King///AMG

I am experiencing some problems with my 2002 CLK55AMG coupe, hoping someone here can help me out...

For the past week, the car has been hesitating to start. Slow starting. But, it has been starting. So, after driving for an hour, I went to a store. After I came back the car hesitated to start, and did not start, stranding me. I had to jump the battery to get it started. Then, when I got home I turned it off, and tried starting it and nothing... Well, yesterday morning I went to start it and it started... WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? After it started yesterday morning, 2 malfunctions were reported... BAS/ESP... Someone help clarify. Could it be the battery? If so, then how did it start yesterday morning? The car has only 5K miles on it. I do store it in the winter...

Chappy

It sounds like your battery. Do you use a trickle charger when you store it?

Chip

Chappy's right. Storing for a long period can wreck the battery.

pointman

most likely battery...cause when you jumped it..it worked.
worst case...possibly alternator not charging when vehicle is operating.

hifinut

Have your dealer check the grounding bolt under the carpet near where the gas pedal is located. had a poor connection on mine from the factory and it sometimes wouldn't start.

King///AMG

Well, I took it to the M.B. dealer yesterday, and they are checking it out. The lady at the service desk called and said that they replaced a $200 part (warranty), but she could'nt make out what it was 'cause it was all in code. I will post a reply as to what they found out. Fellow CLK55 AMG owners might find it useful...

dinko

It must be the battery/wires she changed. MB Alternators will run you over $500.

King///AMG

You guys are good. The battery failed. They replaced the battery and all went well. The BAS/ESP light came on 'cause of the failed (low) battery. There are no malfunctions now.

Now for some advice...

Give me some tips of what to do with the battery when I store the vehicle. I store from Oct. thru May. Last time I left the battery connected, and some wierd alarm sounded 1 month later, and the only way I could get rid of it was to charge up the battery. Then I disconnected the negative cable for the rest of the storage.

Is disconnecting the negative cable enough for storage? What should I do so I dont kill the battery again. Also, I dont use the car very often out of storage (just on nice days), so will this kill my battery again?

Thanks in advance...

Chappy

Purchase a quality trickle charger.