After Long Period of Rest = Problems?
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From: Charlotte, NC
'16 528i MSport
After Long Period of Rest = Problems?
So I just came back from my trip to India for three weddings including my brother's in one month I come home to 15 inches of snow, great! That isnt the bad part though. I go to turn the car on as advised by my father and the inner dial states Check Engine, Check Oil, Windshield Wiper Fluid Low. I was like what!? So I turned it off and let it rest for a few more minutes, and then the dial lights up stating RESET as soon as I put the ignition on.
I then let it warm up and everything disappeared and all is fine. Why did it do that?
I then let it warm up and everything disappeared and all is fine. Why did it do that?
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From: Irvine, CA
07 M6, 05 Noble, 01 S4, Smart ForTwo
This happened to me a while ago when I first got the car.. centrail "Brain" malfunction. Although it was not after any long break. Maybe a backup battery that went bad (I think there are 2?) Take it in, there may be a SB on that. One of those W211 bugs..
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From: NY/NJ
That happened because the main battery drained out. Whenever you leave your car for such a long time, you should use a trickle charger.
Your auxilliary battery had enough juice to get you started and that will get your alternator going in order to replenish the main battery.
The problem is most prominent in the R230 SL and there are several posts about it in the SL and SL55/65 forums since it consumes a substantial ammount of electrical power.
Your auxilliary battery had enough juice to get you started and that will get your alternator going in order to replenish the main battery.
The problem is most prominent in the R230 SL and there are several posts about it in the SL and SL55/65 forums since it consumes a substantial ammount of electrical power.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Well, I leave my car for weeks at a time without starting and I have never had any problems. However, I have a battery maintainer that I use religiously. My second garage does not have heat and it does tend to get very cold.
Steve
Steve
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Thanks for the advise, going to that part of the world in 3 weeks and will allow someone i trust to start it once in a while......No i don't trust them that much...to DRIVE it....... will be away for 3 weeks so its long enough for Batt to drain. Hope weather improves over there....its 10-15C just like over here in UK......where's the Sun, sea and sand........i ask..I;m told March is a lot nicer in Southeast Asia.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by adam3
Thanks for the advise, going to that part of the world in 3 weeks and will allow someone i trust to start it once in a while......No i don't trust them that much...to DRIVE it....... will be away for 3 weeks so its long enough for Batt to drain. Hope weather improves over there....its 10-15C just like over here in UK......where's the Sun, sea and sand........i ask..I;m told March is a lot nicer in Southeast Asia.
Steve
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by adam3
Not sure what one is.....and how it works....ie battery maintainer......
would it not be safe to leave car for 3 weeks.....i've often not driven for 2 weeks......no probs....
would it not be safe to leave car for 3 weeks.....i've often not driven for 2 weeks......no probs....
If you leave a charger on a battery that cannot stop on its own, that WILL damage the battery by overcharging it. I have chargers that will stop charging, but they will not start charging on their own. As a result, I have 3 battery chargers and two battery maintainers. I just bought a maintainer that is permanently mounted in my W211. My W211 also tends to sit for weeks at a time.
I have had sailboats in Florida that needed maintainers. I also have small batteries from either jet skies or snowmobiles that I am constantly monitoring and keeping up to par.
Steve
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by adam3
What is the make of charger/maintainer you use? There are lots out there, don't want to risk overcharge/damage of batt on this car.
As per the Hydrogen fumes, this battery is a bottom venting battery. The tube shows that. Also, the maintainer would have a hard time making a battery this size heat up that much. However, if a cell in the battery were to go bad when it gats old, it could cause a problem. In the last 10 years+ I have never had a problem and I have gotten great life out of my batteries. About 6 years, or the car is sold before the batteries went bad.
I got it from The Battery Store
On-Board Battery Charger ob1 1 34.95
Automatic 1.5 Amp 12V
Maintainer
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/battstore/onbachau.html
Hope this helps,
Steve
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Thanks for the advice and photos...
Not sure if i could get that make over here in UK. Anyway spoke to my helpful dealership...not many about...they said they had a MBz make of battery trickle charger...which they use for SL and E. about 45 sterling plus vat. However they did advise me that leaving for 3 weeks shouldn't be a problem and it went dead the warranty would cover it...mobolife would restart the battery for me FOC.
So is it worth me spending my dough......not sure.
Not sure if i could get that make over here in UK. Anyway spoke to my helpful dealership...not many about...they said they had a MBz make of battery trickle charger...which they use for SL and E. about 45 sterling plus vat. However they did advise me that leaving for 3 weeks shouldn't be a problem and it went dead the warranty would cover it...mobolife would restart the battery for me FOC.
So is it worth me spending my dough......not sure.
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by adam3
Thanks for the advice and photos...
Not sure if i could get that make over here in UK. Anyway spoke to my helpful dealership...not many about...they said they had a MBz make of battery trickle charger...which they use for SL and E. about 45 sterling plus vat. However they did advise me that leaving for 3 weeks shouldn't be a problem and it went dead the warranty would cover it...mobolife would restart the battery for me FOC.
So is it worth me spending my dough......not sure.
Not sure if i could get that make over here in UK. Anyway spoke to my helpful dealership...not many about...they said they had a MBz make of battery trickle charger...which they use for SL and E. about 45 sterling plus vat. However they did advise me that leaving for 3 weeks shouldn't be a problem and it went dead the warranty would cover it...mobolife would restart the battery for me FOC.
So is it worth me spending my dough......not sure.
The key to have a battery last a long time (a cranking battery) is to avoid quick charges. Loosing the charge over three weeks is not a problem; the problem is the quick charge afterwards. If you trickle charged it, it would not be a problem. But who has time for that? I have heard that using a good maintainer can add years to your battery (if you are one of those who lets the car sit for long periods of time).
That is why I do it. Also, you see that it might be a good thing to have if Mercedes sells such an accessory. The charger that I saw here in the US was $150+ and it looked as if it did not have a solid-state maintainer switch (but I am not sure about that). The cost was the ridiculous part.
You are most welcome,
Steve
