Battery failure! In the summer!

AlastairD

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I suppose its possible just more unlikely in the summer?

I think the original 10 year old Bosch battery in my 211 has finally done one!

I've had warnings about stuff being turned off and then back on again for a couple of days until finally tonight it struggled to start.

I've got no problem sticking a new battery on it as it's probably overdue anyway, however I suppose it could be another problem.

How does one know if it's the battery not taking a charge or the car not giving it one?
 

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With a voltmeter you test the running voltage over the battery where it should be in the order of 14 volts, I think that you could have a battery drain if the battery is playing up this weather and the easiest way to test is with a clamp meter after the car has gone to sleep
 

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Battery cells can fail at any time of the year.

It's just that failure rates increase when greater demand is placed on them, i.e. in winter.

You might lose one and never notice. But when the second one goes down, things start to struggle - regardless of the load placed on them.
 

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Battery cells can fail at any time of the year.

It's just that failure rates increase when greater demand is placed on them, i.e. in winter.

You might lose one and never notice. But when the second one goes down, things start to struggle - regardless of the load placed on them.

Indeed they can but it often takes the first cold spell to bring them out, if a battery in a 211 had a dud cell indeed the consumers off would be there all the time but AGM batteries are not known to get dud cells in the same way as lead acid batteries do. A current check is well worth doing.

With a 10 amp charger it takes 14 hours to charge one of these fully from near flat.
 

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10 years ? You done well. Buy a new battery from ECP.
 

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10 years ? You done well. Buy a new battery from ECP.

I have a 13 year old AGM battery here that is still perfect, in spite of being left flat for quite some time
 
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AlastairD

AlastairD

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I have a 13 year old AGM battery here that is still perfect, in spite of being left flat for quite some time

Thanks all, bit the bullet and picked up a Bosch replacement for about £100.

Fitted it on Saturday and no problems this morning.

I did have some problems with it the winter before last, I know winter is a while away but it's not worth waiting to find out if it would last out for another one.

The replacement for my MB 80Ah was 100Ah from Bosch, needed to move the bracket up a couple of notches.
 

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Good :D:D your answer will come in about 10 days time if the consumers off comes back again
 
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It didn't even last that long!

Good :D:D your answer will come in about 10 days time if the consumers off comes back again

Two 35 mile trips today, stopped to pick up daughter from nursery and up pops a red warning, a picture of a battery and 'visit workshop'.

Don't really want to do as I'm told and don't know where to start either!

Any clues?
 

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Alternator? Whats the charging voltage (like Malcolm above suggested to measure)? Sounds the alternator has not been able to maintain the charge.

Did you check all groundings and all wires are tight? Is the BCM updated? Is the aux battery ok, and isolation relay working?
 
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AlastairD

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Probably alternator, just checked the voltage via the OBC, standing 11.7, running 11.6, revving make no difference.

Now my turn for a list of questions...

Would I get the same symptoms from battery a regulator failure?
Would star tell me if it's the alternator or the regulator?
Is there anyway I can tell which one it is?
 

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On a 211 you have the inverter box and this requires special testing, I will come back to it after dinner
 

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Probably alternator, just checked the voltage via the OBC, standing 11.7, running 11.6, revving make no difference.

Now my turn for a list of questions...

Would I get the same symptoms from battery a regulator failure?
Would star tell me if it's the alternator or the regulator?
Is there anyway I can tell which one it is?

Star will tell you that circuit 61 is missing, this will be a fault in the front SAM and BCM. Seeing this so much of late when the reg packs fail.........
 

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Star will tell you that circuit 61 is missing, this will be a fault in the front SAM and BCM. Seeing this so much of late when the reg packs fail.........

Thanks Cole, there is no way with simple meters on this one that I have ever found, even in the training programs very little without STAR
 
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AlastairD

AlastairD

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Star will tell you that circuit 61 is missing, this will be a fault in the front SAM and BCM. Seeing this so much of late when the reg packs fail.........



That sounds like lots of expensive parts! Better prepare myself!

Also, better tell the boss I'm not going to be in the office and hope I can get it sorted tomorrow:(
 

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That sounds like lots of expensive parts! Better prepare myself!

Also, better tell the boss I'm not going to be in the office and hope I can get it sorted tomorrow:(
It will only be one thing, the BCM or the SAM but I doubt if the SAM, the reg pack could have failed, these a water cooled alternators some are replacable.

It does need STAR do you have a good guy
 

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The reg pack is the cheapest part, I meant, the SAM and BCM will show fault codes of circuit 61 missing, to them, I,e on the CAN-BUS, that's when you no its a reg pack.......
 
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AlastairD

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The reg pack is the cheapest part, I meant, the SAM and BCM will show fault codes of circuit 61 missing, to them, I,e on the CAN-BUS, that's when you no its a reg pack.......

Phew, that does make sense now.

Thanks.

Do I need star to replace it? I might just take a gamble and replace it if not.

Wifey will take me to work tomorrow, so I've got a day to either get parts or get it booked in.

Planning on giving Haden in Brum a visit if need be, a new forum supporter...
 

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