Problems after new battery installed

[Retired]

I have a 1998 E240 estate which has a full MBSH and has done 98k miles. I had a new battery installed a couple of days ago by my local MB dealer. The one replaced was the original, so no complaints there.

However, since the new battery has been in place the car is reluctant to change down when accelerating and, if forced to charge down either by kicking down or by manually selecting a lower gear, refuses to rev beyond 5000rpm. Driving around using low revs and small throttle openings everything seems ok.

My question is, is this connected to replacing the battery or is it coincidence?

Any thoughts gratefully received.

 

[television]

First thing to do is to disconnect battery fo 10 mins,then try again,this has worked on many cars

Malcolm

 

[Stevie A]

Take it back to the dealer if Malcolm's suggestion doesn't work as at the end of the day the dealer changing the battery has caused the fault. They should know how to fix it and make them do it for free as this is why you pay the premium at the dealer in the first place.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

An undercurrent battery can lead to minor electrical faults as I found out when I replaced my 6 yr old battery.

Prior to the battery replacement my cruise control refused to work properly especially after initial start-up in the morning. After fitment of new battery the CC function returned to normal.

It may be that the new battery has an inherent fault and this is leading to electronic malfunctions, or the charging system is faulty leading to the battery being undercurrent.

From what you describe I would think that the battery is at fault, as everything was OK prior to replacement battery.

 

[panason1c]

I have a 1998 E240 estate which has a full MBSH and has done 98k miles. I had a new battery installed a couple of days ago by my local MB dealer. The one replaced was the original, so no complaints there.

However, since the new battery has been in place the car is reluctant to change down when accelerating and, if forced to charge down either by kicking down or by manually selecting a lower gear, refuses to rev beyond 5000rpm. Driving around using low revs and small throttle openings everything seems ok.

My question is, is this connected to replacing the battery or is it coincidence?

Any thoughts gratefully received.

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=19457&page=1&pp=15&highlight=reset+gearbox



This from another thread....i tried it on mine and it works!....gearbox quicker to change down now...

Resetting auto gearbox memory without disconnecting battery..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Found this on the US MB slk forum... was a little scepticle at first until loads of guys reported that their cars were quicker off the line, changed gear at more optimum points etc, so I tried it and it does indeed seem to work!

The long way to reset the gearbox memory is to disconnect the battery for 30 minutes - but follow this quick procedure and it can be done in a couple of minutes!! Give it a try yourselves and post the results if it works!!

" 1. Get in your car, it doesn't matter if you close the door or not.

2. Turn the key to the on (not start) position, the position just before the starter turns over.

3. Press the gas pedal to the floor with the key in the "on" position.

4. Hold the pedal to the floor for five seconds, then turn the key back to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas pedal.

5. Wait 2 mins for a full alignment.

6. Drive the car as you always do.

Depending on your driving style, this may or may not be a big factor. I do a lot of city driving so I noticed a big change after erasing my history. It is not hard to do this, just follow the instructions - Key on, pedal down 5 secs, key off, pedal up, wait 2 mins. Keep the key in for the entire thing. Seems to work on mine. "

 

[Ian McB]

Can I ask what models this procedure applies to? I ask as it may be a possible solution to the problems on a friend's 95' 300TD,the change points on the autobox seem to be all over the place,yet my 91' 300 D seems to be changing correctly. His 300TD refuses to pull away in 2nd,no matter how light he is with the throttle.

 

[panason1c]

Can I ask what models this procedure applies to? I ask as it may be a possible solution to the problems on a friend's 95' 300TD,the change points on the autobox seem to be all over the place,yet my 91' 300 D seems to be changing correctly. His 300TD refuses to pull away in 2nd,no matter how light he is with the throttle.

I believe this applies only to the electronic boxes (722.6.....from '97 onwards i think) but nothing to lose by trying the procedure on your friends car anyway.

 

[egrid1]

Well thank goodness I read this article this morning!
I had been having problems with the battery on a 2001 E220Cdi and was just checking the forum for the procedures to go through when replacing the battery (disconnecting) and happened to read this.
Later in the day I drove to Costco to buy a new battery (having jump started car). To my surprise and horror Costco didnt stock the battery, so having begged a jump start I set off onto busy duel carriageway (direct access from Costco), Only to find that the auto gearbox wouldn't shift up, even knocking the gearshift to manually change didnt work. Unfortunately I was stuck on this duel carriageway for about 2 miles at 20mph in 1st gear until I found somewhere safe to stop and try out what I remembered of the procedure I had read on this forum to reset the gearbox.
Anyway, good news was that it worked and after a few minutes I was on my way again with a correctly shifting box - so yes I can vouch that the 2 min procedure does work on 2001 E220cdi
Thanks.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I have a friend in the battery/tyre/exhaust business. He says they always use a special power unit in the cigarette lighter to keep the power circuits alive while the battery is disconnected!!

 

[television]

I have a friend in the battery/tyre/exhaust business. He says they always use a special power unit in the cigarette lighter to keep the power circuits alive while the battery is disconnected!!

These cigar lighter plugs with back up are really intended for the radio codes and alarms as these are the only two things live when the ign; key is out.
They now cost under £10 and very handy, but like all of these rechargable things if you do not cycle it, when you want it the battery will be US.

Malcolm

 

[tamrsoft]

Why should replacing battery be a problem

I have read several articles recently about people having problems when changing their battery. My own battery is starting to show end-of-life signs and I am thinking of replacing it with a new one. So why should removing an old (but still just-about working battery) and replacing it with a new fully charged unit of the correct capacity cause problems. Is there a procedure that needs to be adopted when doing this ?? By the way, my cigarette lighter socket is disabled with ignition off.

 

[television]

I have read several articles recently about people having problems when changing their battery. My own battery is starting to show end-of-life signs and I am thinking of replacing it with a new one. So why should removing an old (but still just-about working battery) and replacing it with a new fully charged unit of the correct capacity cause problems. Is there a procedure that needs to be adopted when doing this ?? By the way, my cigarette lighter socket is disabled with ignition off.

Batteries are changed on thousands of cars everday 99.9% get no problem.
All I would say is don't put one on that has just been charged,If you do not know to be 100% safe, why not join up the new one with jumpers for 5 mins, then change it.
I take a lot of batteries off, never had a problem.


Malcolm

 

[tamrsoft]

Thanks for the advice but puzzled by your last note, why should a freshly and fully charged battery be a possible problem ? I also assume brand new batteries which may have been sitting on the shelf for several weeks will also be partially discharged.

 

[television]

Thanks for the advice but puzzled by your last note, why should a freshly and fully charged battery be a possible problem ? I also assume brand new batteries which may have been sitting on the shelf for several weeks will also be partially discharged.

If a battery has just been charged the voltage can be as high as 14/15 volts but goes back to 12 volt in under load, it is this small over voltage that can cause problems, if the place where you are going to buy has a battery tester that will knock it down to 12 volt.

Malcolm