Dead battery - what to do!

[lynns]

Much has been written about whether or not to Jump Start a R129 dead battery. The owners manual says to follow the M-B procedure

Remember to have the Ignition Key in position 0 , and connect the Negative (-) terminal last before attempting to start the car.

Many M-B mechanics will tell you that they have done a lot of work on cars that have been jump started incorrectly and this has ended up costing the owner big bucks for the replacement of such electrical components as the ECU, etc., please see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2144209-post10.html and http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2355578-post10.html and http://www.benzworld.org/forums/1950209-post11.html and http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129...ml#post3064964

Note: The battery is located on the right side of your trunk and there are Service Mechanics that have suggested that you put a piece of Duct Tape on your battery with a label that says, "Do not Jump Start or Charge this battery without first contacting the owner." or utilize a 12 Volt Antizap Surge Protector

IMO, if you are in the U.S. why not utilize the "free" M-B Roadside Assistance

[tjobeid]

Look i do it the simple way just like old times , no book , no dealer . I usually just hook it up to another car while the other car is off , and start your dead car.If that doesn't work i start the car , then start the dead car. I really dont read any instructions which is a bad thing , but im like screw it . And it works every time.

[gsm-decode]

Originally Posted by lynns

Much has been written about weather or not to Jump Start a R129 dead battery. The owners manual says to follow the M-B procedure, please see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2371141-post7.html

Many M-B mechanics will tell you that they have done a lot of work on cars that have been jump started and this has ended up costing the owner big bucks for the replacement of such electrical components as the ECU, etc., please see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2144209-post10.html

Note: The battery is located on the right side of your trunk and there are Service Mechanics that have suggested that you put a piece of Duct Tape on your battery with a label that says, "Do not Jump, Charge, etc. this battery without contacting the owner."

I'm of the opinion that if you are in the U.S. why not utilize "free" M-B Roadside Assistance, please see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2046809-post1.html

My advice.
key off
remove battery
charge it and if needed buy another one at MB dealer
Insert battery back
Start car

If start car with low battery or connected with another car
many errors will be written in memory of the car
possible hardtop problem
EGS
key
I hade a lot of errors at my car just by low battery

Rgds

[gqmagic]

For those who don't drive their sl's everday, you may want to invest in a battery charger and leave it on 2 amp/volt trickle charge so you'll avoid any problems from frying the electronics from a jump.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by gqmagic

For those who don't drive their sl's everday, you may want to invest in a battery charger and leave it on 2 amp/volt trickle charge so you'll avoid any problems from frying the electronics from a jump.

I would like to here from the R129 electronics guru "bobterry99" with regard to the Battery Tender products such as Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs Battery Tender Jr.

[Carlo$]

call your nearest benz dealer. you get lifetime support for dead battery. i would recommend you buy a benz batt. its worth the extra $$.

[gqmagic]

I got this one at Sears for $29 the day after Thanksgiving
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...AUTO&ihtoken=1

Interstate, Centurian, Diehard etc are as good as Mercedes batteries, Mercedes doen't make the batteries

[elau]

As most of you know by now, I have been dealing with "dead battery" symptom for quite a bit lately. I have jumped using another car, Road Side Assistance, etc. So far the car when jump started, demonstrates no ill effects. I have a hard time believing our car is that fragile. Yes, its an expensive toy. Fragile, hardly.

Use your common sense when jumping; connect cable with both cars not running. Start the "jump car" first. Let it charges the battery for a while, then start the SL. That's how I have been doing.

Will my luck runs out? Time will tell.

[gfern]

Originally Posted by elau

As most of you know by now, I have been dealing with "dead battery" symptom for quite a bit lately. I have jumped using another car, Road Side Assistance, etc. So far the car when jump started, demonstrates no ill effects. I have a hard time believing our car is that fragile. Yes, its an expensive toy. Fragile, hardly.

Use your common sense when jumping; connect cable with both cars not running. Start the "jump car" first. Let it charges the battery for a while, then start the SL. That's how I have been doing.

Will my luck runs out? Time will tell.

That is my experience as well and my mechanics who are most knowledgable about these things see no problems with this method either using the above common sense approach.

[bobterry99]

Originally Posted by lynns

I would like to here from the R129 electronics guru "bobterry99" with regard to the Battery Tender products such as Batterytender.com - Home of All Your Charging Needs Battery Tender Jr.

I think this product will work perfectly well for keeping a battery fully charged. However, I imagine your owner manual states that you should only connect a charging device with the battery disconnected from the car.

By the way, I have jumped R129s many times without consequence. Maybe it is key that you connect the cable to the negatives last and disconnect it first or that you have both cars off when making connections.