SL/R230: Consumer battery question
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 23
Likes: 3
'92 500E, '07 SL550
Consumer battery question
2007 SL550. I've owned it 6-8 months. Per records, current trunk battery placed 4/2013.
I use an Optima 400 charger and have it showing 100% up till recently. When I turn it on and do pre-check it says that battery is 100% charged. I start the charging cycle and it only gets up to 80% now. Twice, after a few days of charging, it switches to a fault message, telling the the battery cannot be charged. If I turn it off, clear it and restart it the same sequence occurs. I haven't driven car since this started a couple weeks ago, so don't know if any battery messages are showing on the dash.
Do I need a new consumer battery?
Thanks. Bill
I use an Optima 400 charger and have it showing 100% up till recently. When I turn it on and do pre-check it says that battery is 100% charged. I start the charging cycle and it only gets up to 80% now. Twice, after a few days of charging, it switches to a fault message, telling the the battery cannot be charged. If I turn it off, clear it and restart it the same sequence occurs. I haven't driven car since this started a couple weeks ago, so don't know if any battery messages are showing on the dash.
Do I need a new consumer battery?
Thanks. Bill
Super Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 606
Likes: 88
From: North Cali
2005 SL500, 2015 CLS400
Rudeney probably meant 5+ years))
But any way even 5 years is a decent period of time for any given battery. If you want to be 100% sure that is a dying battery - try to use another charger. I had that happening to me - bought a "decent" charger for about $70 or so. Thought is a good one until had to charge a dead battery. Then I paid the $150 for a Ctek (read "MB" at the dealer) and I'm a happy camper now. Works better than any other I tested so far and never let me down.
Regards.
But any way even 5 years is a decent period of time for any given battery. If you want to be 100% sure that is a dying battery - try to use another charger. I had that happening to me - bought a "decent" charger for about $70 or so. Thought is a good one until had to charge a dead battery. Then I paid the $150 for a Ctek (read "MB" at the dealer) and I'm a happy camper now. Works better than any other I tested so far and never let me down.
Regards.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
5 years, 8 years, what's the difference? (Well three years, obviously! 
) For some reason, my eyes saw "2013" and my brain read "2010". Probably too much Scotch. Still, 5 years is getting into EOL for a car battery. Do make sure that you don't have anything draining it, though. For example, a leaky pneumatic trunk latch can cause the PSE pump to run.
) For some reason, my eyes saw "2013" and my brain read "2010". Probably too much Scotch. Still, 5 years is getting into EOL for a car battery. Do make sure that you don't have anything draining it, though. For example, a leaky pneumatic trunk latch can cause the PSE pump to run.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 541
Likes: 93
From: Northern VA
SL 600
5 years, 8 years, what's the difference? (Well three years, obviously! ) For some reason, my eyes saw "2013" and my brain read "2010". Probably too much Scotch. Still, 5 years is getting into EOL for a car battery. Do make sure that you don't have anything draining it, though. For example, a leaky pneumatic trunk latch can cause the PSE pump to run.
) For some reason, my eyes saw "2013" and my brain read "2010". Probably too much Scotch. Still, 5 years is getting into EOL for a car battery. Do make sure that you don't have anything draining it, though. For example, a leaky pneumatic trunk latch can cause the PSE pump to run.Yeah, 5 years is pushing it for any battery.
