They swapped my battery !

[Ekko Star]

Well my CLK's just been in the body shop for five weeks for the rust work to be sorted.

When I got it back all the radio codes needed re-entering.

Few days later I find the car is struggling to start and the battery warning lamp lights up as it turns over (very, very slowly).

No doubt it's the battery, but when I had a look today it was a different battery in the car !!!! An original white MB Varta (doesn't look new) whereas mine was a Bosch.

What should I do ? Get a new battery or give them an earful ? Not happy

 

[WLeg]

Personally, I would be inclined to beat them with it.

 

[CE230]

I would splash the contents of the battery around their workshop if they don't return the original.

 

[grober]

I would make an appointment to see whoever is in charge of this situation. If it was done through your Mercedes dealer then someone senior in their customer services department. If not then the manager of the body shop. It will be of assistance if you can provide the purchase receipt for your Bosch Battery and its type number etc as evidence. Its normal practice to remove the battery while body work is done and if the battery was left for 5 weeks it may have gone flat and the plates sulphated.This was careless but it happens. What should have happened then was it should have been replaced by a new equivalent battery, but it looks like they put in an old battery that was lying about hoping you wouldn't notice. It just might be a wrongly rated new battery which is simply not up to the job of starting a 5 cylinder diesel. There should be a serial number on the battery which should date its manufacture which may also throw some light on the matter too . Take some detailed dated digital photographs NOW of the offending item in situ in case it "goes astray" in the future. This could be 2 things someone trying to do the right thing inadequately or out and out dishonesty on the part of the bodyshop or an employee of same. Take a witness with you to any meeting or put your complaint in writing- do not negotiate over the phone would be my advice.

 

[richard]

They didn't "swap your battery" - they Stole it.

So, go round, tell the most senior person you can find whats gone on. (if you have the receipt for the Bosch even better), and ask them to sort it now - if they argue, then tell them that you will be round to trading standards next, the local paper and post the story every where you can on the internet.

May be good to go get a quote for a new battery from MB dealer on the way so you can tell them how much to pay you before you leave the premises !!

Richard

 

[Ekko Star]

I'll give them a call. It was a MB Dealership !!! Just down the road from my workplace. If not I'll pop down there at lunchtime.

Just one thing I noticed on this battery it has a small pipe coming out it attached to the body. It looks like it carries liquid. What on earth is that ?

The technicals of the battery do tie up with what the car requires.

I bet they took mine out and put any equivalent one they could find to put back in. Might have been a genuine mistake so I'll talk to them politely to begin with but I need this sorted today.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i've had a few batteries in the past with a pipe - i think its a breather pipe.

go back to the dealer and explain its not the same battery as what was in there when you dropped it off and even worse; its a bad battery. tell them you want a replacement or the original back NOW as it is causing your car to become un-startable.

as you say it could and probably is a genuine mistake - so just explain nicely 1st and see what they say. if they start to get shirty; then tell them the way it is.

 

[recycled]

Just one thing I noticed on this battery it has a small pipe coming out it attached to the body. It looks like it carries liquid. What on earth is that ?


I bet they took mine out and put any equivalent one they could find to put back in. Might have been a genuine mistake so I'll talk to them politely to begin with but I need this sorted today.

that pipe is used to vent out battery gases from your boot.
No fear. it should poke out from underneath the car

 

[Smiley]

Could be that your battery went flat while they had the car - so could be genuine mistake - they forgot to swap it back.

 

[Ekko Star]

Have called them and they are investigating it now. Told them I needed it sorted today as I can;t have an unusable car.

I drove the car to Birmingham and back at the weekend and it's being used daily so it really should have charged up if it was a good battery. Looks like it's shot and not holding a charge.

It's a case of black and white. This new battery is White and my one was Black. Actually I think it was a Varta not a Bosch, not the sort of thing I keep on top of really.

 

[Ekko Star]

Still waiting for them to get back to me.

I noticed that the negative terminal on the battery had a mass of blue build up all over it and on the connector itself.

Is this normal or could this be causing the problem ?

 

[Dieselman]

It's leaking acid from inside. I'd say the battery is shot. It's not normal for them to remove the battery for bodywork, just disconnect it but leave it in the car if they need to weld.

 

[Ekko Star]

OK if I replace the battery, do I have to reset the car electronics in some way ?

I hear the BAS lights come on and the windows need resetting etc How on earth do you sort that ?

 

[Dieselman]

Windows, press the switch to position1 and hold for 3 secs after the window stops, do it both up and downwards.
BAS, turn the steering full lock both ways.

but surely the dealer is going to do this for you..

 

[Ekko Star]

The car didn't start this morning and is parked up at home and the dealer hasn't got back to me since yesterday.

I don't want the battery to completely die on me and then I can't open the boot etc I've read that can be a nightmare as well.

New battery is £100 from GSF Bosch but that is rated as 95A whereas the Varta is 100A. Would that make a difference ?

Where can I get a good original spec battery for a decent price ?

I'm gonna give the dealer earache today but for the sake of £100 I can't be without a car for too long.

PITA

 

[grober]

The figure you want to look at as well as the AMP/hours is the cold cranking rating which is a good indicator if how well the battery will turn the engine over in cold conditions. The better quality batteries have a better cold cranking rating. Varta ( part of the American owned Johnson Controls Power Solutions conglomerate) make the batteries for Bosch so basically the same battery if you go for the equivalent quality - they tend to have 3 ranges tho they are reducing some of their lines making fewer batteries cover more applications. Go for the highest rating that will fit in your car. Bosch or VARTA

 

[Iain]

100amp/hr Bosch Silver £57.00 From Costco

 

[Will]

Although I'd obviously not be pleased if this had happened to me, start off politely - just point out that it appears that they might have re-fitted the wrong battery for your car.

It is quite possible this is an innocent (albeit annoying) mistake on their part - eg two similar MB vehicles in for work for a few weeks, batteries removed to charge etc and re-fitted in the wrong vehicles.

I doubt they're going to give you any trouble over >£100 worth of a battery.

Hopefully they'll sort this out for you painlessly

Will

 

[Ekko Star]

Although I'd obviously not be pleased if this had happened to me, start off politely - just point out that it appears that they might have re-fitted the wrong battery for your car.

It is quite possible this is an innocent (albeit annoying) mistake on their part - eg two similar MB vehicles in for work for a few weeks, batteries removed to charge etc and re-fitted in the wrong vehicles.

I doubt they're going to give you any trouble over >£100 worth of a battery.

Hopefully they'll sort this out for you painlessly

Will

Yes, that is what I have done but I was expecting this to be sorted yesterday. My car didn't start this morning, which now causes me further issues and they still haven't got back to me today. I can't even bring my car into them now without either jump starting and leaving it on their doorstep or buy myself a new battery. They've had my car 5 weeks already.

The original MB Varta spec is 12v 100Ah 760En (cold crank) MB Part No: A004 541 45 01....is the Costco one that spec ?

 

[Iain]

Yes, that is what I have done but I was expecting this to be sorted yesterday. My car didn't start this morning, which now causes me further issues and they still haven't got back to me today. I can't even bring my car into them now without either jump starting and leaving it on their doorstep or buy myself a new battery. They've had my car 5 weeks already.

The original MB Varta spec is 12v 100Ah 760En (cold crank) MB Part No: A004 541 45 01....is the Costco one that spec ?

I wouldn't read too much into the full spec if I was you. The battery from Costco is a genuine Bosch item with a 3 year warranty that is rated at 100 amp/hr. It is an automotive battery, not as leisure battery and is fitted to my C230K