Electrickery

[Avoirdupois]

My 03 reg E 320 diesel is playing up and I don't know why. The message "Electrical conductors turned off" comes and goes regularly, as does a message telling me that "Electrical conductors are now switched on".
The car starts and runs OK, but I'm reluctant to go any distance from home as both my wife and I have mobility problems and need to guarantee that we can get home again.
A non official dealer has had a go at correcting the faults, but I don't know what he did because the used car dealer I bought the car from arranged the work.
Any ideas, preferably in" Janet and John do electronics" language?

 

[tron]

I think the message may say "consumers" (loads, like lights, heated windows, etc.) rather than conductors (Wires.) It probably monitors the battery voltage and turns off the things that drain it most until the alternator has charged it up a bit and then it turns them back on. Paradoxically, a good long run might be the best thing you could do as the battery will get a good charge.
Things to check:
How old is your battery?
Is the alternator belt properly adjusted?
What is the state of the battery?
These are inexpensive things to find out. your local battery specialist can test the battery under load.
Your model may have two batteries, I think there may be a second one under the rear seat (Distant memory,) If it has, check them both.

 

[grober]

My guess is your main battery [ normally in the boot] is past its sell by date. There is alaso an auxilliary battery in the front engine compartment under the aircon heater intake, but its main function is to back up the cars computer systems so unlikely to be that but not impossible. If the alternator is failing to charge the battery then its possible its regulator has failed- heres' a video how to replace it.- but my moneys on the main battery as tron said.
https://youtu.be/Pfma5v501qk

[YOUTUBE HD]Pfma5v501qk[/YOUTUBE HD]

 

[Avoirdupois]

Elecrrickery

Hi guys, about the battery(ies) on my car, I'm very reluctant to disconnect either of these two batteries because of the amount of re-setting and general messing about you have to do to get the car working properly again.
Is it possible to do as another MB driver told me recently, and just refit the batteries, start the engine, and in some mysterious way, the electronic system will reset itself?
I viewed the videos suggested and found them very interesting....I suppose the problem with me is that I've never had to deal with anything more complicated than Lucas or Miller electrics before (if you don't know what I'm talking about, ask your grandad for an explanation)

 

[Avoirdupois]

Just a thought guys....the drivers' handbook says that the battery (s) should be disconnected and removed from the car before charging.....is this strictly necessary or will my car and I disappear into a black hole if charge the battery(s) in situ?
Also, the handbook doesn't mention the second battery at all.....is it a secret?

 

[grober]

I certainly wouldn't disconnect both batteries at the same time!
If you have a decent charger CTEK or similar --disconnection should not be necessary.

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/charging-articles/how-do-i-pick-a-battery-charger.html

The battery will have a date of manufacture code on it somewhere.
Battery Date Codes - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

 

[AMGeed]

Don't worry about disconnecting the battery (main one in the boot) to charge. Just be careful and attach the leads before turning on the charger.
At worse if you did disconnect the (main) battery to replace it with a new one, the windows/sunroof will need resetting.
Simply done by opening each window fully, then closing and holding the close button down for 5 seconds. If you have a sunroof, just open fully and hold the switch for 5 seconds once fully closed.

As for the second battery, you'll find it in the engine bay under the cabin filter on the nearside up against the bulkhead. Just one torx screw to undo, remove the filter housing and the battery is underneath.

I'm betting that has never been changed and that is giving you your consumer offline message. They are about £75 from the main dealer.

 

[Avoirdupois]

Thanks guys, lots there to think about and keep me out of mischief. But could I ask if my car has any provision for charging the main battery remotely? On my old E200, there was a terminal housed in a plastic clip top box fixed to the front n/s inner wing and by attaching the positive crocodile clip to this terminal and the negative crocodile clip to a good earth, you could charge the battery without having to remove the rear seat. Is there a similar facility on my present car?...and if so, where can I find it?

 

[Avoirdupois]

Hi Grober, what is a CTEK charger you mentioned in your reply...is it a manufacturer's name, or a particular type of charger?

 

[grober]

CTEK MAKE A RANGE OF "SMART " CHARGERS
e.g.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FC42HAA/?tag=amazon0e9db-21