Cold start issue - battery?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
2007 C230
Cold start issue - battery?
So my car has been standing outside in the freezing winter for about 3 days without being driven. Yesterday I had to move it on a side street because of a snow storm, did that no problem. Later that night I went back started it and it made the noise you see in the video below from the muffler for about two minutes and went back to normal, I haven't driven it. Today I came back started her up again, it did have trouble starting, possibly low battery. After being started it shut off a moment later and wouldn't start again.
Is it the battery or some other issue here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egKvFhbaZag
Is it the battery or some other issue here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egKvFhbaZag
Last edited by chmura; Jan 21, 2012 at 04:22 PM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 191
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Does it try to crank at all? Do the lights dim badly while cranking?
You could have a low battery. Cold can cause a battery to fail.
Check fuse 52 in the front SAM if there is zero crank. It's under value at 15 amps - replace with 20 amp. This is the most common failure
In fact check fuses 31, 52 & 57 while you are about it. All three are required to enable start but 52 usually blows.
If battery & fuses are OK you need to check CPS & temperature sensor. They are also interrogated to enable start.
You could have a low battery. Cold can cause a battery to fail.
Check fuse 52 in the front SAM if there is zero crank. It's under value at 15 amps - replace with 20 amp. This is the most common failure
In fact check fuses 31, 52 & 57 while you are about it. All three are required to enable start but 52 usually blows.
If battery & fuses are OK you need to check CPS & temperature sensor. They are also interrogated to enable start.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
2007 C230
As always a detailed response by Glyn 
I haven't got a chance to check on any fuses, but after getting a jump it's been starting smoothly ever since; just like summer time.
The cold must have got to it and I will probably need to replace the battery if I have a problem with this again, I'll see how it does after tonight.
I haven't got a chance to check on any fuses, but after getting a jump it's been starting smoothly ever since; just like summer time.
The cold must have got to it and I will probably need to replace the battery if I have a problem with this again, I'll see how it does after tonight.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 904
Likes: 22
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Did you get any malfunction messages on your instrument cluster? Are there any error codes? Do you have access to a scanner like Innova 3140 that display live data
Put it in dyno mode so you can observe voltage
- key out
- key in
- navigate instrument cluster to milage display
- hit reset buttome 3 times
What is voltage before start? Lowest voltage when cranking? Idle voltage? Voltage when car is reving at about 1800 RPM?
Put it in dyno mode so you can observe voltage
- key out
- key in
- navigate instrument cluster to milage display
- hit reset buttome 3 times
What is voltage before start? Lowest voltage when cranking? Idle voltage? Voltage when car is reving at about 1800 RPM?
