help! left lights on all weekend! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

digieditny · #1 07-06-2011, 07:38 AM

Left lights on all weekend by mistake. Now when I jump the car, I get just a click. All the lights and other electrical items work.

Could it be the starter? Where is it so I can give it a wack!

toomany MBZ · #2 07-06-2011, 07:41 AM

I'll suggest to bolt in a new battery. Once they have been drained completely, often it won't be of much use.

But the starter is located below the turbo, follow the large wiring harness.

digieditny · #3 07-06-2011, 07:52 AM

Will try that. Guess girlfriend will have to take a cab from the airport... oooops!

toomany MBZ · #4 07-06-2011, 07:59 AM

Jumper cables are wonderful, but you don't a real good connection with the grips.

RML · #5 07-06-2011, 08:03 AM

Perhaps the source you are using to jump it does not have much power.

Did you try charging the battery? If you do, be sure to make sure the water levels are OK in the cells and use distilled water to top them off if you need to add any. One you try to charge it, you can test the cells and see if the battery is any good.

How old is the battery?

Richard

digieditny · #6 07-06-2011, 08:03 AM

Well im trying to jump it with one of those battery jumper units. I've used it before with no problem but I've never left the car lights on for this long...

RML · #7 07-06-2011, 08:07 AM

It takes a lot of cranking power to turn over a diesel. My guess is that if you jump it with another car or get a service station to do it, you will be OK. Do you belong to AAA?

digieditny · #8 07-06-2011, 08:20 AM

I do belong to AAA. I can give them a call. I just wanted to rule out bad starter. Here's an interesting thing that just happened... I cracked it one more time before heading inside and it turned over but since I didn't expect it to do that, I shut it off... now it just clicks again!

Jetmugg · #9 07-06-2011, 08:44 AM

If you have access to a decent set of jumper cables and another, running vehicle, let it "jump charge" for a while, at least 1/2 hour-45 minutes. The transfer of electrons takes some time, especially through the often-flimsy connection of jumper cable clamps.

Just hook them together, let the running car run for a while while charging, and your diesel will most likely start. Hook them up, have a nice breakfast, brush your teeth, go to the bathroom, then go start your car. (Leave the two cars electrically attached through the entire charging and starting sequence).

Don't expect to jump start it immediately after hooking the jumper cable up, unless you have a VERY heavy duty set of cables and excellent connections at the clamps.

Steve.

digieditny · #10 07-06-2011, 09:10 AM

K gave AAA a call and it started in less than a min. I guess I need a more powerful jumper! Really thought it was the starter. Thanks to all!.

Jim H · #11 07-06-2011, 09:12 AM

Recharging a battery takes time, lots of time.

Recommended recharging rate is not more than Capacity/10, so 6 amperes will require 12 hours or so to recharge a 60 amp-hour battery (72 amp-hours input, less losses in efficiency) so you can't just clip on a charger and crank away after a minute or so.

Using heavy cables to 'jump' a battery is faster and more convenient than replacing the 'dead' battery because you have amps immediately available from the good battery and can start the engine, but you are not recharging the dead battery. It will then take time to recharge the dead battery.

A battery that has been completely discharged never regains its full capacity, so plan to replace it when you are financially able.

leathermang · #12 07-06-2011, 09:20 AM

All good answers.....
also... once a battery is really discharged...some chargers will not recognize it as a load....and you may have to hook another battery up in the group for it to charge the really low one... my charger is that way...

vstech · #13 07-06-2011, 09:30 AM

speaking about the "jump boxes" wall mart has a great one for 99.00 it's a 1200amp unit with air compressor (that sucks) and a 400 watt inverter, along with two 12v sockets and a USB socket.
it jumped two of my cars with no battery in the car!

lutzTD · #14 07-06-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

speaking about the "jump boxes" wall mart has a great one for 99.00 it's a 1200amp unit with air compressor (that sucks) and a 400 watt inverter, along with two 12v sockets and a USB socket.
it jumped two of my cars with no battery in the car!

since OP is done, how is it that these little jump chargers work? Ive seen them just plug into the cigerette lighter and jump the car, but how in world can they draw that many amps through the cigarette lighter and fuse?

vstech · #15 07-06-2011, 09:45 AM

no.
they charge back up through the cigarette lighter.
they start your car with MASSIVE jumper cable connections to your battery.