Jump Start Gone Wrong

[CallyJo]

Hi All,

I have a C220 CDI 2003, it wouldn't start so my helpful neighbour said he would give me a jump start. Unfortunately he attached the leads the wrong way around on my car. Now the key won't stay in the ignition (when I put the key in it just falls out). It is as if there is no battery on the car. I disconnected the battery and attached a booster pack to the leads and tried that but it is exactly the same. Any suggestions ?

Thank you

 

[Dieselman]

Speak to your insurance company.

 

[richard]

If you are extremely extremely lucky you have only blown one or more of the main fuses (pre fuses). These are in the pre-fuse box in the engine bay and range between 60 and 200Amps (huge...). This fusebox is fed from the battery, and then (via the fuses inside the fusebox) feed the other fuseboxes in the car and front and rear SAMs.

This (from memory) is on the other side of the engine bay to the fusebox that is full of fuses.

Sadly, much more likely is you have taken out a number of ECUs in addition or alternatively, which to be honest could well write off a 2003 C220CDi.

If you have a volt-meter (or even a test lamp), first check the battery voltage (so you know how many volts to expect), then go check all of those fuse to ensure there is power at each side of the fuse. I hope you find a broken one and then pull it out and take it to MB dealer and get a new one.

Sorry to bring bad news.

Richard

 

[neilrr]

Might be a good idea to take it to a good MB independent garage before you do anything else to it.

Where are you located?

 

[CallyJo]

If you are extremely extremely lucky you have only blown one or more of the main fuses (pre fuses). These are in the pre-fuse box in the engine bay and range between 60 and 200Amps (huge...). This fusebox is fed from the battery, and then (via the fuses inside the fusebox) feed the other fuseboxes in the car and front and rear SAMs.

This (from memory) is on the other side of the engine bay to the fusebox that is full of fuses.

Sadly, much more likely is you have taken out a number of ECUs in addition or alternatively, which to be honest could well write off a 2003 C220CDi.

If you have a volt-meter (or even a test lamp), first check the battery voltage (so you know how many volts to expect), then go check all of those fuse to ensure there is power at each side of the fuse. I hope you find a broken one and then pull it out and take it to MB dealer and get a new one.

Sorry to bring bad news.

Richard

Hi Richard,

I have had a look under the bonnet but I can't locate the pre-fuse box. You don't happen to know exactly where it is located do you ? Thank you

 

[richard]

Pretty sure its on the exact opposite side to the main fusebox. But, may not have simple clips to open it, you may need a torx driver.

Follow the big red cable from the battery. The pre-fuse box won't be far as its the thing the thick (expensive so presumably they'll keep it short as possible) cable connects to.

Richard

 

[richard]

PS, where are you ? Anywhere near Lightwater, Surrey ?

 

[CallyJo]

Hi, I cannot locate the pre fuse box. I have looked here -> I opened up the side of positive



but I cannot see any fuses. Any suggestions where to look next ? Sorry to be a pain

Thanks

 

[brucemillar]

Pretty sure it is on the opposite side to your battery (in the same place as the battery) if that makes sense. You have to remove a black plastic drip tray then unclip the black lid.

In your pic you can clearly see the BIG RED jump start connector (lift the red flap) next to that on top of the suspension tower is your earthing point for jump starting.

Good luck.

 

[richard]

Bruce, he's looking for the pre-fuse box which contains a few big fuses feeding all the other fuseboxes.

General Warning about going near batteries and fuseboxes with open live un-fused feeds.

Remove your watch and any other metal from your hands before going near this stuff, it will go red hot if you touch the metal to the body and to the battery feed. Disconnect the Ground from the battery first (before the +12V), and re-connect last. Don't tighten up any live nuts with a spanner whilst the ground is connected, as if spanner touches the body work its going to go red hot or explode the battery.

With the info you now have you should be able to find this. If you can not, for your own safety please take this car to an auto-electrician.

To spell out my warning above further - disconnect the ground from the battery before using a multimeter or tell-tale lamp to check the fuses.


Cheers

Richard

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Just taken a look at my C270 and it looks exactly the same as your picture.
According to the Haynes Workshop Manual which covers all C Class models 2000 - 2007, there is a Maxi Fuse Box, with six fuses, but what it fails to say is where it is located.

F1 - Dashboard end Fusebox supply (125A)
F2 - Rear Fusebox supply (200A)
F3 - Spare
F4 - Engine Fusebox (200A)
F5 - Automatic Air Conditioning (AAC) Glow Plugs (125A)
F6 - Engine Fusebox (60A)

Whilst I couldn't locate an obvious place for it, take a look at the side of enclosed jump lead connection positive terminal box, there you will see numbers 1-2-3-4-5-6, which could indicate that these six fuses are inside this plastic box.

If you open the red cover on the top, there are two black plastic clips, one either side of the red cover, if you depress these the side of the box can be hinged down and removed. (R/H side in your pic).
There are also two further clips on top of this box which look as though they lift up slightly to remove another part. I haven't tried this last bit because the battery is still connected.
Make sure you remove the battery leads before trying to examine this closer.

As I said, I can't see anything obvious but this may be the fusebox you are looking for.

Good luck.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

The two yellow rings mark the clips to press down to remove the side cover.
The two white rings are the other two clips I refered to and look as though they lift up to remove another part.

Of course I could be completely wrong on all counts. In which case I :fail

 

[nigel cross]

It must be that black box in the photo with the red battery connector on top, the side does unclick

 

[grober]

Try these pics/diagrams possibly swap right to left for UK cars [PICS FROM USA TRAINING SITE] THINK THAT'S THE UNIT IN POST #8

 

[grumpyoldgit]

No news is good news..................so they say

 

[sspeed]

No news is good news..................so they say

Or he has had to sell his PC and monitor to pay for the repairs !!

 

[Soltan]

Or he forgot to take Richard's warning to heart and is now connected to a few monitors of his own