[BigKutta]

Haven't looked in a while but I am sure there are jump points somewhere in under the hood. You likely do not need to be under the passenger seat to jump your car

 

[roadrutz]

Here...

 

[Mike's ML]

You may want to re-think using your ML to jump start another vehicle. There is a risk of frying your electronics in the process. $$$$$$$
Mike

 

[lkchris]

Good I guess for weight distribution but very hard to get jump leads in there! gave up and got a car with a battery in a sensible place to do the job

By your statement you show you don't know much about cars.

Battery is away from engine compartment to avoid all the fumes, etc., that cause battery post corrosion.

And, if you could read an owners manual you'd find VERY convenient posts under the hood that are there JUST for jump starting.

But, it's easier to complain than to read and learn.

 

[roadrutz]

By your statement you show you don't know much about cars.

Battery is away from engine compartment to avoid all the fumes, etc., that cause battery post corrosion.

And, if you could read an owners manual you'd find VERY convenient posts under the hood that are there JUST for jump starting.

But, it's easier to complain than to read and learn.

The battery is away from the engine compartment partly because there isn't much room in there and partly for weight distribution. I'm not sure what fumes you are talking about, but battery posts typically corrode because tiny amounts of acid spray out through the vent holes and get onto the terminals. You can clean them with bicarbonate of soda, which neutralizes the acid. Corrosion can occur regardless of where the battery is located, which is why only ventless AGM batteries are ever located inside the vehicle. But one of those batteries will never get terminal corrosion even if located in the engine compartment.

Mike: I agree, but the chances of doing any damage are pretty slim if you use the under-hood terminals Mercedes provided and connect the jumper cables in the correct sequence -- ground last, remove it first. That way there is little chance of arcing, which is what eats up expensive electronics. Also, you have to make sure the vehicles aren't touching, or that can produce tiny sparks too.

 

[Mike's ML]

This car continues to amaze me. I popped the hood for the first time and was very impressed by the tidy layout and engine cover, however I needed to find the battery to jumpstart my Boxster. A bit of headscratching and web surfing later and I,m looking at the battery wedged under the passenger seat. ..... Good I guess for weight distribution but very hard to get jump leads in there! gave up and got a car with a battery in a sensible place to do the job

OK, I get it, this post is a belated April 1st joke.You have been a Benzworld member since May 2008 and have 105 posts and you have Never opened the hood before. You also clamed to go the the effort to check the web but never thought to RTFM. Good One.
Mike

 

[Mike's ML]

Mike: I agree, but the chances of doing any damage are pretty slim if you use the under-hood terminals Mercedes provided and connect the jumper cables in the correct sequence -- ground last, remove it first. That way there is little chance of arcing, which is what eats up expensive electronics. Also, you have to make sure the vehicles aren't touching, or that can produce tiny sparks too.

If his boxter has been hanging around all winter, like my vette, and the battery is dead there will most likely be some arcing, even on the negative terminal. The only safe way to jump any vehicle is to use a clean 12V supply like a separate jumper battery and not another vehicle. The negative - install last, remove first- procedure is to avoid the possibility of shorting out the battery if the positive jumper inadvertently touches any grounded part of the vehicle. If the negative is not connected nothing will happen.
Mike

 

[Mike's ML]

By your statement you show you don't know much about cars.

Battery is away from engine compartment to avoid all the fumes, etc., that cause battery post corrosion.

The W164's use sealed AGM batteries that do NOT outgass thus allowing them to be placed in an enclosed compartment under the seat. Be careful about criticizing peoples' knowledge.
Mike

 

[renault12ts]

This car continues to amaze me. I popped the hood for the first time and was very impressed by the tidy layout and engine cover, however I needed to find the battery to jumpstart my Boxster. A bit of headscratching and web surfing later and I,m looking at the battery wedged under the passenger seat. ..... Good I guess for weight distribution but very hard to get jump leads in there! gave up and got a car with a battery in a sensible place to do the job

Thanks??

 

[MB-SV]

Yes, there are some good facts amongst the garbage here too.:thumbsup:

 

[ouroboros]

Many thanks Roadrutz - that will come in handy for jumping any cars in future. In the end I actually got some security guards to help me push it!

Hi Mike - it's not a joke I didn't pop the hood since I've had the car (2 months and came fully serviced)!!! I've been a Porsche owner for the last 8 years and getting a look at the engine is quite hard in the 986/996. I guess I'm now used to not tinkering in there.

If your second car has been sitting around for a while (so it has a weak battery) and it's stranded in a carpark and your manual is at home, and you look under the hood of this thing for the first time, mobile surfing is a godsend!!!

QUOTE=roadrutz;3415021]Here...[/QUOTE]

 

[Yazovets!]

You may want to re-think using your ML to jump start another vehicle. There is a risk of frying your electronics in the process. $$$$$$$
Mike

Oh please, the ML is still a car just like any other with a 12V battery. I jump started my Toyota Camry last month with the ML. Nothing got fried. And I've jump started my neighbor's Toyota Matrix, too.

 

[roadrutz]

If his boxter has been hanging around all winter, like my vette, and the battery is dead there will most likely be some arcing, even on the negative terminal. The only safe way to jump any vehicle is to use a clean 12V supply like a separate jumper battery and not another vehicle. The negative - install last, remove first- procedure is to avoid the possibility of shorting out the battery if the positive jumper inadvertently touches any grounded part of the vehicle. If the negative is not connected nothing will happen.
Mike

Mike, if you let your Vette's battery die over the winter, you are severely shortening its life! You should either keep it on trickle charge or charge it properly every two or three months. Few things shorten battery life faster than letting it sit discharged.

For the record, I don't recall EVER getting arcing from the ground cable when jump starting a vehicle, although I agree that it is theoretically possible.

 

[Fast Eddie 500]

I have jump started vehicles hundreds of times (mostly from my youth) and I would very often get a spark (or arc) when connecting the ground. That is why I would connect the ground last, and as far away from the battery as possible. If the battery is bad, and leaking fumes, the spark could ignite the fumes causing a battery to explode.

Admittedly, it is very rare for a battery to leak fumes. But it does happen and that is why you should make the last connection away from the battery.

The ML jump-start station takes care of that for you.

 

[Mike's ML]

I have jump started vehicles hundreds of times (mostly from my youth) and I would very often get a spark (or arc) when connecting the ground. That is why I would connect the ground last, and as far away from the battery as possible. If the battery is bad, and leaking fumes, the spark could ignite the fumes causing a battery to explode.

Admittedly, it is very rare for a battery to leak fumes. But it does happen and that is why you should make the last connection away from the battery.

The ML jump-start station takes care of that for you.

Very good points and absolutely correct.
Mike

 

[Mike's ML]

Mike, if you let your Vette's battery die over the winter, you are severely shortening its life! You should either keep it on trickle charge or charge it properly every two or three months. Few things shorten battery life faster than letting it sit discharged.

Yes, you are correct. I have owned the Vette since 1971 and once I figured out the battery life thing, hey I was young then, I now remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger over the winter. It also makes a very good jumper battery if needed and is often used as a 12V DC supply for automotive projects.
Mike

 

[ouroboros]

Can we take the neg comments out of this thread and add it to the DIY? The info on jump points may be useful for others

 

[MB-SV]

Can we take the neg comments out of this thread and add it to the DIY? The info on jump points may be useful for others

That would take more editing than anybody has time for.

 

[MB-SV]

Yes, you are correct. I have owned the Vette since 1971 and once I figured out the battery life thing, hey I was young then, I now remove the battery and put it on a trickle charger over the winter. It also makes a very good jumper battery if needed and is often used as a 12V DC supply for automotive projects.
Mike

btw, many Porsche owners use a OEM "battery maintainer" that plugs into the cigar lighter for those long cold winter months where the car just sits in the garage.