300E with no voltage!!

[spinedoc]

Today when I went to start my 87 300E I got nothing. The engine does not crank over, no lights, gauges, radio, alarm, etc etc come on.

I checked the battery; full charge, plus I have a battery buddy installed. I tried giving the car a jump for the hell of it, no help there.

I am assuming it is some kind of voltage regulator or something in between the battery and car somewhere, although I check all the cables and they all look good.

Tommorrow I will check to see if I have juice in the fusebox and the starter, just wanted to see if I could get a headstart with some of you techs, any ideas?

Thanx

[ejsharp]

If your battery terminals are corroded you will get the exact symptoms that you describe. Clean up both the terminals and the cables where they connect to the battery. Also check for corrosion where the negative cable connects to the frame of the car (ground). A good battery should have about 13 volts ... 12 indicates a low battery.

[william rogers]

want to be real carefull jumping a fully charged battery a friend in Fla, had dirty conections(engine would not turn over) and a fully charged battery when he hooked up the jumper cables the battery blew up in his face ,his eyes were bandaged for a month but fortunately no permanent damage .
William Rogers.......

[Edited by william rogers on 04-07-2001 at 04:43 PM]

[chowpit]

You didn't mention the type of battery but I would bet it has dead short that only a load will create causing your described symptoms. Double check you "battery buddy" also to make sure it is not at fault.

[jeffsr]

Hey Doc...Here's a couple of ideas. Get a voltmeter or test light and be sure the battery is in fact fully charged. Check the condition of the ground cable from the battery to the shock tower. I have seen two that were broken and it wasn't visible. If the headlights come on then you can rule out the ground strap. If not, then the battery is not connecting to the electrical system. Also, consider the ignition switch. Do the courtesy lights come on when the door opens?? If so, then it's probably the ignition switch. Hope this helps..

[william rogers]

is there a fusable link on M B cars like on most american cars? if it goes you would have exact symtoms...
William Rogers.......

[jeffsr]

No fusible links in that year or model...

[ItalianBenz]

Hey spin. First thing first. Clean your connections
put a votl meter across your terminals. A fully charged batt not running should be a min of 12.6 volts. If that looks ok and headlamp turn on. Then you have a Circuit #30 problem which is main circuit from batt to igintion switch.


Spin do this right by the brake master cyl against the firewall a 3 pin connector black in color. Pull it off
the middle pin is circuit 50 Stater circuit female side
put a test light in it turn key over like your starting it.
If it lights up your igniton electrical portion is ok. If not then you have a bad eletrical portion of the switch.

Next thing the male side if the connector purple lead wire going to starter. If you have a remote starter switch
put one connector at the middle pin the other to batt positive try to start it. If it cranks you elimnated the circuit #50 to the start hope this helps.
Most likely I feel from my experince as a Factory tech 14 yrs. Its going to be the igniton switch .
Hope this help spin.

Guido Factory MB tech 14yrs
1993 500E 85K pearl black

[spinedoc]

Wow, I really miss this site and the great responses. Fortunately it turned out to be my stupid battery buddy, which turned out to be not allowing the battery to reach the car for some reason. I took it off and tossed it in the garbage bin, car turns over just peachy now.

Thanx guys.