davidjohnbamber

Last drove the car Saturday on a 50 mile ride for the dogs. Walking by the front of the car yesterday I heard what sounded like a relay clicking under the hood for a couple of seconds. Getting in the car it was totally dead. I called MB Road Assistance, less than an hour later I had a jump start from a towing company 25 miles away. I immediately turned off the engine, and it restarted instantly without the jumper cables. Anybody out there have something similar happen? BTW,I keep the keys to the car in my kitchen next to the garage. I ended up buying a portable jump pack and left it in the trunk. So if this occurs again I can jump start the car.

beejAMG

its not common but ive heard of it when your battery is on its way down. although i leave my car at the airport sometimes more than 5 days at a time and doesnt miss a beat when i start it (knock on wood)

if your car is back to normal now maybe you can have the battery checked. good call on the portable jump pack but make sure its suitable for our cars and wouldnt do any damage.

thefisch

Mine went like this: dead battery after a weekend of sitting, after jump started fine for about 6 weeks, then wouldn't start after driving to local grocery, jumped again and then worked fine for several weeks until wouldn't start after a 20 minute drive to work. All the time battery tests at auto shops said battery was good, just needed charging.

Finally caved and bought a new battery and no problems since. If you get your battery tested, be sure to take out of car and have them load test it for a reliable result.

thenew3

It depends on the dealer. Some dealers will just replace the battery without testing or jump starting.
My parents had their 3 year old C class die in a shopping mall parking lot. It only had 20k miles on it. They called the 800 road side assistance #. the local MB dealer came by in an ML and installed a new battery without even trying to jump start or test the existing battery.
They just said they see it all the time, between 3 to 4 years and their policy is to just replace the battery.

So it depends on who gets sent out.

Having said that, I work from home so I don't drive my E wagon all that much. Sometimes it goes for a month without being driven. I've yet to have any issues with starting it. If yours died after just a few days of not driving, then either something is not shutting off correctly and draining the battery, or the battery is on its way out.

KEY08

Yeah, battery is going bye-bye or parasitic drain is happening, both of which can be tested for easily by any competent shop.

pamiboy

Or there may be some problem with the wiring resulting in inadequate charging to your battery. Any rodents in the area?

davidjohnbamber

The car has been fine since the jump. (2 days ago) I guess I will just have to wait, and see. I doubt that if it happened again, that I would get roadside assistance from a M-B dealer as it is 2 1/2 to 3 hour ride to the closest 2 dealers. Thanks to all who have replied.

KEY08

you should try to let it sit for a couple days and see if the drain continues,