Battery light on after jump start w211

[craigcorson]

The battery light has been on for 2 days and 200 miles after a jump start.

Does this mean my battery is goosed?

Car starts no problem and has no other warnings

 

[alexanderfoti]

Battery light, or battery message on the display?

there isnt a battery light:

If the message, what is the wording?

 

[craigcorson]

Big display in the middle

Picture of a battery and visit workshop!

 

[jibcl500]

Big display in the middle

Picture of a battery and visit workshop!

How did you jump start it?

could be the battery control module has failed, or the regulator in the alternator.

Test running voltage at the battery with a multimeter it should read 14V roughly.

If it checks out ok then star diags would be the way to go, might even be possible the battery has had its day!!


jib

 

[craigcorson]

Just the points under the bonnet and a vw golf

Battery looks fairly new.

Think it drained cause I went to work for 2 weeks and when I came back she had a flat tyre and flat battery

It's an estate so it's probably been trying to self level and drained it.

I only say that cause I've never had any battery problems before and regularly leave the car for 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[alexanderfoti]

As per jibcl500, Sounds like you have a BCM fault, it will cause that message

Get it on star and get the codes read from the BCM and take it from there.

 

[L John]

Some say do not jump start, ever!

Not sure if any harm can be done if it's done properly?
If you really have to jump start, follow this guide.
Could be worth printing out and keeping in your car.

Step 4 could be increased to 2 minutes in my opinion.

Never be in a hurry when jump starting.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Some say do not jump start, ever!

Not sure if any harm can be done if it's done properly?
If you really have to jump start, follow this guide.
Could be worth printing out and keeping in your car.

Step 4 could be increased to 2 minutes in my opinion.

Never be in a hurry when jump starting.

I wouldnt start the donor car.

It puts a lot of stress on the alternator of the donor car. It should not be needed if the battery of the donor car is in good shape and the jumper cables are of sufficient thickness!

 

[L John]

Exactly the reason for increasing the time the batteries are connected, to get some charge into the dead battery.

If the car doesn't start readily, there are other issues and the battery should be properly charged instead of doing a jump start.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Exactly the reason for increasing the time the batteries are connected, to get some charge into the dead battery.

If the car doesn't start readily, there are other issues and the battery should be properly charged instead of doing a jump start.

Oh sorry, Step 4 is: "Start the engine of the donor car and allow it to run for a minute."

 

[L John]

I think most people ignore step 6.
If printed out, this should be marked with a highlighter pen.

Don't remove the jump leads while the engines are running as this can cause serious damage to the electronics on either car.

In fact, here is the whole step by step, copied from the earlier link.

Step by step (Courtesy of AA)

Before connecting any leads make sure the vehicles are the same voltage and that they're parked with their handbrakes on and ignition off. The vehicles must not touch as this can cause sparks or an explosion.

1. Use the red jump lead to connect the positive terminal of the donor vehicle's good battery to the positive terminal of the flat battery.

2. Then use the black lead to connect the negative terminal of the good battery to a suitable earthing point on the engine or chassis of the other vehicle. This earthing point must be away from the battery and fuel system.
3. With both leads connected wait three minutes for the voltages to equalise before starting either engine.

4. Start the engine of the donor car and allow it to run for a minute.

5. With the donor car engine still running, start the engine of the other car and leave both running at a fast idle for ten minutes.

6. Don't remove the jump leads while the engines are running as this can cause serious damage to the electronics on either car.

7. If the jump leads get hot switch off both engines and allow the leads to cool to avoid a possible fire.

8. Turn off the ignition on both cars and then disconnect the leads carefully in the reverse order to the way that they were connected. Be careful not to touch the clips against each other or against the car bodywork.

9. Start the car that had the dead battery using its own battery power. If it won't start this could indicate a more serious problem with the charging/ignition system that will need investigating by a professional.

 

[Roxie]

If the battery light stays on after jump start on a 211 with the battery control unit in the boot, then it could have frozen the control unit and just needs restarting. Just unplug it for a few seconds.
It might not work but is worth a try.

 

[craigcorson]

Thanks Roxie

Didn't have time to fanny about charging the battery,

Most of the time you just end up wasting 12 hours with a battery that won't take a charge

I used to have a 09 plate 319 sprinter that liked a jump start.

The battery light would stay on for a couple of days and them go away so I'm hoping the restart will do it.