car won't start
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon
1999 e430
car won't start
I have a 1999 E430 with original battery with 33k. I drove the car yesterday for approximately 45 miles.Today my wife went to start the car and the only sound was a clicking noise. This is the first time this has happened.
Knowing that the battery was over 5 years old can the battery be incapable to start the car? I checked the battery voltage and it read 10.6 v. Therefore I called AAA to have them jumpstart the car. The the car didn't start up right away but it eventually started.
The car ran for 15 minutes and it was turned off again. Once again the car did not start and the only sound was a clicking noise. I checked the battery voltage again and the meter read 12.5v.
Do I did a new battery or do I have more serious electrical problems?
Any info would be appreciated.
jaman
Knowing that the battery was over 5 years old can the battery be incapable to start the car? I checked the battery voltage and it read 10.6 v. Therefore I called AAA to have them jumpstart the car. The the car didn't start up right away but it eventually started.
The car ran for 15 minutes and it was turned off again. Once again the car did not start and the only sound was a clicking noise. I checked the battery voltage again and the meter read 12.5v.
Do I did a new battery or do I have more serious electrical problems?
Any info would be appreciated.
jaman
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
2000 E320
I'm no expert, but it sounds like you might need a new battery. On a 1999 car with only 33k miles on it, you can be sure it probably wasn't driven on a regular basis. So it was likely just sitting around most of the time while the battery lost it's charge. Still, the car is only 5 years old and theoretically the battery should last longer than that... 
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
98 C-230
car not starting
i would check my connections to the battery and starter, if they are cool, then swap in another battery out of somthing else before you buy one, get the code to reset your radio from the dealer first. and try that, if that don't work it may be the starter solinoid. is the amp meter showing discharge when the car runs? may be a bad alternator. shouldn't be the starter or the alternator with just 30,000 miles, probably a lose connection.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
With a 10+vdc reading, it's likely that it will not hold a charge any longer, given its age. AAA's jump start only provides surface charge to start the car and nothing else. W/o running diagnostic on the battery, we're just speculating on condition anyhoo. Normally, one does a hydrometer reading, check voltage at rest as well as under load. Alternater is *not* designed to replenish the battery if discharged to the degree you've described. Trickle charge overnight is another possiblity but not until water level checked first, blah blah....
My keyboard assessment: get a new battery. Get the new warranty that comes with it. Get a little peace of mind and security in knowing that it is in good health and minimize the possibly of being inconvenienced again.
yes, checking altimeter output is on your list of to-dos as well
My keyboard assessment: get a new battery. Get the new warranty that comes with it. Get a little peace of mind and security in knowing that it is in good health and minimize the possibly of being inconvenienced again.
yes, checking altimeter output is on your list of to-dos as well
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon
1999 e430
Just replaced the battery with identical one at Autozone....lasted over 7 years and 82k miles....price has gone up to $105.
Last edited by jaman; Jan 5, 2012 at 02:43 AM. Reason: inputed price
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