Dear me....

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst) 03/18/2014 at 10:58 • Filed to: TLC

0

9

So I pulled the battery out, locked it, and now the battery is charging...

This just hurts. Hopefully the battery is charged by tomorrow, and I'll drop it back in, and wipe her down.

Can anyone spare some experience about those solar battery tenders? Specifically in an R129 Benz...I'm not sure how I would manage to get the wire through the trunk so I can keep it inside the car, but if it's not worth it, time for a plan B I suppose...

Turns out I also need to solder a connector inside the trunk liner. Looks like it's a power outlet, but I'm not sure. I'll have to consult the manual once I go back to put the battery back in.

Party-vi > JGrabowMSt 03/18/2014 at 11:01

0

How long as it been sitting? Any reason you didn't jump the battery and start the car?

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt 03/18/2014 at 11:02

0

why do you need a battery tender at all? Is it draining? In storage? There are a couple of chases to the trunk on those

JGrabowMSt > Party-vi 03/18/2014 at 11:12

0

A big one. This model still has the special mercedes bio-degradeable wiring harness, and while I have jumped it in the past, I have been told by some fellow early R129 owners that if you can avoid jumping it, it's best to. In some rare cases, it's fried computers in the car, and considering how much is electronic in this (damn near everything), I'd rather be safe than sorry. Getting the battery in/out is not terribly difficult, and if it means I don't risk a far more expensive problem, I'm fine with that.

Car's been sitting for close to two months. Battery usually still cranks easily, but it's been extremely cold here, so that's likely affecting it's ability to crank a V12 that's essentially frozen (temperature wise).

Party-vi > JGrabowMSt 03/18/2014 at 11:15

0

I wouldn't worry about starting it in the cold - Mercedes took this into account when they designed and built the car and engine. You just need to make sure that if you start it, it reaches proper operating temps before shutting it down.

JGrabowMSt > 505Turbeaux 03/18/2014 at 11:17

0

Yes, probably due to the cold this winter, the battery has gone flat rather quickly in storage. If I can leave a tender on the dashboard and run the wires to the back, I have no problem. Because of how much snow we've gotten this winter, the car hasn't been out at all, and not started either. My boss just doesn't have the time for it anymore.

Considering the battery is less than 2 years old, I'm letting it warm up and charge so when it goes back in, it'll crank more easily.

In the summers, it's gone a couple months with no problem, but this winter we've had some spread out weeks of single digit (and below) temps that definitely didn't help any.

JGrabowMSt > Party-vi 03/18/2014 at 11:20

0

Yes, the battery should be fully charged by tomorrow afternoon, and I'll be driving it for the day on Thursday, to school, to work, out to dinner, etc. I need to check the tires as well. Those aren't even a year old.

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt 03/18/2014 at 11:23

0

I would test it and make sure you dont have a dead cell. If it is the stock size those batteries are beasts. My sl600 was left for a year without even yanking the cables and it fired right off

JGrabowMSt > 505Turbeaux 03/18/2014 at 11:41

0

Will do. Could I trust an Advanced Auto to do that? I'm pretty sure one of my friends has a tester, but his shop closes before I would be able to get there most days. If the battery charges fully overnight, then tomorrow I can probably do it in the morning and find out sooner (and if that's the case, I'll take the car out weds night if the weather is good enough).

The battery is a Duralast, weighs about a non-metric ton, and has 1000 cranking amps, and 850CCA. It's a monster.

This car shouldn't have any major draw when it's off, but the alarm is kept on, which is probably part of the difference.

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt 03/18/2014 at 11:45

0

alarm is pretty passive. Mine was on that whole year. Advance can certainly test it. Duralast is Autozones brand I think. there might be a warranty on the if it comes up with a dead cell.