Battery completely dead.

davemercedes

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2007 Merc 220 CDi Est Auto Av (s203)
I replaced both my original batteries just over 12 Months ago when they were losing charge, still starting the car at 12.2v but with winter approaching decided to replace anyway, took off the tops, topped up the electrolyte with between 125-150ml in each cell with deionised water and they're still performing well with good autonomy in a back-up power application I have at home, you just need a little more brute force and ignorance with the tops.

Tony:
Glad you got out of trouble! It's really worth putting one of these (or similar) on your Christmas stocking list: -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BuTure-Por...b+battery+jump+starter&qid=1606502012&sr=8-48

Our daughter bought us one last Christmas (it was branded Power R U) and the one in the above link was the closest clone...) It saved my life with SWMBOs car that stands in our garage week in week out and surprisingly three months ago my S203 refused to start but jumped into life as soon as I tried it with the jumper. I wouldn't be without it now and iy will boost mobile phpnes too. They do vary in price enormously - I think ours was an offer on Amazon at the time but e.g.: this one on FleaBay is just £24.95:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20000mAh...742659?hash=item1f16288dc3:g:YrEAAOSw~5RfWe6K
 

Tony Dyson

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2014 C 220 CDI W204 OM 651
Tony:
Glad you got out of trouble! It's really worth putting one of these (or similar) on your Christmas stocking list: -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BuTure-Por...b+battery+jump+starter&qid=1606502012&sr=8-48

Our daughter bought us one last Christmas (it was branded Power R U) and the one in the above link was the closest clone...) It saved my life with SWMBOs car that stands in our garage week in week out and surprisingly three months ago my S203 refused to start but jumped into life as soon as I tried it with the jumper. I wouldn't be without it now and iy will boost mobile phpnes too. They do vary in price enormously - I think ours was an offer on Amazon at the time but e.g.: this one on FleaBay is just £24.95:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20000mAh...742659?hash=item1f16288dc3:g:YrEAAOSw~5RfWe6K

I've been looking at one of these for some time now and I'm still amazed at the claimed capacity in such a small package! I think a great deal of care should be taken with Lithium based batteries as so many of the more cost effective varieties have been reported to have failed early or after excessive use so proprietary manufacturers are I think the way forward with these things, if only for the quality and longevity of the battery. I have a NOCO Smart Charger and I'm impressed with the build quality and the components within, NOCO also produce a range of Battery Boost/Jump Starters, The GB 40 is £99 so over twice the cost of your first suggestion so, I think I'll ponder about it a little longer :)
 

sonic

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E350CDI, SLC250d, FJR 1300
View attachment 63790 Done today, using a pair of circlip pliers opened up and pressed into the cap using a small block of wood under the palm of my hand so they would dig in and then unscrewed them. All the cells were dry, I must have put in about a liter of water. I did a check using the multimeter and the voltage came up to 12.6 and I think it would have climbed higher but I was happy with that, so I put it on a low charge for about an hour. So time will tell.
Leave on charge for at least 8 hours.
 

sonic

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I've been looking at one of these for some time now and I'm still amazed at the claimed capacity in such a small package! I think a great deal of care should be taken with Lithium based batteries as so many of the more cost effective varieties have been reported to have failed early or after excessive use so proprietary manufacturers are I think the way forward with these things, if only for the quality and longevity of the battery. I have a NOCO Smart Charger and I'm impressed with the build quality and the components within, NOCO also produce a range of Battery Boost/Jump Starters, The GB 40 is £99 so over twice the cost of your first suggestion so, I think I'll ponder about it a little longer :)
I have an old version of one of those but never use it. I find a smart charger ever other week when not using the car does the job.
 

Tony Dyson

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I have an old version of one of those but never use it. I find a smart charger ever other week when not using the car does the job.
How old is it? Do you know what chemistry the battery is and is it still in good working order? I believe the early ones were Li-Graphite with later models using Li with different polymers and then metals. If I were doing the mileage I did when working I would probably add one to the car's toolkit, being prepared and all that but I can't honestly justify one for the current mileage I do and never away from home any more, if I did invest it would probably be the NOCO in the hope I would never need to use it in anger of course! :)
 

sonic

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How old is it? Do you know what chemistry the battery is and is it still in good working order? I believe the early ones were Li-Graphite with later models using Li with different polymers and then metals. If I were doing the mileage I did when working I would probably add one to the car's toolkit, being prepared and all that but I can't honestly justify one for the current mileage I do and never away from home any more, if I did invest it would probably be the NOCO in the hope I would never need to use it in anger of course! :)
Its 9.5 years old its the original one. Its a Varta & I would assume at that age lead acid.
 

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