420SEL Charging/Battery Issues
 

Hey everyone,

In the past few weeks my 420SEL has been having some battery problems it seems.

It passes the Advance Auto charging/battery system check. They just said the battery was low. At the time it was just briefly charged so that made sense.

Today my Mom went to drive it and it would not start.

She was pissed, since there were 3 other cars there and none were readily driveable. (300SD needs rear control arm--broken shock mount, but is driveable otherwise, other 300SD is driveable just parked and covered in front of previous 300SD and 190E is just barricaded in by a bunch of tires/rims)

I had been putting the 420SEL on the 10A charger periodically and that seemed to help it out, at least for a few days. Then it would not want to start. However the alternator seems to be putting out 14V. I am not sure about the battery's age though. Its AT LEAST 3 years old now...

So perhaps its time for a new battery? Any thoughts?

Likely 1 or more dead cells in the battery. Had the same thing happen to my sister's car a couple years ago, ended up replacing the battery and alternator, never had another issue.

I've seen batteries fail at 7 months old, and 10 years old....just depends.

Well we got a new battery today. Seems OK so far. If loaded down with everything we can drop it down to 12.6V, but thats with EVERYTHING on.

So I think an alternator upgrade is in the future just to be sure.

My mom was NONE to pleased. Actually she said she wants to get rid of two of the cars and buy a new E class.