ASR and flat battery - connected issues? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KenSilver · #1 02-20-2005, 02:40 PM

Yesterday, after 3 weeks sitting in the garage (while I was enjoying my recently purchased Lexus SUV a lot) my '93 SL500 hit back at my lack of care by flattening its battery.

No problem - I jumpstarted it and took the car for a 45 minute run at high speed and many acceleration hills to clear out the cobwebs.

About 10 minutes away from home on the return trip, and fortunately back in the suburbs, the ASR light came up and the engine reduced power. A new SLK which had been following me for the past 20 kms was forced to sit behind me on the narrow road while I tried to figure out what was wrong... since I'd never experienced anything like this before.

After a nervewracking 10 seconds of twiddling with this and that, I discovered the famous 'limp home' mode by putting my foot right down on the throttle. Phew. The SLK roared past me, the driver mentally thumbing his nose at me, I'm sure. Embarrasing stuff.

So, is there any connection between the flat battery and my ASR problem, or is it just a coincidence and I'm going to have to go the expensive route to get it fixed? Or will it work perfectly forever more, and my worries are all over now? And how will I tell?

Or is it best to get the problem fixed regardless for a worry-free life?

I sure don't want my expensive looking machine to end up like the early 90's Rolls Royce I saw on the motorway a couple of days ago with the hood up and a tow truck behind it. I laughed then, but pride comes before a fall

Good looks and a top marque should also mean rock solid dependibilty also, otherwise what's the point!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

KenSilver · #2 02-20-2005, 02:51 PM

Actually, come to think of it, having an expensive car is no guarantee of reliability. Our SLK had a flat battery moment a few months back. I was stranded at our village in a no-parking area because I was getting my mail across the road.

Fortunately luck was on my side, and I got no ticket for the hour it took to sort out.

However, I haven't got to the carefree stage that a prominent businessman did quite a few years back when his new Jaguar stopped on the Auckland harbour bridge and wouldn't go. He just got out, left it unlocked on the bridge, and hailed a taxi. The dealership got to it before the authorities did, luckily.

My son, who was completing his apprenticeship at the local Jag dealership at the time, also mentioned another businessman--one of the largest property investors in our country--couldn't get his petrol filler cap to open at the service station. He took to it with a small hatchet!

My son was the one who drove round to pick it up later that day from the investor's office. How the other half live!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

deanyel · #3 02-20-2005, 05:00 PM

I'd say it's coincidence - problems not related. I'd get the battery checked and if bad or marginal, get a new one. It's not clear to me whether you're still in the limp home mode or back to normal. In any case you need to check the fault codes, clear them, and start over. Then when it does it again check the fault codes right away.

KenSilver · #4 02-20-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanyel

I'd say it's coincidence - problems not related. I'd get the battery checked and if bad or marginal, get a new one. It's not clear to me whether you're still in the limp home mode or back to normal. In any case you need to check the fault codes, clear them, and start over. Then when it does it again check the fault codes right away.

I'm still in limp mode, though I haven't tried it since I put the battery on trickle charge last night. I'll see what happens in another couple of hours. Thanks!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

LeaUK · #5 02-21-2005, 02:19 AM

Ken

Brave move jump starting these cars and most modern cars actually! Do the obvious things first like checking all fuses etc...

Then as deanyel says, get the fault codes read, maybe have to pop in the dealer to do this if you haven't got any diagnostic gear. Or of course see Jim's web site on ASR and his Home brew diagnostic tool: http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_X11.htm

Your car also learns quite a few parameters after power off, so maybe worth disconnecting the battery again, leave for ten minutes and then take her for a spin again.

Lea

KenSilver · #6 02-21-2005, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeaUK

Ken

Brave move jump starting these cars...

Hi Lea,

Yes, I did wonder about doing it. But after the run I trickle charged it on a low setting over 18 hours, and tried a quick 10 minute drive this afternoon and all seemed to be OK.

My shop says I'll need to bring it in for a code check etc, which I will do.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

LeaUK · #7 02-21-2005, 05:40 PM

She still looks good though

KenSilver · #8 02-21-2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeaUK

She still looks good though

Sure does.

Funny though, I never seem to get far enough away to fully appreciate the SL style. To drive it, I go from the interior door from our kitchen into the garage, so I never get more than a couple of feet away from it.

Then, when I park somewhere in town, it's always hidden behind another car or round a corner.

A couple of days ago from a distance I saw a standard early model black SL500 with some 18" rims, and gee--it looked good! Then I thought - mine looks like that! (Even better with the facelift of course).

Might pay for me to get someone else to drive my car while I follow it about and take a good look at it! But then, who can I trust with it!

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons, AMG facelift to 2002 style.
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate
~1999 Lexus LX470, sand/ivory leather.
~1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara. black & silver.
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5, Jaguar Daimler and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

LeaUK · #9 02-22-2005, 02:02 AM

Yeah I know exactly what you mean. I sometimes think I should let the Mrs drive and I follow in the estate, just to get that appreciation. But I soon get back to reality and ban those type of thoughts quickly!

Let us know what the codes are...