Riot Nrrrd

Anyone else here use your Beast as a not-primary, rarely-driven 2nd (or 3rd, or ... ) vehicle? If so, how often do you take it out to make sure the battery doesn't drain?

The weather here hasn't been good of late, so I haven't driven mine much ... I'm finding it takes less than 2 weeks for the battery to drain to the point where it doesn't want to start without a jump, and even with a jump, driving it for 20 minutes afterwards wasn't enough to prevent it from needing another jump after that 20 minute drive. It seems to me like the battery is draining too fast? Or not holding the charge well? An old Caddy I have will last a month before it won't start anymore ...

Chappy

I've owned mine for nearly three years and have just turned 18K miles. But, I make it a point to drive it for a couple hours at least every few weeks.

FWIW, if you have the original battery, it may be time to have it replaced. They are usually only good for 3 or 4 years.

King///AMG

I live in MI and store my car for about 5-6 months. By store I mean completely put it away and let it sleep thru the winter. I just disconnect the battery terminal to break the circuit. So, basically there are no power consumers. All I do each spring is re-connect and turn the key and she starts just fine.

Riot Nrrrd

Yes I still have the original battery, which is now just over 4 years old I'd guess.

Do you ever go a "few weeks" without driving it at all, Chappy? Or are you just saying that you drive it a long time once every few weeks (but not necessarily the *only* time).

The thing that troubled me was how it was turning over and barely needed a jump, but after 20 minutes' driving the net effect was zero - i.e. it made the same turnover attempt/sound and one of those small portable jumper/chargers had no effect, we had to jump it again. Maybe I killed the battery (so it won't take a charge) by draining it twice?

Chappy

I think the longest period between drives may have been 3-4 weeks, but that has only happened once since I've owned the car. I don't like the car to sit for longer than a week or two without driving it at least 30-40 minutes. I prefer to get all of the fluids up to operating temps before bringing it home.

Mostly, the car will sit 3 or 4 days, then I may drive it to work, or for a quick spin up to the Ga Mountains if the weather is decent.

If the battery doesn't hold a charge and is four years old, you most likely (a) have an unuseable battery or (b) have a problem with your alternator.

I've never used one, but have heard good things about a "battery tender".

Chappy

I couldn't stand it that long

King///AMG

Yeah, u got it. I have to be really patient but u prolly know how i feel come Spring time each year... A combination of this --> :v :p :o

Chappy

I'll take care of your car for you during those long winter months :v :p

King///AMG

You have been added to the list of AMG-sitters.

Chappy

Thanks....the offer is good for you as well, Riot Nrrrd :p

Riot Nrrrd

lol

I'll look into the "battery tender" ... although I note the Owner's Manual has all these warnings about not having the circuit connected when you charge the battery ...

(Doesn't it bother you to have to do all those system resets each Spring, King///AMG?)

Riot Nrrrd

Update: Sigh ... looks like I must've killed the battery or the alternator or something ... I started the car, backed out of the driveway, stopped, started it again ... drove 20 miles to the DMV, stopped ... and it wouldn't start. Had to get a jump. Brought it back home, hooked it up to my 10/2 charger and it read 60% (that oughta be enough, right?). Charged it at 10 (with both cables disconnected) for about 2 1/2 hours and it was up to 100% again. Started it, and it started; but it seems weak - like it was just barely able to start it. I basically can't trust it to go anywhere at this juncture. Left everything connected and will see what happens later this morning. I can't even find the original OEM battery on-line if I have to replace it, argggh.

Riot Nrrrd

http://www.cnn.com/money/2005/03/31/...ex.htm?cnn=yes

"FRANKFURT (Reuters) - U.S.-German carmaker DaimlerChrysler is recalling 1.3 million Mercedes cars as it tries to fix quality woes that are riddling its German luxury car division, it said Thursday.

Mercedes will recall the cars in several model ranges worldwide to fix problems with alternators and batteries, which do not affect the cars' safety, according to the supplier, car-parts maker Robert Bosch.

[...]

Mercedes said it would check, and if necessary, replace the voltage regulator in the alternator on vehicles with six- and eight-cylinder engines built between June 2001 and Nov. 2004 in the recall.

The carmaker will install new battery-control software on E-class and CLS-class models made from Jan. 2002 to Jan. 2005. In addition, it will update the braking system on current E-class, SL-class and CLS-class models, made since June 2001."

King///AMG

Its gotta be your battery or alternator. It happend to me also, read my post...

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg-clk63-amg-w208-w209/71685-help-problem-my-2002-clk55amg-w-only-5k-miles.html

Riot Nrrrd

I'm taking the car into Keyes European tomorrow morning (erm ... 2 AM here, so "this morning"). I also went to Kragen and got a battery electrolyte tester; it read only 1.125 ... well into the red zone So I may well have killed the battery by trying to recharge it (or from the combination of that and it sitting for a week to 2 weeks at a shot without being started/driven). Thank goodness my warranty's good for another year!