Hi guys: Need your help! I have a 97 Mercedes E320, low miles & garaged.
The brand new battery keeps draining down when car sits for 5 or more
days. I used a test light between the negative pole of the battery and
the cable. The light goes on. I pulled each fuse,one at a time, under hood
and rear seat, and light still stays on. Everything was shut off and no
lights were on. Could it be in the security system, and if so, how do I
check it--or what other test or solution could I do. Your help may save my
sanity. Thanks
T.G. Lambach - 23 Mar 2005 07:03 GMT
There's a fuse box on the left front fender - did you also pull those?
sandro69 - 23 Mar 2005 18:03 GMT
Thanks TG for your reply. If you mean under the hood (drivers side) yes I
did, with the same results. Are there more than two fuse boxes?
T.G. Lambach - 23 Mar 2005 18:30 GMT
Only two fuse boxes that I know of. Suggest you repeat the test
procedure except to put the test light in place of each fuse as you
proceed through the fuse population. That will show the drain of a
specific circuit.
There have been instances - generally, not specific to this model (which
I also own) - of the trunk light draining the battery. A simple test
would be to temporarily remove its bulb.
sandro69 - 24 Mar 2005 00:48 GMT
Thanks again TG. I pulled fuse #3 which controls the trunk light, but I'll
take it out. I'll try the test again this weekend, and let you know.
Thanks.
T.G. Lambach - 24 Mar 2005 02:35 GMT
Don't overlook the possibility that the "new" battery is defective.
John Simpson - 24 Mar 2005 21:47 GMT
> Don't overlook the possibility that the "new" battery is defective.
If the test light is illuminating, then something is drawing current, but
that doesn't rule out the battery.
John
Paul - 24 Mar 2005 13:45 GMT
Sandro69,
The test light trick for finding drains on a battery is a great tip for
older cars, but on the new computer controlled cars it can cause
misdiagnosing. When power is applied to the car, some of the computers will
go through a reset, then 'go to sleep', so to speak. There is not enough
current through the test light for these computers to reset but they will
try. Thus, the drain doesn't go away. Delayed interior lights will do the
same thing. Now I am not a MB expert, but I have been working on the
electrical system on domestic and Asian cars for many years. Some cars will
take as much as 15 min to reset and then 'go to sleep', but will never 'go
to sleep' using a test light. You must use an amp meter on these cars.
Paul
Paul's Auto Electric
> Hi guys: Need your help! I have a 97 Mercedes E320, low miles & garaged.
> The brand new battery keeps draining down when car sits for 5 or more
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> check it--or what other test or solution could I do. Your help may save my
> sanity. Thanks
Martin Joseph - 25 Mar 2005 07:58 GMT
> Sandro69,
> The test light trick for finding drains on a battery is a great tip for
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> take as much as 15 min to reset and then 'go to sleep', but will never 'go
> to sleep' using a test light. You must use an amp meter on these cars.
Thanks! Good to know.
Marty