Electrical/Charging/Starting Issues...Part III! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 01-08-2006, 02:10 AM

Well gentlemen...this is now part three of my saga in starting problems.

Backstory for those just jumping in:
INCIDENT ONE:
Tuesday night (before my brake job) went over to friends house..car sat for 45m..went to move it, wouldnt start. Tried to jump it from my buddy's dad's Corsica--nothing...after 15-30m of trying gave up. Called in reinforcements (car charger) and after 5m on that it started right up.

Brake Job completed Friday morining.

INCIDENT TWO:
Friday Night. Car sat form Wed to Fri. Tried to start--it wouldnt. I put it on the charger--started right up. Went for a 40m high-speed highway run with only headlamps on. Got home, let it sit for less than 2m..DEAD wouldnt start.

INCIDENT THREE
TODAY. Brandon and I are discussing it in this IM.

[01:20] JamesDean59: went to my buddys house for 2h...started right up outta the garage..block heater was plugged in
[01:20] JamesDean59: left his house...sounded a bit laboured...got home
[01:20] JamesDean59: car sat for maybe 30m or less...block still warm...
[01:20] JamesDean59: wurrr wurrrr wurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. locks cycle...nothing
[01:22] JamesDean59: had 2 get car charger from trunk and 50' extention cable
[01:22] JamesDean59: hook all tha up in barefoot with a thin layer of sno on the ground

[01:31] Brandon314159: wtf
[01:31] JamesDean59: yah
[01:32] JamesDean59: she hasnt been run in a few days
[01:32] JamesDean59: but
[01:32] JamesDean59: that doesnt account for this
[01:32] Brandon314159: I know
[01:32] Brandon314159: have to replaced the regulator yet?
[01:32] JamesDean59: it was done a year ago
[01:33] Brandon314159: hm.

[01:43] JamesDean59: the car has been sitting for bout 30m or so
[01:43] JamesDean59: since i charge-started it
[01:43] JamesDean59: im gonna go try it again
[01:43] Brandon314159: mk
[01:45] JamesDean59: well
[01:45] JamesDean59: nope
[01:45] JamesDean59: wurr'd a few time
[01:45] JamesDean59: s
[01:45] JamesDean59: locks cycled
[01:45] JamesDean59: then nothing
[01:45] JamesDean59: my deck is still reading the correct time
[01:45] JamesDean59: and so is the clock in the inst panel
[01:45] Brandon314159: hmm...
[01:45] Brandon314159: you sure your starter is okay?
[01:46] Brandon314159: its a very peculiar problem
[01:47] JamesDean59: as far as i know
[01:48] JamesDean59: but i dont know any ways of checking it
[01:48] Brandon314159: so weird.
[01:48] JamesDean59: no doubt
[01:48] JamesDean59: do u know of any way of checking the start
[01:48] JamesDean59: er
[01:48] Brandon314159: an amperage check would do it
[01:48] Brandon314159: does it crank over healthy?
[01:49] Brandon314159: pretty quick?
[01:49] Brandon314159: or does it lope?
[01:49] JamesDean59: lope ?
[01:49] Brandon314159: like
[01:49] Brandon314159: noticeable load being put on the starter
[01:49] Brandon314159: not even smooth speed.
[01:50] JamesDean59: to me it sounds as if the starter is running out of juice
[01:50] JamesDean59: it will crank evenly 4 or 5 times
[01:50] JamesDean59: then progressively, the cranks get slower (and longer)
[01:51] JamesDean59: and harder and then the locks cycle and nothing
[01:51] JamesDean59: all i have here is my multimeter
[01:51] JamesDean59: to test with
[01:52] Brandon314159: hm

And there you have it folks....this is a call out too all MB Tinker-ers and DIY-ers. Pros and Amateurs. Does anyone have any idea wtf is going on with this 300SD?

Thanks Again,

Kris

Tirebiter · #2 01-08-2006, 02:24 AM

Did you load test your battery? It sounds like it isn't holding a charge.

JamesDean · #3 01-08-2006, 03:05 AM

battery was load tested on 3 sep. ocassions. it passed all three times..additionally...if the battery is bad, this would be the cars 3/4th batt in under 5 years. somthing must be causing them to go bad like that.

Previous Threads bout this:

FIRST:

You fix one thing and two more problems come

SECOND:

this is getting a bit out of hand...

JamesDean · #4 01-08-2006, 02:00 PM

Today, I plan on charge-starting my car and driving it on the highway for a little while. I will video tape the starting of the car so you can judge the starter because my interpretation might be completely wrong.

This is after the car was started off the charger last night and then re-tried (failed)
I just tried to start it and this video shows what happend:

http://www.savefile.com/files/4191654
the clip is encoded in Xvid.

I had to put the car on the charger for bout 5-7min. Results:
http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=6089583

I started the car after I got back from the highway drive (less than 5m from turning it off)
http://www.savefile.com/files/1567118

JamesDean · #5 01-08-2006, 03:37 PM

I will retest it in about 20m.