battery convenience

[zubear]

just wondering if every gets the same message saying battery convenience when you start your merc up. is that suppose to happen. after this happens it say functions available again is that normal?

 

[markjay]

Your battery is probably on its way out, or you may have a charging or battery-drain issue.

When the battery voltage drops, the car cut all of the non-vital electrical functions ('convenience'). This bit is normal. But it is not normal for this to happen every time you start the car.... have the battery checked first.

 

[rascalmaster]

My last car came up with it...
Traced it to a loose terminal on the rear one.... tightened up and all sorted!
If persists; prob batt on it's way out...

 

[bostonmj]

Zubear

This topic has been discussed at length these past few months.

My R230 convenience battery warning message came on every morning, particularly during the recent cold snap. After reading a number of threads I bought a CTEK battery conditioner (about £50 delivered) and every weekend i put the battery on charge for a day and thus far it holds the charge for the following week.

I recognise that the battery is not holding the charge and I need to replace it however, I'm happy to keep charging it until I get a chance to get down the local scrappy who sells good second hand batteries for £8.

You have to investigate your issue to understand if your battery is simply not holding the charge, not being charged or; is something discharging you battery when the car is not being used. I've noticed a number of threads discussing such things as stereos drawing a charge from the car when its off. My mate has a Range Rover and every so often it levels its self out!

Hope this helps

Martyn

PS: Hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs

 

[Burger]

Much depends on how you use the car... If for example you typically drive it 10 miles to work and 10 miles home, your battery is hardly being charged if at all. If that's the case then a battery conditioner as bostonmj says is going to help maintain the battery. The cars themselves, like many nowadays, never completely switch off and continue to monitor certain aspects while the car 'sleeps'. My old XJ8 also used to wake up once every 24 hours level itself and then go back to sleep lol. I've noticed once or twice my SL not going to sleep properly... at least that's how it appears. Very rarely when I remove the key and lock the car, the dash fails to switch off immediately. I guarantee when that happens the next morning my ipod battery will be flat as though it continued to be used while the car was supposedly off. If when I lock the car, the dash switches off immediately, no such problems. I put this all down to the fact the car is a mass of computers and networks and glitches will occur. Anyway... as suggested, get a battery conditioner... I did and I've never seen the convenience functions off line message since.

Regards,

 

[C43AMG]

You are joking about the £8.00 battery

 

[Justin1600]

First get both of your batteries tested properly, then you need to check for a battery drain. Connect the multimeter in line between the main battery earth and the BCM.

Also some of the early Battery control units can have newer software installed in them

 

[A210AMG]

I can leave my car for a week and then use it only for a shortish trip a few times and leave it again..

I get the battery convenience almost every time I start the car, and say I put the heated seats on they 'flash' until I get the message 'functions available again'

I put it down to the battery no getting enough of a charge? not worried about it.....not yet anyway

 

[tagnut]

I can leave my car for a week and then use it only for a shortish trip a few times and leave it again..

I get the battery convenience almost every time I start the car, and say I put the heated seats on they 'flash' until I get the message 'functions available again'

I put it down to the battery no getting enough of a charge? not worried about it.....not yet anyway

This really isn't very good for your battery and is likely to shorten it's life if kept on a low state of charge for extended periods

 

[A210AMG]

^ I know but if I can walk or ride to work that's what I do.

Better for my heath

The batterys the original one so not doing bad for 7 years if it goes a new big bosh one from Costco is around £80 so not too bad.

 

[tagnut]

Ah well not so bad if it's already done 7 years. A battery conditioner would help but I don't know if you garage the car or not. Would be a bit awkward if you don't.

 

[A210AMG]

The cars in a Lean to at the side of the house, covered except for the front.

Thing is I'm lucky if it doesn't start I just walk to work or get the bike out

I think the battery will need replacing soon maybe? although after a good italian run it seems to be fine

 

[bigbear]

just wondering if every gets the same message saying battery convenience when you start your merc up. is that suppose to happen. after this happens it say functions available again is that normal?

There is an update for this problem, it resets the values lower
Get the battery tested first, it could be on the way out

 

[bostonmj]

You are joking about the £8.00 battery

Nope,

My local scrappy knocks out GOOD second hand batteries out for 8 squid

 

[bostonmj]

An interesting question to this thread;

I notice that a few people have solar powered chargers. Now that I've bought a CTEK conditioner, I'm wondering if there is a solar power device which I can plug the CTEK mains plug into, leaving it next to the rear window?

 

[GP801]

Most of the solar chargers are only good to keep the battery topped up. To recharge a battery or power another device you would need a very large panel. We use a Ring solar panel on the dash of the 124 when we leave it in italy for several weeks at a time. So far it has always keep the battery charged enough to start the car with no problems. Longest time has been 14 weeks so far.