New transmission and a new Optima red top and now the car won't even start. I really haven't been able to enjoy this car. It's been one thing after another and I'm really getting tired. I envy my neighbor who drives a Camry. Everyday, she goes to work and comes home and never has a problem. Even the birds don't target her car. My car is their alltime favorite bullseye .

Now that I've vented ....here's what happened:

1. Car was in winter storage since November 2004, because of a broken transmission since .


2. April 27, 2005 I brought the car out of storage and had it sent to the garage on a flatbed. I had the transmission removed from the car and sent away to be rebuilt.
***The battery died sometime during the months of storage. I gave the car a boost to get it on the flatbed.

3. May 6, 2005 I had the new transmission installed in the car. I also put a brand new distributor cap and rotor and oil and filter change. I couldn't get the Clifford alarm system to work since I don't have the programming instructions for the remote control. To get the instructions, I need to know the model of my alarm system. The previous owner had it installed and so I don't know the model number. I searched for the box to get the number, but had no luck finding it. So I pulled the fuse from the alarm system. Car has no alarm system now also resulting in no central locking.
***The car started fine after being parked for 10 days. I drive the car home and the have no problems.

4. May 7, 2005
*** The battery is dead.

5. May 10, 2005 I got a new Optima battery. I had the battery charged to make sure it was full.
***Off the shelf, the battery tested at 12.64v

6. May 11, 2005 here are the results of the battery:


***Battery rated for 800 CCA and puts out 1136 CCA after the charge and 13.25v.

7. May 21, 2005 I have driven the car on average once every 3 days since May 11. The car has been starting with ease and working fine. This morning started the car and again working just fine. I run a few errands and come home.
***After a few hours, the car is dead. The clock in the cluster is still keeping good time, but no lights come on in the instrument cluster when I try to start the car.

What do you guys suggest I do? I am thinking that maybe:
a) My alternator is the culprit.
b) Something is draining the battery.
c) The alarm system is causing a problem somehow.

I really need to fix this problem. I have turn over my main car on Tuesday to the insurance company since they wrote my car off. That resulted in a huge $$$$ loss for me. The 300ce will be my only means of transportation for the next little while until I find a new car. I cannot afford to have the starting problems that I experienced today next week. I must resolve this issue as soon as possible.

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz