suicidal4life

I've been away for a couple weeks and the weather has been cold. I started up the car tonight and got the BAS ESP warning. I turned the steering wheel full lock to full lock and it went away. This is the first time my car has ever done this and I'm thinking it was due to low battery voltage from sitting for two weeks combined with the cold weather. My car has illuminated sills, Radar detector, Laser Jammer, and a Sirius that are all powered up before starting the car so that probably doesn't help either. I started the car again after letting it run for 20 minutes or so and got no BAS ESP warnings.

Am I right in thinking it is a fluke due to low voltage or should I replace the brake switch just in case?

I also got a washer fluid low warning and it is not low. That error went away when I restarted the car as well.

Hirnbeiss

Consider it a fluke. You can live with the bad brake switch until you confirm it. If your battery has more than 4 years on it, it's likely to be showing signs of age, so some low voltage after 2 weeks in the cold is probable.

Semikolon

I get this warning every time I have had my battery disconnected or the voltage is low. This is on all our three 210s. So don't worry about it

ohlord

2 weeks.Low battery,but don't expect your alternator to charge it up.That is not what it was designed to do.Get it on a 10 amp charger overnight (use the underhood charging post) and that way you will have a full charge and your poor alternator won't die trying to charge a low battery.Check the battery with a hydrometer to test how much life it has left,might be time for a new one.DIY and battery choices(vented)on benzworld.org w210 section.
Did you have a nice trip?

Semikolon

a bit off topic, but I'm stealing a question while were at it
I have a 14V/190A alternator in my 210 (at least that is what EPC says). Isn't even that one able to fully charge the battery if it is a bit low (not empty)?

ohlord

the amount of amps.The diode clicks on the alternator and they are made to maintain the correct voltage. Using the alternator to charge a low battery(say after leaving the lights on) only taxes the alternator more than it needs to be.Leads to short battery life(because the battery can take days and still not be up to proper voltage) and it over works the alternator.
Over here we can throw in a 150amp E55 alternator,why you guys get a 190amp ,I dunno Big stereos?

Semikolon

Cold winters I think... I'm not sure if the gasoline engines have that big alternator, but the cdi engines have an electrical water heater (heater booster), and I would believe that is the reason why there are a bigger alternator.
My model (210.206) was delivered with 115A in 99, 140A in 00 and 190A in 01. The 99model did not have electrical heater booster, the 00model had electrical heater booster and I think it had a lot of alternator problems.
Mine is a 01model with electrical heated booster.

suicidal4life

No. It was a business trip not pleasure and I managed to get stuck in those Midwest icestorms.


I'll throw it on the trickle charger today as you suggested.

ohlord

PNW.So you left our snow storms and Rain floods to go ice skaking

suicidal4life

I know better then to go ice skating but the lady who rear ended my rental car sure didn't. She just locked up the brakes and slid and slid right into me. I had nowhere to go and she never once let up on the brake pedal. At least there was a cop there to witness it as he was assisting an SUV that had flipped over in the road.