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Old 05-15-2001, 12:21 AM
elau's Avatar
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Location: MD.
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My SL would not start this Saturday after it has been sitting in the garage for two weeks without being used. All lights come on when key was turned, but the engine would not crank over, and I could hear the clicking sound. I jumped started it reluctantly (I think someone in the Forum said not to jump a Benz because it can mass up the computer, but I may be wrong), then took it out and rode around for couple of hours. The top would not open after the car was jump started, so I left it alone. It started right up on Sunday and the top worked fine so I took it out again. Does that mean my battery is at the end of its life? It is an OEM battery. My SL is usually a garage queen, and it always start right up even after sitting for long period of time. Any suggestion?

95 R129
98 W163

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Old 05-15-2001, 07:44 AM
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Remember especially on 129's and 140's, that it's important to not leave the key in the ignition when sitting, it creates an even higher demand for resting current. MB (and others) do offer mounted trickle chargers for these cars, as the resting current draw is quite high, even with the key pulled. You may want to get the resting current draw tested, just to make sure it isn't "abnormally" high.....Gilly
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Old 05-15-2001, 11:34 PM
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Gilly,
Can the dealer perform the resting current test? I have a trickle charger for my motorcycle, will that work for my SL as well? As usual, thanks for your advise.

95 R129
98 W163
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Old 05-16-2001, 07:13 AM
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Elau: Sure, the dealer can check the car for excessive resting current comsumption. On a R129, you need to know what to expect, I am sure the dealer is knowledgeable enough to do this. The test should require a wait of about 10 to 20 minutes to allow all the computers to go into a type of "sleep" mode, so don't expect a immediate response from the dealer. I would say that a cycle trickle charger would work fine to keep the battery up. Be sure to disconnect it before trying to start the car, though, you could fry the charger. Remember about removing the key, that was really stressed when we learned about these cars, some of the computers in the car don't shut down (go to sleep) with the key in the ignition.......Gilly
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Old 05-18-2001, 11:57 PM
elau's Avatar
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Well, after a week long business trip my SL won't start again this evening when I wanted to take it out. All the symptons from last weekend. Should I do the resting current test or should I get a new battery and hope for the best. Any suggestion? Anyone???

Should have put the trickle charger on like I planned to do.

95 R129
98 W163
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  #6  
Old 05-20-2001, 12:14 AM
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You can jump start it with another car to get it going. The thing to avoid are these gasoline powered generators that are occasionally found on a wrecker to jump a car. Use a 12 volt battery to jump only (car to car). After getting it running, take it to a shop and have the battery load tested. How old is the battery? On an 129 or 140, don't expect much more than 5 years out of the battery. I would also of course get the charging system checked, and a resting current comsumption test done at the same time, especially if they say the battery is OK.
Gilly
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Old 05-23-2001, 11:19 PM
elau's Avatar
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Gilly,
I jumped my SL with my wife's ML and drove it at once to the dealer. They ran some tests including the resting current and the alternator, and concluded that it was my battery. My old battery had a date stamp of 11/95 on it. The total cost was $166. Now that I am on business in Austin for a week and the car is sitting in the garage again, guess I will find out if it was the battery that gave me all those griefs. Thanks again for all your input.

95 R129
98 W163

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