Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Me too. TBH she should just bin this car and buy something else.
Battery keeps going flat
- Thread starter Una
- Start date
Una
New Member
Hello again everyone and my apologies for not writing sooner. I didn't realise there were more posts for me to read.
The car has been behaving for the past fortnight. I did my long journey on the 23rd and it got me there and back. I have, since then, done my usual two short stints and another unexpected drive of two hours. All has been well during this time, but I travelled eight miles yesterday and for some reason, the doors wouldn't lock when I parked the car. It took me eight times to eventually lock the car.
Now this leads me to believe that something electrical is playing up again.
I've just gone out to the car now and opened the doors and started the engine. All fine, but after I closed the doors, the car wouldn't lock again. The lights stayed on however. I went into the car again and knocked the lights from their off position to side lights and then to off again and then the tried the lock again. After doing this whole process three times the car then locked, which is exactly what happened yesterday.
Grober suggested I sell the car. I couldn't in all honesty sell it on to someone knowing that there's a problem with it. That's not my nature. I love the car anyway. I'm sure it must be something simple.
I will plod on and thank you all. x
The car has been behaving for the past fortnight. I did my long journey on the 23rd and it got me there and back. I have, since then, done my usual two short stints and another unexpected drive of two hours. All has been well during this time, but I travelled eight miles yesterday and for some reason, the doors wouldn't lock when I parked the car. It took me eight times to eventually lock the car.
Now this leads me to believe that something electrical is playing up again.
I've just gone out to the car now and opened the doors and started the engine. All fine, but after I closed the doors, the car wouldn't lock again. The lights stayed on however. I went into the car again and knocked the lights from their off position to side lights and then to off again and then the tried the lock again. After doing this whole process three times the car then locked, which is exactly what happened yesterday.
Grober suggested I sell the car. I couldn't in all honesty sell it on to someone knowing that there's a problem with it. That's not my nature. I love the car anyway. I'm sure it must be something simple.
I will plod on and thank you all. x
Una
New Member
Hello, what does OP stand for please? Old person?????Anyone else curious how the OP (Una) got on, or just me?
Chrishazle
MB Enthusiast
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Original Poster - except in my case your description could also be appropriate!
stephenmercedes
Active Member
Una, it's a Mercedes - it's never 'simple'...
Una
New Member
Ha ha. Thank you for the clarification.Original Poster - except in my case your description could also be appropriate!
Benzmanc
MB Enthusiast
When the electrics were originally 'dried out', were any modules replaced?? The locking problem suggests a problem with a SAM although i'm unsure where they are on the slk. SAM = Signal Acquisition Module
MikeInWimbledon
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
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Find a friend who "knows a bit about cars" and get them to find a car electrician for you. He might cost you £30 - £70 to diagnose the fault (in mid-Glamorgan), but it's money well spent compared to living with the risk. Don't use a generalist garage or even an MB garage, just use an car electrician, let's call him a "Sparks." He'll isolate the problem quickly for you.
(Apologies if that sounds sexist, but if you find a female car electrician you'll have found a very rare one.)
.
(Apologies if that sounds sexist, but if you find a female car electrician you'll have found a very rare one.)
.
Una
New Member
Good morning,
No nothing was replaced when the electrics were dried out. I will look into SAM
Una
New Member
Yes. I think it's time to do something positive about this now. Strange though that the alarm hasn't gone off at any time which happened whenever the battery went flat.
stephenmercedes
Active Member
To my knowledge, if the battery is flat, the alarm siren' would activate under it's own internal rechargeable battery. It is possible, considering the electrical gremlins that you currently are besotted with, that the alarm battery is a victim and is also buggered. I think it's time to get 'a man in the know' involved, and that is definitely not a sexist remark, as I often get 'a man in the know' to diagnose faults with my car! They are just too complicated now, 40 odd years ago you could fix anything with a 10mm spanner, some duct tape, and a pair of pliers! Now you need a sophisticated laptop with correct software.
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Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Please do not assume it could be something simple. Mercedes Benz (and other manufacturers) have a habit of making simple things very complicated. I truly hope it is something simple but I doubt it, personally I wouldn't want to drive your car more than walking distance from my home.
This fault is not magically going to go away, if anything it will get worse unless diagnosed and fixed.
stephenmercedes
Active Member
Great point, well made, wish I'd have made it...
Oh, I did! LOL
Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
^^^ yes but she is clearly in love with this unreliable car and needs more of us to reminder her that it will not be a simple fix.
I think by the time 10 or 15 of us have repeated the same point she might listen !
I think by the time 10 or 15 of us have repeated the same point she might listen !
stephenmercedes
Active Member
mmm... a statement on a ladies inability to listen - Pete, I admire your bravery LOL Now... duck!!I think by the time 10 or 15 of us have repeated the same point she might listen !
Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Mine is still in bed (she is a bit unwell at the moment) so she cant hear my keystrokes ...otherwise I would be in the $hit
Una
New Member
You are all in the s**t for telling me to get rid of the car or to get it to an auto electrician. Only joking. POINT TAKEN!!!!!! 
If the little bugger starts for me tomorrow, that's where I'm going. I will keep you informed of my progress.
I do love the car and it would be a shame to see it go, but I realise that reliability is of the utmost importance to a lady on her own.
What do you all think if I go out and buy a Fiat 500????? Ha ha ha
If the little bugger starts for me tomorrow, that's where I'm going. I will keep you informed of my progress.
I do love the car and it would be a shame to see it go, but I realise that reliability is of the utmost importance to a lady on her own.
What do you all think if I go out and buy a Fiat 500????? Ha ha ha
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1. As others said, the car needs to be scanned using STAR, which will help pinpoint the failed item (e.g. from SAM etc).
2. If you do decide to sell the car, you can trade it in at the dealer or sell it to the likes of WBAC. This way you can declare any existing faults and sell the car without feeling guilty.
2. If you do decide to sell the car, you can trade it in at the dealer or sell it to the likes of WBAC. This way you can declare any existing faults and sell the car without feeling guilty.
