Car won't start...W123 300TD
 

Hi all, it's been ages since I've been around, but I was getting the beast out, and was getting it ready to take to an event, when I plug in the key and turn it to ignition on thinking the glow plug light will come on. But, instead the seatbelt light is flickering, there's a loud buzzing coming from the thing pictured, no glow plug light, and when you turn the key to start position....there's nothing, starter doesn't even engage.

Sounds like a dead battery.

I do keep a battery maintainer on it, and put a booster on it for a few minutes at 55 amps, and it still did the same thing.

That is the glow plug relay in the picture.

Do the headlamps work with the key in the run position. What do the headlamps do when trying to crank the engine.

How old is the battery? How long ago was it run?

The starter won't do anything when you crank the key. The glow plug relay buzzes and it's like shutting off all other ignition or that's what it seems like. It does have symptoms of a weak battery, but even when the 55amp booster was put on it, it was the same way. It has been a while since it was started, about 10 months maybe a year. But, it's always had the trickle charger on it. Also, when the battery charger/booster was on it, it showed the battery was fully charged.

We have a 1965 Mustang parked in our garage, a favour for a friend who lives in NY. It was on a trickle charger for a long time, but everytime he would be in LA, twice a year and pick up the car to drive it the battery would be shot. Using a booster or charging it with cables would not start the car. A fresh battery did.

Well, the battery is about 8 years, so...it is probably time for it to go to crap. It is strange the charger indicates it's fully charged.

yes.

You guys are geniuses. New $200 battery, and she fired right up!

Thanks everyone!!!

Quality car batteries normally last a maximum of 5 years. After that you are really taking a chance even if using a trickle charger.

This one was a Mercedes-Benz battery, and you won't believe it but it was 12 years old!