I left my lights on last night and this morning it obviously was not turning on. I got a jump from AAA and I drove it around for about 30mins without any problems. I shut it off, turned it back on again and it was fine. Tonight I went to turn on my car and it turn on... The batt dead... So I jumped it and it was fine. I drove it around for about an hour and a half without any issues (though the ABS light is now on). After I parked it, I tried to turn it on and everything was totally dead again! The instrument lights didn't even go on when I turned the key. So does this mean my battery totally died after I left my lights on and now it won't hold a charge or is it something else? Could it be related to my ABS light?

Appreciate it!

digi

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1984 300td euro turbo

Sounds like you might have taken out the battery - especially if you've had it for a while. You can always take it to any of the various chain parts stores and they will test it for you for free. They can also check out the alternator while they're at it, but could easily be that the battery was drained too far to fully recover. Not sure how the ABS light figures in, but I'd start by having the battery tested.

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'95 E300D ("Tank") - 231,000 miles
'79 240D ("Biscuit") - 197,250 miles (Sold)
'83 240D ("Ding-Ding") - 217,000 miles (Death by deer)
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"Back off, man. I’m a scientist” ~ Peter Venkman

Battery is toast, ruined the cells. Replacement time.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Great! I'll jump it and go to autozoo for a new battery! Most likely not the alternator since I drove it around for so long without any issues?

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1984 300td euro turbo

alt prolly ok, i'd check the voltage just because. don't buy an el cheapo battery or you'll be doing this all again sooner than you'd like.

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

the first sign your battery is dead is leaving the lights on overnight should not have drained your battery all the way down. the high capacity batteries our car use, can hold the lights on for over 10 hours and still start the car...
driving around in our cars do not show a working alt either... our cars need VERY little power during a drive. radio, a/c and blower along with lights do need power, but the car will run without alt or battery...
get your battery replaced, and get the alternator tested!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Doesnt the warning buzzer that goes off when you open the door with your lights on work on your car? Maybe time to fix it !

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

who pays attention to all those stupid buzzers and bells anyway?

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

Its just one buzzer, and its there for a reason!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

ABS in a euro W123? I didn't know that.

The light may be linked to the alternator/battery issue due to how they're wired. On US 123's, the low fuel light, brake wear light and battery/alternator light are indicators of a charging circuit problem (or an instrument cluster problem) and sometimes come on together when the alternator or voltage regulator is going.

Probably a bad battery, maybe a bad alternator.

Don't be surprised at sticker shock for the diesel battery - and if you're going to use the car this winter in NY, don't go cheap.

Yeah!!! Real men don`t need no stinkin buzzer .




It sure would have eliminated some agrivation of the dead battery in this situation. then maybe this is a blessing in disguise leaving the lights on, and now having a battery problem. better to discover a weak battery now, than in the dead of winter in N.Y.

Sometimes the alternator won`t be able to bring the batt up to full charge when it gets pulled so far down. using a battery charger over night will bring them back up, unless there is an internal problem.

Get one of those $3.00 Harbor Freight digital voltage testers and see where the battery is at and what the alternator is putting out.

I agree, don`t buy a cheap battery, pay now or pay later when you really need it. the one these cars take will set you back a good $100.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works