W203, C230, 2003 Kompressor
10-03-2019, 11:18 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 kompressor, W203
W203, C230, 2003 Kompressor
My 2003 C230 Coupe won't keep charge to start engine and it feels like battery drain or something. Battery newer and tested fully working.
After every drive/use, I have to disconnect battery neg terminal to avoid battery drain like symptoms. After connecting the neg terminal to battery post car will crank / start but always with feel of not enough battery power. I leave the battery terminal loose enough to slide it on the battery post or take it off easily.
For some period of time (weeks) it will not even allow this ritual. Car won't start after battery neg terminal re-connected. When ignition key turned there will be one click, all lights go off and no turn of engine at all. Since battery was ok I thought to try something different and kept turning ignition key on-off until some signs of cranking. Well, after umpteenth try the engine shows sign of slight turn to eventually crank to start with barely enough power it seems. Once car is running for few mins and then turned off it will re-start at first cranking. However, if car left for few hours it will not re-start. Hence, the disconnecting of battery Neg terminal and aforementioned routine.
Car has 185,000 miles.
Thanks in advance to all comments and suggestions.
After every drive/use, I have to disconnect battery neg terminal to avoid battery drain like symptoms. After connecting the neg terminal to battery post car will crank / start but always with feel of not enough battery power. I leave the battery terminal loose enough to slide it on the battery post or take it off easily.
For some period of time (weeks) it will not even allow this ritual. Car won't start after battery neg terminal re-connected. When ignition key turned there will be one click, all lights go off and no turn of engine at all. Since battery was ok I thought to try something different and kept turning ignition key on-off until some signs of cranking. Well, after umpteenth try the engine shows sign of slight turn to eventually crank to start with barely enough power it seems. Once car is running for few mins and then turned off it will re-start at first cranking. However, if car left for few hours it will not re-start. Hence, the disconnecting of battery Neg terminal and aforementioned routine.
Car has 185,000 miles.
Thanks in advance to all comments and suggestions.
Last edited by Merc-crazy; 10-03-2019 at 11:21 PM.
10-05-2019, 11:49 AM
#2
MBworld Guru
What are the voltages? You should have 12.6v at rest, no less than 11v during cranking, and about 14v at idle. If the voltage at idle is low, you may have a bad alternator (or voltage regulator).
10-05-2019, 01:21 PM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 kompressor, W203
Haven't checked voltages yet. I'll look up how to do that on YouTube. Battery is new 6mo ago, Alternator and Reg unit new- last year as light came up on dash.
Thanks
Thanks
10-08-2019, 09:51 AM
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 kompressor, W203
I took the car to AutoZone and they tested the battery and alternator and they said those work fine and said it could be a bad starter relay But, I don't know where it's located.
What letter in the fuse box for the starter relay ?
What letter in the fuse box for the starter relay ?
10-16-2019, 09:24 PM
#7
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 C230 kompressor, W203
Here's a full list of fuses and relays:
http://benzbits.com/w203/fuses.html
The starter relay is "S" and the fuse is 52
http://benzbits.com/w203/fuses.html
The starter relay is "S" and the fuse is 52
THANK YOU
