E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550

Battery level 60%

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 09-19-2014, 01:41 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
MinnBobber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2013 E350 Wagon, prev 2005 ML 500 SE
Question Battery level 60%

Anybody else have an issue with your battery not holding a charge beyond 60% ? 2013 E350 with 14K.
Even after driving 60 miles on the freeway, I wait for battery to stabilize an hour and it's at 60%.

Dealer checked out battery and charging system---everything is FINE.
No it's not.
Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks
Old 09-19-2014, 02:05 PM
  #2  
Out Of Control!!
 
PeterUbers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,411
Received 1,886 Likes on 1,323 Posts
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
Where can you find that 60% number?
Old 09-19-2014, 02:52 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
MinnBobber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2013 E350 Wagon, prev 2005 ML 500 SE
battery gauge

Originally Posted by PeterUbers
Where can you find that 60% number?
I have a battery tester gauge that measures the % of charge at rest for any 12 volt automotive or marine battery.
It is used a lot for testing marine batteries, especially trolling motor batteries to accurately measure the battery charge level.
I think it is a voltage tester with a different scale. For example--not accurate figure but..... voltage of 12.6 = 60% charge, etc.

It is quite accurate. I even checked out my loaner E350 battery to make sure the gauge wasn't going bad--- 95%. My wife's Accord --98%.
My E350---- 65%
Old 09-19-2014, 05:57 PM
  #4  
Out Of Control!!
 
PeterUbers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,411
Received 1,886 Likes on 1,323 Posts
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ecu tune; edok tcu tune; BB intakes; dyno tuned
I would hook up a ctek trickle charger for a couple nights and see if holds and maintains a higher charge %

If not, something wrong with your battery or charging system
Old 09-19-2014, 06:35 PM
  #5  
Banned
 
jerryt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
SLK250
I am having the same issue, 2012 SLK250 20K
12.3 volts
New AGM battery which was great for awhile
Did charge up properly on 500 mile trip
Short trips around town and a week later back to this low voltage BS.

Currently charging with Ctek 7002 charger, (that thing gets HOT...)
Attached Thumbnails Battery level 60%-4-10-open-circuit-voltage-chart_websize.jpg  

Last edited by jerryt; 09-19-2014 at 09:06 PM.
Old 09-19-2014, 10:33 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
MinnBobber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2013 E350 Wagon, prev 2005 ML 500 SE
charger

Originally Posted by PeterUbers
I would hook up a ctek trickle charger for a couple nights and see if holds and maintains a higher charge %

If not, something wrong with your battery or charging system
Thanks,
I did charge it up to 100% and then let it sit for 5 days.
Slowly-----down to 60%.
The dealer says we have a $4000 tester and it's all fine.

I'm sending in their service follow up card so expect to hear back from them
Old 09-20-2014, 09:21 AM
  #7  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
KEY08's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 4,920
Received 1,616 Likes on 1,186 Posts
2014 E550-sold 😩
Perhaps you have something draining the battery. In my old E500 I had a very small leak in my airmatic system that would cause the pump to cycle every 2-3 hours. My battery always seemed to be down on charge, but not enough to not start the car. I didn't know that I had the leak until I went on vacation and my car was flat on the ground with a dead battery.
Old 09-20-2014, 10:56 AM
  #8  
Banned
 
jerryt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
SLK250
Originally Posted by jerryt
I am having the same issue, 2012 SLK250 20K
12.3 volts
New AGM battery which was great for awhile
Did charge up properly on 500 mile trip
Short trips around town and a week later back to this low voltage BS.

Currently charging with Ctek 7002 charger, (that thing gets HOT...)
I removed the negative terminal and installed 10 amp multimeter in line, first few seconds shows 7 amp, then 30 seconds later 0.75 amps, and then after a minute 0.03 amp.

After charging the battery all night with Ctek 7002, battery had Open Cell Voltage of 13.3

Car running at idle 14.1 volts

Found this thread;
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post4731335

So maybe this low charging rate is by design ????
Originally Posted by Ausmbtech
Current MB's use the alternator differently to older models.

Most have variable output alternators to help reduce fuel consumption.

In most cases once a battery is fully charged they hold battery voltage between 12.6v-13v to reduce fuel consumption.If you apply the brakes then the voltage may increase to as much as 15v to recoup the "free" energy, if accelerating then it may drop as low as 12v. The engine ECU determines what voltage it wants to maintain at the battery based on load/temps/electrical consumers etc.

All Bluefficiency models have this, and most other current models.

They are fitted with bigger batteries to compensate for this so you will get a lower cranking voltage becasue the battery isn't aways fully charged when you park the car.
If this is in deed the case, then the fix would be an ECU settings change ????

Another quote from; http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/..._vehicles.aspx

Originally Posted by Allan B
replied:
The new "Intelligent" alternator control is intended to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in several ways.

1) The alternator output (and hence engine load) will be reduced or even ceased during acceleration to provide more power (at any given throttle) to the vehicle's wheels.
2) The alternator output will be reduced to zero during idling to reduce engine load and emissions.
3) The alternator output will raised during engine braking during deceleration to provide regenerative charging.

Projected fuel savings are 3%.

AGM cranking batteries are being introduced to allow for a more cyclic charge pattern and will frequently be operating at about 80% SOC.

Articles on this subject are hard to find on the internet without access to authoritative professional sites and some uninformed information exists.
I cannot reliably determine how this new alternator control will affect the charging of auxiliary batteries but it seems likely that at least DC-DC charging will be required and even that will need some special attention by the manufacturers. It is also possible that third parties may offer vehicle modification solutions.
OK determined from WIS that the 2012 SLK250 is;
"LIN" alternator linked to the engine control module per LIN
LIN = Local Interconnect Network, communication is two-way between engine control module and alternator.

Two short trips in town and measure battery directly 12.5

Measured wife's 2010 Jetta TDI and it is also 12.5, but it does not have a AGM battery...

Getting closer to a solution;
http://*******.com/Thread-Advice-on-...2205#pid322205
Originally Posted by Rocinante' pid='322205' dateline='1412129073
Well, being a 2012, I would say for sure you need the Rear SAM software update... it modifies the charging behavior.. originally, Mercedes wanted the battery to remain with a slightly low charge state so they could take advantage of deceleration charging to get better gas mileage, but for most people who don't drive much or drive in stop and go traffic, it really doesn't work out for them and it kills the battery... I have personally seen the battery voltage get below 12.4v when driving down the road with the Star Diagnosis machine hooked up, and after the update, the voltage never gets below 13.4 volts..

Last edited by jerryt; 10-01-2014 at 10:31 PM.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Battery level 60%



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:28 AM.