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Changed the battery.

1008 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  cvayala
My car had been having trouble starting lately, and today, it just wouldn't start period. Checked the voltage it was low. Hooked up an external charger and managed to get it started. Went for a drive to charge up the battery. Turned the car off, and once again it wouldn't start. So I figured a new battery was in order. $80 from Kragen. It appears to be just a tad bit taller than the stock one as I had to manhandle the bracket back on.

Anyway, when changing the battery, make sure the alarm is turned off beforehand. When I disconnect the positive terminal, it started going off and scared the **** out of me. After gathering my wits, I reached for my remote to turn the alarm off and that didn't work. Finally I figured that I had to reconnect the battery to use the remote and shut the thing up. That wasn't fun.

After the replacement, I started the car just fine. Now, my ESP/BAS light is on. Anyone know off hand if this is normal? Will it go away by itself? Do I have to do something?

BTW, I believe that was the origal battery on my car which was manufactured 6/2001 I believe, so that's about 3.5 years, and 27000 miles. Sound normal?
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Thats strange.... my alarm never went off when I disconnected the battery. Mine was also the original, lasted 5 years !!
cvayala - 2/18/2005 1:19 AM

After the replacement, I started the car just fine. Now, my ESP/BAS light is on. Anyone know off hand if this is normal? Will it go away by itself? Do I have to do something?
It's normal. The steering position sensor needs to be recalibrated. Start the engine and while idling turn the wheel lock to lock. That should clear it up. It's in the manual.
Anyway, when changing the battery, make sure the alarm is turned off beforehand.
Actually makes sense - there is some backup battery for the alarm so if somebody tries to disable your alarm by disconnecting the battery it still will have some power.
Your stats on the battery sounded a little low...I am presently at 44000 miles and nearly 5 years since the date of production and the battery is still strong as ever. I don't use A/C and drives mostly freeway.

Will you be here again to join the SLK bay area roadtrip like the SLK350 test drive again? I will most likely be joining the rest for lunch only. Heard it is going to rain heavy this saturday....
LeCorbusier - 2/18/2005 7:45 AM

Will you be here again to join the SLK bay area roadtrip like the SLK350 test drive again? I will most likely be joining the rest for lunch only. Heard it is going to rain heavy this saturday....
Right now I plan on being there.
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