Glyn M Ruck

Damn

Went to start the car in my garage - greeted by the dreaded rattle of a starter motor without enough juice.

My battery is approaching 8 years old & seems to have breathed it's last. On charge overnight. Hope she will start so that I can replace tomorrow.

With all the advice I give on load testing - It still amazes me that a battery will strike the BiX but not start the car.

Wish me luck LOL

Moreira_C230

For as much help as you give people, I hope Karma comes back around and gives that battery one last kick in the *** for ya

e1000

lol, that battery had a good run!

C230 Sport Coup

Huh! My first letdown!


Ha, I thought you meant you took Viagra and nothing happened you old fart!!! R R R
he he.....

Get a new battery before you fry the alternator trying to charge what is now a giant
resistor!

phister

Hopefully the battery will give you one last start so you get a new battery. Assuming you'll go with a genuine MB one?

glocati

True, that was a great life-cycle ! Good luck on the swap Glyn. Should be a peice of cake for ya !

Glyn M Ruck

Yes indeed - I will go with the OE battery.

Glyn M Ruck

No need for Viagra yet you pillock!

Yeh! - new battery tomorrow! No messing around.

Carsy

The price of an OEM battery here in Aus is horrendous. I will be looking for a AGM battery from another source.

ncmudbug

Eight years is a good run. You'd know, but I think they use conventional starters (not gear driven). With a high compression ratio and straight drive, it could be tough turn it over...

Sorry for your troubles. It's really too bad after all the people you've helped. I hope and expect it's only the battery.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes JC - I will be interested to see how they fleece me here.

splinter

With the challenges some of us enjoy with MB’s electrics, there’s no denying that OE batteries are excellent.
The newish replacement in my ‘02 weights ~20 pounds more than the GMC’s lump o’ lead and electrolyte.

edit: MBUSA’s roadside assistance installed ours within an hour of ringing for a mere $140. Tipped the gent $20 for not frying the SAMs. :D

jtalbert

Good luck, You should have played a game with us and said..

"Damn

Went to start the car in my garage - greeted by the dreaded rattle of a starter motor without enough juice.

Anyone have any idea what may be causing it"

:-)

Hope the new battery works. If not, there are some really smart people on here.

ncmudbug

Moviela

Striking the Bix is actually easier than starting a set of halogen lamps. The 25Kv starting voltage is only about 1/2 watt per lamp. The operating wattage is only 35 watts. The starter on the other hand needs 5000 watts to get the shaft moving.

At some point that nervous little chemical pile of lead and acid under the hood will not source enough current to turn the starter motor. That is when you call roadside. In the US Mercedes dispatches a tech with a battery. He installs the battery on Mercedes dime, charging only for the battery. He also resync's the windows and other what nots on the car.

The genuine battery is actually priced inline with aftermarket batteries. Keep in mind that you will not find a comparable battery in the aftermarket. They are all rated less capacity than the genuine battery.

Don't go into the dealer for a battery. They will charge you labor to install it. You are better off the park at the curb and call roadside.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - Understood Movie.

Here the Roadside Assistance charges once your motorplan runs out so it makes no difference. If she won't start I shall be calling them.

Glyn M Ruck

No - the ***** won't crank - roadside on the way.

e1000

tommy

Don't worry - they'll get worse.

Serious question - why don't the krauts use a sealed battery? Is there any particular advantage of this setup?

TexFinn

So... How did it go? Everything back to normal again?

The battery on my newly acquired 05 C230K is not the best, either (still original), but I've read so many horror stories about people having issues after replacing their battery that I'm a bit hesitant to do it.

I guess it might be better to call the MB Roadside Assistance and let them do it.

LILBENZ230

Tex, Autozone replaced the battery on my 2005 C230 over the past weekend.. no issues. Just make sure all the electronics are off and the smartkey is not in the starter. Total cost was 149.90, but I'm not sure now that I needed it. My car does this really stupid stumble thing when it is cool outside and it has sat overnight, been doing it for over a year now and I thought it was a weakening battery but no it still does it.

Javvy

:r olf::rol f:

LILBENZ230

His battery has slid down the curtain and joined the chior of invisibles. It's a stiff, an ex-battery.

Glyn M Ruck

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

Glyn M Ruck

No deceased parrot!