PINBALL
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
- Messages
- 586
- Reaction score
- 50
- Age
- 75
- Location
- East Grinstead
- Website
- www.coin-opcommunity.co.uk
- Your Mercedes
- 124 E230 / 124 E220 /124 E280 /210 E320 CDI Wagons
Had E280 for 18 month's now & left cheapo 'Lion' black battery on car since getting from dealer who assured me it was a new one, but couldn't supply 2 yr guarrantee as last owner lost it!
Car has always started 1st time in most situations, except when laid up for holiday breaks & last hols took 7 days & returned to a completely dead battery.
Homestart fixed by GEM breakdown, who said to get battery checked 1st rather than trying to find - what could be a non existent leak from car.
Took to get tested at a German Varta specialist who measured 11 volts output from battery & whilst car was input charging over 14 volts - very efficient!
They said battery could last another year or so, but it showed as being only partly charged & another check in a weeks time may give the answer if charge was being rejected, due to faulty cell or whatever.
Cutting long story short, splashed out on bigger proper sized Varta (2" longer) for £75 and car seems to start better, gives no tappet noise for 1-2 seconds - which could have something to do with warm weather, all electrics & lamps are brighter - only slightly, uses more fuel 1-2 mls per gallon, no drain when stood for 3-4 days - have yet to try it over longer period.
Even electric roof & windows work like new.
All the above are pretty much obvious, but the transmission fluid that leaks from steering box when pulling away from cold has stopped altogether!
Could it be that it was overfilled in the 1st place - just over max level & chamber fluid is now 1mm below max, above min mark.
Ya know since starting this thread have completely forgotten the MAIN point I'm trying to make.
I'm getting too old - will take a nap & come back later.
Yawn!
Car has always started 1st time in most situations, except when laid up for holiday breaks & last hols took 7 days & returned to a completely dead battery.
Homestart fixed by GEM breakdown, who said to get battery checked 1st rather than trying to find - what could be a non existent leak from car.
Took to get tested at a German Varta specialist who measured 11 volts output from battery & whilst car was input charging over 14 volts - very efficient!
They said battery could last another year or so, but it showed as being only partly charged & another check in a weeks time may give the answer if charge was being rejected, due to faulty cell or whatever.
Cutting long story short, splashed out on bigger proper sized Varta (2" longer) for £75 and car seems to start better, gives no tappet noise for 1-2 seconds - which could have something to do with warm weather, all electrics & lamps are brighter - only slightly, uses more fuel 1-2 mls per gallon, no drain when stood for 3-4 days - have yet to try it over longer period.
Even electric roof & windows work like new.
All the above are pretty much obvious, but the transmission fluid that leaks from steering box when pulling away from cold has stopped altogether!
Could it be that it was overfilled in the 1st place - just over max level & chamber fluid is now 1mm below max, above min mark.
Ya know since starting this thread have completely forgotten the MAIN point I'm trying to make.
I'm getting too old - will take a nap & come back later.
Yawn!
