2012 S63 AMG - numerous issues following dead battery...ADVICE PLEASE!

[MikeInWimbledon]

S

Appreciate the advice @Bobby Dazzler indeed @geoffus before. Will take it out for another run tomorrow and see what happens after 5 restarts. Will invest in a CTEK now too.

Step 1, before faffing around with any workarounds, take the car for a proper run AND get the battery charged up. CTEK is the best.

A friend or neighbour will have a charger: put out a call to mates to borrow one.

The danger of "jumping to workarounds" is that you can do more damage than you fix.

Sophisticated modern cars have all kinds of protective tech which can get triggered by a flat battery. This is nothing specific to your motor.

Then come back if any issues remain.

 

[SIS]

Thanks to all of you who responded here. Greatly appreciated! I have just called Mobilo (call centre is in Maastricht in the Netherlands) and have just received an SMS from the RAC/Mercedes team this second so the system appears to be working so far!

 

[SIS]

S

Step 1, before faffing around with any workarounds, take the car for a proper run AND get the battery charged up. CTEK is the best.

A friend or neighbour will have a charger: put out a call to mates to borrow one.

The danger of "jumping to workarounds" is that you can do more damage than you fix.

Sophisticated modern cars have all kinds of protective tech which can get triggered by a flat battery. This is nothing specific to your motor.

Then come back if any issues remain.

Have taken the car for two nice 1 hour runs yesterday and just now and still no joy. Will invest in a CTEK today!

 

[SIS]

I'd also check the output from the alternator with a voltmeter, only takes a minute.

To do that I need a voltmeter. Looks as though I will be investing in one of those as well....!

 

[geoffus]

To do that I need a voltmeter. Looks as though I will be investing in one of those as well....!

Google Mercedes secret menu, I’m sure you can read voltage output from there.
I would say the charge system is ok, you need a new battery.

 

[Will]

I think it’s a bit premature to start citing consumer rights and all that stuff just yet, the OP states in his first thread that he’s not been using the car much in general and then it’s been sitting for 10 days.

An eleven year old car with complex electrical systems that has been allowed to discharge and then jump started, is that really the sellers fault?

As suggested, contact Mercedes who will send out a Mobilo unit, it needs plugging in and clear the stored faults related to the low voltage/jump start and then go from there.

Invest in a maintenance charger if you’re not using the car as intended

 

[markjay]

I think it’s a bit premature to start citing consumer rights and all that stuff just yet, the OP states in his first thread that he’s not been using the car much in general and then it’s been sitting for 10 days.

An eleven year old car with complex electrical systems that has been allowed to discharge and then jump started, is that really the sellers fault?...

A flat battery may not be an issue worthy of invoking the Consumer Rights Act, agreed, however the OP should be aware of his rights under the Act at this stage, in case the issue turns out to be more complicated than just a flat battery.

 

[Will]

A flat battery may not be an issue worthy of invoking the Consumer Rights Act, agreed, however the OP should be aware of his rights under the Act at this stage, in case the issue turns out to be more complicated than just a flat battery.

Understood, but a flat battery after the car not being used as intended is difficult to invoke consumer rights acts upon, and the other issue I would suggest being that by the OP having jump started the car himself (rather than say calling Mobilo in the first place) the seller could probably have an argument that he could have introduced issues himself (such as the errors and stored codes).

There was a similar issue on here some years back with an S-class and a flat battery, owner jump started it, seller (MB) claimed faults caused by jump starting incorrectly. Car sat for years in dealership car park whilst legal battle commenced. From memory the car was scrapped and the owner was out of pocket in legal fees to the tune of £40k.

I think Mobilo is the best suggestion at this point if they are happy to come out and would get the faults looked at and hopefully cleared. No harm in being aware of consumer rights but at this stage it doesn’t appear to be the route I would be looking to take

 

[Skd884]

Mobilo will test the battery and advise if it needs replacing or just a charge, we will soon know.

 

[Spider10]

I think there's abit of common sense needed here
If i buy a car then not use it for awhile and the battery is then flat then jump start it IMO that's my fault not the sellers ?

 

[Smiley]

CTEK is the best.

I used to think the same after buying one in the early 2000s; however the build quality seems to have dropped off the edge of a cliff; they now seem to last 3 or 4 years whereas the older ones just went on and on and......
I have tried a couple of Noco chargers; same intelligent type of charger as the CTEK and seem to be robust; time will tell.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I used to think the same after buying one in the early 2000s; however the build quality seems to have dropped off the edge of a cliff; they now seem to last 3 or 4 years whereas the older ones just went on and on and......
I have tried a couple of Noco chargers; same intelligent type of charger as the CTEK and seem to be robust; time will tell.

I suspect that build quality has dropped now that they're being bought for occasional use: two or three times a year, rather than permanent long-term connection. The impressive thing about CTEK is that we see them being used in every car collection and retail showroom.

The key for our friend is just to get his elderly battery tidied up - if it can be done - rather than just replacing it, or blasting it with an Aldi £15 battery charger.

 

[SIS]

Anyway, an update. Mobilo were meant to come and have a look between 3pm and 5pm yesterday. Got to 5pm and nothing. I rang them and they didn't come yesterday. Was meant to be 9am then this morning. 10am. 11am. Finally arrived at 11.30am. Good technician with 20 years experience with Mercedes.
Cleared all the faults and took it for a drive. All the faults came back and he suspects an issue with the distronic unit and a right front speed sensor. Dropped it off just now with Mercedes in Bradford who had advanced notice since lunchtime I was coming but not prepared in the least. Let's see what they have to say...
Experienced service desk guy said it may just need a brand new battery. I hope it's that. Yikes....

They gave me a C300 petrol estate in the meantime and that the tech in brand new cars is surreal compared to my 2011 S63. Which in itself is a huge leap up from my previous 22 year old Jaguar XJR 100! Come back Jaguar...all is forgiven

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

2012? I have a feeling later models of the S 63 have a lithium battery. With a lithium battery, replacement costs get very very very eye wateringly expensive.

Shame your experience of Mobilo wasn’t seamless. The service is usually excellent in experience.

 

[SIS]

2012? I have a feeling later models of the S 63 have a lithium battery. With a lithium battery, replacement costs get very very very eye wateringly expensive.

Shame your experience of Mobilo wasn’t seamless. The service is usually excellent in experience.

Registered September 2011...

 

[Will]

I could be wrong but I’d be surprised that an 2011/2012 S class would have lithium batteries, usually AGM or lead acid?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I could be wrong but I’d be surprised that an 2011/2012 S class would have lithium batteries, usually AGM or lead acid?

Yes it’s the later generation I think may have lithium.

 

[AMGeed]

Yes it’s the later generation I think may have lithium.

Just as well. Lithium batteries are on back order.
One owner has been waiting 8 months now.

 

[Will]

Just as well. Lithium batteries are on back order.
One owner has been waiting 8 months now.

I wonder what the issue is, Mercedes-Benz won’t be manufacturing these themselves. Plenty of battery suppliers, they all come from China usually.

 

[AMGeed]

I wonder what the issue is, Mercedes-Benz won’t be manufacturing these themselves. Plenty of battery suppliers, they all come from China usually.

I wonder too. I read recently, on this forum, a later model S63 owner was looking for a lithium battery through the dealer under warranty. He was told its on back order yet looking at other online battery suppliers have them in stock?