Battery life w211
#3
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Is it flooded or AGM?
Flooded batteries in older brothers lasted up to 17 years, where 12 was common.
Flooded batteries in older brothers lasted up to 17 years, where 12 was common.
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albert walker (04-30-2019)
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'99 CLK/05 E500 WAG
You may have been wondering why the “Battery protection: Convenience functions temporary unavailable” warning came up. Your car still runs and drives normal.
if so, I'll start looking into getting new main and sbc aux battery in your near future!
#6
Have you seen this notice?
You may have been wondering why the “Battery protection: Convenience functions temporary unavailable” warning came up. Your car still runs and drives normal.
if so, I'll start looking into getting new main and sbc aux battery in your near future!
You may have been wondering why the “Battery protection: Convenience functions temporary unavailable” warning came up. Your car still runs and drives normal.
if so, I'll start looking into getting new main and sbc aux battery in your near future!
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Strigoi (04-30-2019)
#7
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Check the voltage, if you're above 11.5, you're good to go for a while. My 2008 has the same factory battery, has an 11/2007 date stamp on it. Depending on the temperature, it's anywhere from 11.5-12 volts.
To check voltage, turn the car to the on position without the car running, then while the temperature is showing, hit the reset button 3 times.
You only get a warning about low battery voltage and when convenience items are disabled when the voltage drops below 11 volts.
You could throw it on a charger, I noticed the alternator doesn't like to give it a full charge as the last time I charged it, it was higher than it had been before.
To check voltage, turn the car to the on position without the car running, then while the temperature is showing, hit the reset button 3 times.
You only get a warning about low battery voltage and when convenience items are disabled when the voltage drops below 11 volts.
You could throw it on a charger, I noticed the alternator doesn't like to give it a full charge as the last time I charged it, it was higher than it had been before.
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2007 E350 4matic sedan
I also have a 2007 with the original battery. Car has 170k miles on it. I am concerned how long i can go and how to know when it needs to be changed. I have never had a car battery last this long. I figured it would fail this winter but it still keeps cranks well.
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
You forget that those state of charge charts are based on no load voltage on a battery. When it's connected to the car, it has a load. That's why MB doesn't start to cut off items with battery low messages until the battery goes down to 11 volts. Also voltage is temperature based, that 12.7 volts is at 70 degrees, voltage of course will be lower in the winter.
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Oh and I did charge up the battery once when I left the lights on, it was at 12.5 volts, indoors no load voltage so probably 70 degrees and about 80%. of a new battery. Still good to go.
#13
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You forget that those state of charge charts are based on no load voltage on a battery. When it's connected to the car, it has a load. That's why MB doesn't start to cut off items with battery low messages until the battery goes down to 11 volts. Also voltage is temperature based, that 12.7 volts is at 70 degrees, voltage of course will be lower in the winter.
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I'm an electrical engineer. You get the battery voltage when the dash is on and you have it switched to the temperature display then hit the reset button 3 times. Circuits with a load on the battery are different than a battery with no load.
#15
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Who are stupid enough to measure the voltage with instruments on? This will not give a correct answer of what the voltage is..
The built-in measuring is only good to show if the alternator works or not. The voltage measured is normally not even close to correct (yeah, I've tested it both with the engine on and only ignition on)
The built-in measuring is only good to show if the alternator works or not. The voltage measured is normally not even close to correct (yeah, I've tested it both with the engine on and only ignition on)
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Who are stupid enough to measure the voltage with instruments on? This will not give a correct answer of what the voltage is..
The built-in measuring is only good to show if the alternator works or not. The voltage measured is normally not even close to correct (yeah, I've tested it both with the engine on and only ignition on)
The built-in measuring is only good to show if the alternator works or not. The voltage measured is normally not even close to correct (yeah, I've tested it both with the engine on and only ignition on)
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
No load voltage can tell you if the battery is dead, or still alive, but will tell you nothing about its performance.
I ended up with 2 battery testers. The load tester gives you indication of capacity, when Solar tester will tell you cranking amp.
Takes 2 electrical testers to actually tell what you can expect from chemical box.
I ended up with 2 battery testers. The load tester gives you indication of capacity, when Solar tester will tell you cranking amp.
Takes 2 electrical testers to actually tell what you can expect from chemical box.
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
With all those technology issues, it is hard to compare battery life.
One sample is regenerative charging in newer cars, who shortens battery life for fuel/emission savings.
Years ago I could not figure out why new dual batteries die when I move my truck around the yard, idling it for few minutes.
Later only learned that for 7.3l Powerstrokes Ford, who used lot of power for glow plugs, Ford made 14.5V charging, who was killing glow plugs.
So in computer era, they made a program that Powerstroke would not start charging till minutes after engine starts, so GP would run on battery power only and not see killing (charging) voltage.
That is why moving the truck around the yard, it never come to charging cycle, running on batteries only.
So conclusion is, that unless you know what system you have, you can't assume anything about it.
One sample is regenerative charging in newer cars, who shortens battery life for fuel/emission savings.
Years ago I could not figure out why new dual batteries die when I move my truck around the yard, idling it for few minutes.
Later only learned that for 7.3l Powerstrokes Ford, who used lot of power for glow plugs, Ford made 14.5V charging, who was killing glow plugs.
So in computer era, they made a program that Powerstroke would not start charging till minutes after engine starts, so GP would run on battery power only and not see killing (charging) voltage.
That is why moving the truck around the yard, it never come to charging cycle, running on batteries only.
So conclusion is, that unless you know what system you have, you can't assume anything about it.
Last edited by kajtek1; 05-04-2019 at 02:14 PM.
#20
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Personally if one gets 10 years out of a battery, I'd call it good and just get a new one. Batteries are cheap. Being stranded somewhere and or waiting for a jump is a pita.
The original battery on our 09' died back in January. So the life on that was 9.5 years...lol. Most of the time I end up replacing batteries 4-5 years on the rest of our vehicles.
-Nigel
The original battery on our 09' died back in January. So the life on that was 9.5 years...lol. Most of the time I end up replacing batteries 4-5 years on the rest of our vehicles.
-Nigel