good to go.
Thread Starter
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
In the Technical Thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/4585218-post8.html P-B-15.30/55a
Fuse 52 is supposed to be 20A now. You have found your problem. Throw a 20A fuse and there, and you are good to go.
Fuse 52 is supposed to be 20A now. You have found your problem. Throw a 20A fuse and there, and you are good to go.
In the end it's a damn fuse. Then they say to me we don't know why the fuse blew - could still be a problem. Then I say to them. I'm damn sure there is a service bulletin on this fuse value change & I get blank looks. And they wanted to fit a new starter motor!
Big lesson - check the simple things first
Bought a nice fuse selection today & placed in the glove box. Will take out 25A fuse tomorrow & substitute with a 20A. 25A is all they had.
XYZXYX **** !!!!!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Sep 16, 2011 at 08:03 PM.
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Glyn, not sure if it is the same in SA, but here in NA, the MB Roadside is just contracted to 3rd party towing companies. Most don't know jack about MB and the nuances associated with them.
In all fairness my STAR is agonizingly slow too. The STAR software takes hours to install properly. It is completely bloated. Supposedly the new C4 systems have a little better performance, but I haven't got to play with one yet.
These cars can be so complicated at times we forget to check the simple things. Happens to us all. You still have one unbelievably reliable 203 with the original battery STILL working
In all fairness my STAR is agonizingly slow too. The STAR software takes hours to install properly. It is completely bloated. Supposedly the new C4 systems have a little better performance, but I haven't got to play with one yet.
These cars can be so complicated at times we forget to check the simple things. Happens to us all. You still have one unbelievably reliable 203 with the original battery STILL working
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Glyn,
Glad it wasn't something more serious (though sorry it was such a PITA).
Thankfully you don't have a late battery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218
Glad it wasn't something more serious (though sorry it was such a PITA).
Thankfully you don't have a late battery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Glyn, not sure if it is the same in SA, but here in NA, the MB Roadside is just contracted to 3rd party towing companies. Most don't know jack about MB and the nuances associated with them.
In all fairness my STAR is agonizingly slow too. The STAR software takes hours to install properly. It is completely bloated. Supposedly the new C4 systems have a little better performance, but I haven't got to play with one yet.
These cars can be so complicated at times we forget to check the simple things. Happens to us all. You still have one unbelievably reliable 203 with the original battery STILL working
In all fairness my STAR is agonizingly slow too. The STAR software takes hours to install properly. It is completely bloated. Supposedly the new C4 systems have a little better performance, but I haven't got to play with one yet.
These cars can be so complicated at times we forget to check the simple things. Happens to us all. You still have one unbelievably reliable 203 with the original battery STILL working
Our Roadside Assistance is run by the MBSA owned nationwide dealership network. They rotate their techs into roadside service & provide them with a very well kitted B Class for cars & Sprinter for trucks. This is a big Benz heavy truck market.
The shiney new Star at the dealers is much quicker. Maybe faster processors in the new rigs when compared with older laptops.
Yes I'm lucky. My car's requirements to date have been 2 X Castor bushes, one tranny plug crush washer, a RHS stoplight lamp & now a fuse.
No excuse but I was misled by some signs of activity by the starter motor. I also had not noticed before how much noise the Bix self leveling makes with the hood open & vertical on first switch on - still a great feature to get that hood out of the way. I shall never not check appropriate fuses again - lesson learned!
Friends on the forum take note. I made a kindergarten error of judgement. Only mitigating circumstance was that the roadside assistance made the same mistake. Always check fuses first - not last!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Sep 17, 2011 at 01:45 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Glyn,
Glad it wasn't something more serious (though sorry it was such a PITA).
Thankfully you don't have a late battery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218
Glad it wasn't something more serious (though sorry it was such a PITA).
Thankfully you don't have a late battery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218
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Joined: Feb 2011
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c240
Energizer bunny
I was surprised to find the battery in I have is Energizer, did not know they made car betteries. Looks like it was replaced by previous owner in March 2010 or later. Anyone else has/had this brand and your experience with it ? thanks.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I have co-workers with similar experiences with MB Roadside. What really pissed me off about it, was I was about a 1/2 mile away from a MB dealer
Thread Starter
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I did not know that Energizer was in the car battery business. It's certainly built to Benz spec externally right down to the red pos. terminal cover. We have the standard bunch here. Exide, Ray O Vac, Willard, VARTA, Bosch, Yuasa etc.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Ont, Canada
2005 C230K coupe
Those are made by Johnson Controls. AKA Interstate, Diehard and others. Typically good stuff - shouldn't give you any trouble.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Whilst we are on the subject ... are there any difference in the electrical characteristics between the MB Absorbed Glass Mat ( AGM) batteries & the standard wet lead acid battery ?
What are the advantages ,if any with the AGM other than the nil risk of spillage.?
My car has a German Varta 70 Amp Hr 760 AEN.
What are the advantages ,if any with the AGM other than the nil risk of spillage.?
My car has a German Varta 70 Amp Hr 760 AEN.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
I have read many papers on these things & other than no spill/zero maintenance difference between wet cell & AGM the main advantages are:
- Durability - designed for military - can be mounted on their side if required
- Suffer less damage if discharged below 50% - happy as a starter battery with typical 3 to 5% discharge cycles
- Can accommodate a huge number of such shallow charge/discharge cycles
- Don't suffer low electrolyte damage that wet cell batteries do if level is not maintained
- Can be vented safely in closed areas
- Size due to nature of plate packing & material
- Easier to charge/accept charge quickly/low internal resistance
- Can dispense their charge at a higher rate
- Silver/Calcium/Lead plates last longer than lead or lead sponge
- AGM batteries have a very low self-discharge rate (from 1% to 3% per month vs wet cell at up to 4% a week)
- Almost impervious to freezing
- 97% recyclable
EDIT: I don't understand why Benz fits lower capacity batteries to high compression diesels other than the fact that you have no ignition system to contend with. I guess the modern glow plug is very efficient.
- Durability - designed for military - can be mounted on their side if required
- Suffer less damage if discharged below 50% - happy as a starter battery with typical 3 to 5% discharge cycles
- Can accommodate a huge number of such shallow charge/discharge cycles
- Don't suffer low electrolyte damage that wet cell batteries do if level is not maintained
- Can be vented safely in closed areas
- Size due to nature of plate packing & material
- Easier to charge/accept charge quickly/low internal resistance
- Can dispense their charge at a higher rate
- Silver/Calcium/Lead plates last longer than lead or lead sponge
- AGM batteries have a very low self-discharge rate (from 1% to 3% per month vs wet cell at up to 4% a week)
- Almost impervious to freezing
- 97% recyclable
EDIT: I don't understand why Benz fits lower capacity batteries to high compression diesels other than the fact that you have no ignition system to contend with. I guess the modern glow plug is very efficient.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Sep 19, 2011 at 11:10 AM.
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
The 70 amp hour battery swings the engine without any effort .The glow plugs are amazing as there is no wait time . I do give them a few seconds out of habit whilst putting seat belt on.
Thanks for the interesting info Glyn.
I will do some brand research now so when the time comes I will know which to buy . Certainly not from the dealer.
Thanks for the interesting info Glyn.
I will do some brand research now so when the time comes I will know which to buy . Certainly not from the dealer.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
