C180 with a dead battery

[Darwinian]

I have a 1998 C180 Classic..

A little while ago I went off for a few months on a course and, not needing the car, I carefully popped it safely up the side of the house.

When I came back I tried to unlock the car as I normally do with the key fob and, nothing. My first thought was that the battery for the fob had died but on further inspection I noticed that the little light was working so it couldn't be that.

I had to open the car with the actual key and when I tried to start the car, again, nothing. Couldn't even turn on the ignition. Nothing worked, not even the radio, not a flicker of life.

Ok, I thought, the car battery is obviously dead. Not a problem, I'll open up the boot, get the car charger and charge it up.

This is where my problems started. Obviously I couldn't use the key fob to open the boot, nor could I use the boot release button in the car itself so I attempted to use the key. Wouldn't work. For some reason the key would not fit the boot lock at all, something that I was unaware of as I'd never attempted to open the boot this way before.

So, here I am with a car with a dead battery and no way to charge that battery apart from maybe attacking the boot lock with a power drill.

Just about the only thing I can do is open the bonnet, which of course, unlike most other cars, has no battery in.

Is there anyway that I can give the car some sort of power from the engine bay just so that I can actually get the electrics working and open the boot with either the fob or the boot release?

Or any other suggestions to get access to the cars elusive battery would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks in advance.

 

[rogkildare]

Barrel may have been changed at some time as my C180 key fits all locks. Suggest charging through the cigarette lighter with the key in position one (before ignition position), or any other always live connection under the bonnet. As the trickle charge is minimal no overload will occur but make sure the polarity is correct.

 

[Darwinian]

That's not a bad idea at all.. Trouble is, I can't turn the key at all as it's all electric.

 

[Silestanix]

I've done this in my previous Vito; pop the bulb holder for the rear registration plate lights, and connect a 12v power source to the terminals, i.e. battery, connect the negative to the brown/black wire going to one terminal, and red to the other...obviously don't let the cables touch, put something between them i.e. cardboard or something.

It'll give the car's electrical system a bit of power, and won't overload the system either.


OR


Under the bonnet, there WILL be a set of jumper points, a negative which may be a bolt on the suspension strut tops, or around the engine somewhere, and a positive which may have a cover over it or a red sleeve as my Vito had, connect the jumper cables and battery to these points and trickle chage the battery from here.

Hope that helps.

 

[rogkildare]

Under the bonnet then like the live feed on the starter solenoid. Even though the car is electrically dead, when you turn the ignition switch to position one it is a mechanical connection that would simply switch any current from the cigar lighter to the battery

 

[Silestanix]

**edited

 

[Darwinian]

Thanks for that I'll give it a go..

 

[stevesey]

Under the bonnet then like the live feed on the starter solenoid. Even though the car is electrically dead, when you turn the ignition switch to position one it is a mechanical connection that would simply switch any current from the cigar lighter to the battery

N.B. On facelift cars with the electonic keys you can't turn the key to position 1 when the battery is dead as the solenoid to let you rotate the key won't fire.

As mentioned there is a battery terminal under the bonnet - passenger side behind the shock absorber mount (small black box - next to the big black box). This should allow you to trickle charge the car - also to open the boot with the remote boot release.

Also boot locks normally seize thrugh lack of use - pays to check it with the blade regularly and lubricate. If you can't get the key in in indicates the levers have seized. So soak it wth wd-40 and try wiggling the key in - if not leave it for a bit and try again - with some perisitance they can be freed. Once into the boot the lock can be removed, properly dismanted and freed up.

HTH

 

[bennesspipers]

^ the small black box has a 'X' on it, unlatch it,both those terminals under it are live, you can put a decent charge through it as this is a jump start terminal, just connect your negative terminal to any suitable bolt or bracket.
On my cars iv rigged up 2 terminals under the front bumper so that i can get power to the battery whatever happens.
Your problem is VERY common on mercs.

 

[Darwinian]

Thanks for all the help but I suddenly realised that I could get access to the boot, and the battery, through the rear passenger seats that just fold down

The battery is now charging nicely..

 

[stevesey]

through the rear passenger seats that just fold down

You're lucky - fold down seats were not a common option.

I was going to say - don't forget to try and free up the lock, but no need if you can get in via the seats.

 

[rogkildare]

Glad it's sorted Darwinian....Mercs have so many variants.

 

[Darwinian]

Thanks for that. Mind you, after all those months just sitting there, the engine is sounding like a tractor running on cider and has the power of a rubber band