Malfunction Electric Consumers switched off /Battery problem :( Stressed! HELP

[Infinity_UK]

Hi I need help please!,

I have a 2003 E320 diesel W211. I went on holiday and came back to find my car battery dead. (Even though ym neighbour started it once a week!) So I jump started it and everything seemed fine. After a round trip of 50 miles just when I was getting home I got the Malfunction Electric Consumers switched off on my dash. The lights and parking sensors switched off and then my stereo said low power and switched off.

After reading various forums I checked my battery and it was 11.2V. In the past if I did not started my car for a few days the battery would seem low and just about turn over to start, so I assumed it was my battery so got a new new battery from Euro Car Parts with a cold cranking of 900cca - it was suppose to be the best one for my car!
I put it in a everything seemed fine. No errors etc. But again after along drive I got Malfunction Electric Consumers switched off and also a battery warning. I checked the power of the batter and it had gone down too.

I had some guy come around testerday with his Star computer and ran some diagnostics and there were no major faults. What we did notice was when the key is in position 1 the battery voltages slowly starts to go down. There is a power drain somewhere. I'm thinking this could be the auxiliary battery.

The other thing I noticed was the new battery I bought has a green light on it to show it is okay. The green light has gone even after charging it over night - could this be a faulty battery ? It does show 12.9V after being charged.

This morning I took the battery charger off the car and tested the battery it was 12.9V I started the car fine but after 2-3 minutes the red Battery warning light came on!

I'm going to get the alternator tested and the auxilary battery tested tonight once i work out how to toake the cover off. (as you can see I'm not too technical)

Not too sure on what to do. HELP Any advice would be appriciated.

Thanks

 

[television]

You need to check the voltage across the battery with the engine running where it should be 13.8 to 14 volts,,that is the first check

 

[Infinity_UK]

You need to check the voltage across the battery with the engine running where it should be 13.8 to 14 volts,,that is the first check

Thanks- So i guess if its not 13.8 to 14V it's probably the alternator right?

 

[Troon]

I went on holiday and came back to find my car battery dead. (Even though ym neighbour started it once a week!)

Depending what your neighbour did, that could have caused the problem. The energy drain from starting the car takes a while to replenish. Did your neighbour run the car for any significant length of time?

That said, something is clearly wrong and you need to do as Malcolm suggests to establish if the car is trying to charge the battery or not.

 

[Infinity_UK]

Depending what your neighbour did, that could have caused the problem. The energy drain from starting the car takes a while to replenish. Did your neighbour run the car for any significant length of time?

That said, something is clearly wrong and you need to do as Malcolm suggests to establish if the car is trying to charge the battery or not.

Yup - my neighbour said he tried to jump start it but had to leave it connected for 30mins to power the battery enough to start the car. He jump started it with a Toyota Rav4.

 

[television]

I think that you may have a battery drain somewhere, this is why it would not start, or the battery was in a low state of charge before you went away

 

[Infinity_UK]

I've just checked the aux battery and it was at 12.5V the main battery was 12.3v - I started the car and excelerated but the voltage did not change at all.
I've also noticed some brown water in the engine tray, I called a alternator specialist and he said my car has a water cooled alternator (is he right?) - looks like this is the problem.

Can I drive the car to the garage with the alternator not working?

 

[bigbear]

Yes he is right, its water-cooled.
You need to shop around, more than £800 from MB.
I believe there company's that rebuild them a lot cheaper

 

[television]

Yes he is right, its water-cooled.
You need to shop around, more than £800 from MB.
I believe there company's that rebuild them a lot cheaper

True we had a post a few weeks back where the owner got a very good deal somewhere

 

[television]

I've just checked the aux battery and it was at 12.5V the main battery was 12.3v - I started the car and excelerated but the voltage did not change at all.
I've also noticed some brown water in the engine tray, I called a alternator specialist and he said my car has a water cooled alternator (is he right?) - looks like this is the problem.

Can I drive the car to the garage with the alternator not working?

If you can charge it before you set off,it depends on how far the garage is

 

[Infinity_UK]

Thanks guys for your help - I've been quoted £230 + VAT + labour from a alternator specialist on the Hanger Lane A40. I'm charging my battery right now and have a second one fully charged in the boot just incase. It's around 10 miles away on the A40. I'll update you with the real cost.

 

[television]

Its no problem going 10 miles,,just leave the heater and radio off

 

[Infinity_UK]

Just an update. My alternator was knackered - it is water cooled. They could not repair it as it was so worn, so I got got a refub for £220 + £80 Labour + VAT thats £375! At least I can drive my car now.

The other issue of the leak (browny liquid), it appears to be the metal connection pipe going into the small radiator which is leaking. The guys tightened the connect so the leak is very minial. This is the next problem to fix. Going to go to a Merc specalist on weds.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Infinity_UK]

It was the alternator- cost me £228 + Vat + £85 + Vat for Labour - But the cars is sorted... apart from the oil leak which is coming out if the oil cooler! Bummer!


Thanks for your help.

 

[alexanderfoti]

I have heard had things about that alternator company on the a40/a406, did you end up using them in the end?

 

[WG M-B]

I think he is talking about saheeb's. Many garages/factors/ other specialists use them.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Yeah, that's the one. I need a stator rewinding and was wondering if they are any good.

 

[Infinity_UK]

Those are the guys. I've used them in the past too and they have not been too bad. I left my car with them at 9am and got it back at 6pm. They did give me regular updates and tried to reapir the old alternator, but it was not repairable. At least it's sorted now that's the most important thing!