Battery weak symptoms

[Guest SL63AMG]

For SL63 AMG (Not sure if applicable to other AMG model):

- Car start normally on the 1st time of the day, but does not start immediately the 2nd time, can see it try hard from the cluster whereby the needles flicker a few times before they go full swing to the max and back to zero.

- Gear box behave erratically in "S" or "S+" mode, when car come to a stop or during acceleration (1st or 3rd gear) there is a "judder" .

- Battery health test result show CCA: 180A instead of 520A.

After battery change, smooth like new. Guess like what the advisor said, the car is fully computerised, if battery weak, computer hard to function. Luckily I used a battery diagnostic device to check the battery on Sunday (front battery bad, rear battery good), if not this week definitely will get stuck somewhere with a dead battery.

I am quite impress with this car as it show these symptoms since last Friday, and it managed to hold out till today for battery change, if it was my previous ride RX8, once it show the symptoms, I need to jump start already. Got me worried about my gearbox during the weekends, hahaha

Guys, please contribute to this thread for other models so we know what to look out for when a battery is going to expire.

[Guest io5885]

Is there any sort of warning display for low batt in MB cars?

cos there is even a warning for low washer fluid.. :shocked:

[Guest kepiting1sg]

io5885 wrote:

Is there any sort of warning display for low batt in MB cars?

cos there is even a warning for low washer fluid.. :shocked:

No! At times if U are suay especially if the battery internally get short circuited (poor assembly quality)"suddenly", it will "die" immediately without warning.

Happened to me once!

Everything normal - parked car - went to lunch - back 1 hr time - everything mati. Door will not open - have to manually use key, engine cannot crank, no horn, etc.

For Bro SL63AMG his ride got 2 batteries. 1 battery probably to run his "electronic & or electrical system" and the other for starting the engine.

For a single battery for most car, a battery coming end of "cycle life", he will probably find the cranking of the engine getting weaker & weaker.

For Bro SL63AMG probably his other battery for running the system went kaput and not the other battery for starting his engine.

"cycle life" will means the number of cycle - 1 cycle means 1 full charge & 1 full discharge.

A battery manufacturer might state their battery cycle life as 300, 500, 1000.

Rp 2 worth!

[Guest io5885]

scared...

key can suddenly "go heaven".

battery oso can suddenly "go heaven".

betta be good boy n check regularly.

my batt celebrating 2 yr old soon.

Kum xia, Unker Batam. :wave:

[Guest lightning]

kepiting1sg wrote:

No! At times if U are suay especially if the battery internally get short circuited (poor assembly quality)"suddenly", it will "die" immediately without warning.

Happened to me once!

Everything normal - parked car - went to lunch - back 1 hr time - everything mati. Door will not open - have to manually use key, engine cannot crank, no horn, etc.

symptoms abit like bro Des car leh...hope he got back his ride today and share with us his experience :becky:

[Guest kloy]

hmm i'm surprised there's no warning system for low batt.. :shocked:

is the batt for the lights separate from the batt for starting engine? :becky:

coz i'm afraid sometimes forget to off lights..

[Guest subaru67]

poor cranking start up is the norm

[Guest SL63AMG]

kepiting1sg wrote:

... For Bro SL63AMG probably his other battery for running the system went kaput and not the other battery for starting his engine...

Bro kepiting1sg, the battery that went kaput is the one use for starting engine :smile: Behind battery that is for running the system is still good, 90%.

[Guest SL63AMG]

subaru67 wrote:

poor cranking start up is the norm

I think for normal car, if batt low the interior/cluster light will dim when switch on headlight right?

[Guest blackmercs]

io5885 wrote:

scared...

key can suddenly "go heaven".

battery oso can suddenly "go heaven".

betta be good boy n check regularly.

my batt celebrating 2 yr old soon.

Kum xia, Unker Batam. :wave:

Key low batt, the system will prompt u for E class not sure for C class.

[Guest kepiting1sg]

SL63AMG wrote:

Bro kepiting1sg, the battery that went kaput is the one use for starting engine :smile: Behind battery that is for running the system is still good, 90%.

So the battery beside for starting your engine could be in a way connected to part of your system. Probably a system check before cranking your starter motor!

[Guest kloy]

is there a secret menu where you can see the battery voltage?

I thought I read it somewhere..

[Guest blackmercs]

kloy wrote:

is there a secret menu where you can see the battery voltage?

I thought I read it somewhere..

Let me guess, pop up the bonnet?

[Guest kloy]

blackmercs wrote:

Let me guess, pop up the bonnet?

haha no really.. i thought i read somewhere you press the reset 3 seconds or something in the menu page and the battery voltage reading will appear.. its supposed to be a secret menu.

can't remember where now.. must be getting old.:Cry:

[Guest kloy]

ah ok i remember now... i think i saw it in benzworld forums..

here is only one out of many threads.. http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w209-clk-class/1603159-secret-menu-access-cluster-w209.html

apparently its called the COMAND diagnostic mode.. you triple tap the reset button within 2 seconds while in menu mode or something like that.. apparently can see oil level also..:shocked:

maybe someone can try it and see if it works.. :music:

[Guest kloy]

btw here is the thread talking about oil level

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w209-clk-class/1600969-how-read-engine-oil-level-cluster.html

[Guest subaru67]

any bro tried?:becky:

[Guest SL63AMG]

Hmm, from the pics, think it did not show battery CCA (Cold Cranking Amp). If CCA is low, even though battery reading show 12V, you still will not be able to crank start the car.

With a battery meter installed in your car or connected to the battery, during cranking, battery reading drop below 11V means battery weak. Need to charge the battery. However voltage won't tell you if the battery can hold charged or not, especially when the car has two battery, you will get reading of 12V since they are connected to the system but CCA is not. You will get different reading from each battery, which allow you to identify the faulty battery and not being cheated into changing both battery at the same time.

For example, Sunday reading from both battery: front CCA is 35% 12V, rear CCA is 91% 12V. So I only change the front battery :smile:

A method that I always use to test the battery when I am in doubt: After driving the car for more than half an hour, I will take a reading half an hour later after I switch off the engine. If CCA is still low (>40%), it means that it's time to change battery as it no longer can hold the charged.

[Guest kepiting1sg]

Yes! Voltage is not a good indication of battery charged capacity!

[Guest subaru67]

SL63AMG wrote:

Hmm, from the pics, think it did not show battery CCA (Cold Cranking Amp). If CCA is low, even though battery reading show 12V, you still will not be able to crank start the car.

With a battery meter installed in your car or connected to the battery, during cranking, battery reading drop below 11V means battery weak. Need to charge the battery. However voltage won't tell you if the battery can hold charged or not, especially when the car has two battery, you will get reading of 12V since they are connected to the system but CCA is not. You will get different reading from each battery, which allow you to identify the faulty battery and not being cheated into changing both battery at the same time.

For example, Sunday reading from both battery: front CCA is 35% 12V, rear CCA is 91% 12V. So I only change the front battery :smile:

A method that I always use to test the battery when I am in doubt: After driving the car for more than half an hour, I will take a reading half an hour later after I switch off the engine. If CCA is still low (>40%), it means that it's time to change battery as it no longer can hold the charged.

i installed volt meter soon to monitor this :becky:

[Guest SL63AMG]

subaru67 wrote:

i installed volt meter soon to monitor this :becky:

Bro, just to clarify that volt meter only ready volt, not able to read CCA :smile:

[Guest SL63AMG]

subaru67 wrote:

any bro tried?:becky:

Just tried on ML & SL, it work, show battery voltage, but for model that do not have oil level measuring device in the 1st place, you will not get engine oil level reading.

Wonder how I do it on S-Class... As S-Class just need to press "ok" button to rest...

[Guest io5885]

wat steps to take,bro?

SL63AMG wrote:

Just tried on ML & SL, it work, show battery voltage, but for model that do not have oil level measuring device in the 1st place, you will not get engine oil level reading.

Wonder how I do it on S-Class... As S-Class just need to press "ok" button to rest...

[Guest SL63AMG]

io5885 wrote:

wat steps to take,bro?

1) Cluster digital display must be in speedometer mode.

2) Turn key to position 0.

3) Turn key to position 1 and quickly tab on reset button 3 times.

There be a beep sound and you be in the "service menu" showing you battery voltage and other info :smile:

[Guest io5885]

Thks bro. Reset button is for E grass rite? The black switch knob.

C grass no reset button wor... correct?