Stop Start Query

[geoffus]

Does the AGM battery need a specialised charger? Or is it just marketing ? I bought my charger from Lidl for my motorbike, used on a few occasions on the car and its seems to have worked fine. I mentioned about buying a replacement non AGM car battery and not use the stop start feature, someone said the car charges at higher voltage and it wouldn't be compatible.

 

[RChiv]

My understanding is that AGM batteries are different to lead acid batteries and require a slow charge to reduce heat generated when charging. A normal charger will damage an AGM in no time. The smart chargers are programmed to monitor heat and adjust the charge rate accordingly. That is why the smart chargers have an AGM setting specific to that type of battery.

Roger

 

[geoffus]

The smart chargers are programmed to monitor heat and adjust the charge rate accordingly.

How can they do that ?

 

[Storming]

Being an Ex Auto Electrician I understand battery faults. It just seemed odd that it was working fine until the Overdue Service message came up. So will see when they reset the message if anything changes.
Thanks for your replies.

Roger

Hi I had a Ford st Line agent fist said the battery. collected drove 2 mile still not working back to dealer next day it was fitted with a exhaust Sencor that cured it . But are gle 250 is slow on working but will work on longer runs.

 

[RChiv]

Hi I had a Ford st Line agent fist said the battery. collected drove 2 mile still not working back to dealer next day it was fitted with a exhaust Sencor that cured it . But are gle 250 is slow on working but will work on longer runs.

If the main battery drops below 12v then the stop start ceases so when on a longer run the main battery is somewhat charged by the alternator and once the battery reaches 12v then the stop start works again. In my case I am assuming the battery just needs a good charge and the technicians just put a small charge in it at the service to prove that it works whilst they completed the service.
So I would expect yours is similar to mine. and a good charge will sort it.

Roger

 

[RChiv]

Well I purchased a smart charger from Halfords, The Smart Battery Charger Plus.( The same as the Ring Charger RSC706) Put it on at 11 this morning and the battery was 80% charged by 6pm So pretty impressed with that.
I had a gift card (£30)from my daughter earlier this year and that coupled to my Halfords Trade Card I only paid £17 so not bad.

Roger

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Well I had my A1+ service today at MB Bromley (first of a 2 year plan) and was surprised when they waived the cost of the courtesy car (£30). It was a new C200 AMG Petrol Estate and to be honest it was not as comfortable or as smooth as my E220 Diesel.
Within a few minutes the Stop[/Start was working again. so either they were able to put enough of a charge into the battery when doing their checks or was enabled when they reset the service indicator. It was too dark to check on the battery when I got home so will check tomorrow weather permitting.
I know the main battery was a bit low (just under 12v) but as my normal charger is not suitable for AGM batteries I will invest in a Ctek or similar.
They also carried out a SMPC789 engine update ,whatever that is, but I think it may have something to do with emissions.
The funny thing is they say my alarm siren has suffered water damage and it would cost £782.59 to replace it. What a joke. I told them to forget it as I was an Auto Electrician and would sort it out myself. How they know it has suffered water damage without removing the wheel arch liner I do not know. Also I thought I would have had a message on the Service Menu but there were none. The technician messaged me to say they had picked up a stored fault code for it so will test the system as it may have been an old code that was not cleared.
Apart from that I am well pleased with the customer service ?(shame could not talk directly to the mechanics due to the Covid problem) and would recommend them.

Roger

It would have been plugged in to a charger whilst they performed the updates.