W220 S320 huge battery drain-help

Paulkelly

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W220 s320 2004
bought car with battery drain,however worse than advised. Loses 2 volts overnight. Ammeter suggested 8 amps drain,disconnected fuse for sat nav,drain now 5.5 amps. Obviously no internal lights on. What could be still on that uses that sort of amperage? Any and all advice appreciated.
cheers
paul
 

Blobcat

Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
38,784
Reaction score
27,419
Location
Grange Moor
Your Mercedes
R171 SLK280, Smart R451, Land Rover 110 County SW, 997 C2S, R1250 GSA TE 40th, CBR600FP
Hello and welcome,

Comand system is a good candidate
 

John77

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2018
Messages
724
Reaction score
206
Your Mercedes
E200 Estate 2011, 2009 SLK 200
I had this with my wife's SLK. It would actually go flat overnight and after pulling each fuse one at a time, I found that it was the Towaway system that was draining the battery. Left the fuse out for that system and no problem since. The only irritation was that it was the last fuse box in the boot on the rear SAM where that fuse was lol. Boot or Bonnet light? That is the thing about electrics. It can be anything. Don't rule anything out because you are told it can't be that. That is what I was told, but it solved it.
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
Some while ago I bought a nifty bit of kit that goes into blade fuse fitting and gives a readout of what the circuit is drawing. Some systems that supposed to go sleep when you close up car, don't go to sleep..
Are u locking car in evenings
 
OP
P

Paulkelly

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W220 s320 2004
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Thanks for responses.
1 pulled fuse for command as inte4net suggests common problemm. dropped drain from 8.7 to 5.5.
2 it is not an internal light
3 only had this car a week,have not locked each night
4 today with a friend we pulled every fuse ,did not make a differ3nce. Left ammeter attached had a brew-ammeter suddenly read 0.5-happy days.
5 car home,drain now 1.87 amps. Pulled every fuse-no difference.
so as I write this,battery disconnected-on smart charger. Tomorrow is another day.
happy to take all advice offered-thank you
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Starter motor ground or diode pack in the alternator, would be my guesses. The diode pack is a particular weakness in the 220 platform.
 
OP
P

Paulkelly

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W220 s320 2004
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
if it is diode pack-not sure how to check.
simply replace alternator??
tks again
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
if it is diode pack-not sure how to check.
simply replace alternator??
tks again
The diode pack used to be available separately, but when mine went in 2019 I ended up going for a new alternator.
 
OP
P

Paulkelly

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2022
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
W220 s320 2004
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
So £120 for a new alternator is not breaking the bank. But how do I know if that is the issue?
cheers
 

Blobcat

Moderator
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Messages
38,784
Reaction score
27,419
Location
Grange Moor
Your Mercedes
R171 SLK280, Smart R451, Land Rover 110 County SW, 997 C2S, R1250 GSA TE 40th, CBR600FP
So £120 for a new alternator is not breaking the bank. But how do I know if that is the issue?
cheers
Get it off and take it to an auto electrician or pre some old boy who’s been refurbing alternators his whole life. They’ll test it for you and repair it for much less than a new one.
 

ajlsl600

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
9,031
Reaction score
6,029
Location
france
Your Mercedes
clk3202001,sl6002003 with everything regrettably sold ,A class 170cdi auto. NG/TF1800 ML250
The diode pack used to be available separately, but when mine went in 2019 I ended up going for a new alternator.
When my 208 alt shxt itself changing req easy diode pack not so much...
 
Last edited:

malcolm E53 AMG

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
6,992
Reaction score
4,595
This is worth investigating:


A regulator diode failure was a red herring in this case make sure you read the last post
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
This is worth investigating:


A regulator diode failure was a red herring in this case make sure you read the last post
This is very true. Hunting the drain using the fuse box is necessary.
 

SL63 Mark

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
4,514
Reaction score
2,589
Location
The South
Your Mercedes
R231 SL63 AMG
5 amps is a hell of a drain. I went through my fuse boxes on my 230 with a current tester, they are about £10 on eBay and could save you guessing. Or, just use a multimeter in series with the battery set to Amps, and pull the fuses one by one. In the end it was my rear window motor pulling half an amp. They fill with water on the 230.

5 amps sounds like your headlights and heated seats are on. Have you noticed a warm bottom ?
 


ALL MBO Club members qualify for 15% discount on second hand parts.Please see MBO Members’ Area for discount codewww.dronsfields.com
Top Bottom