Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
I was looking at the batteries at Walmart this evening, and didn't see anything in group 49. Autozone has their Duralast brand, made by Johnson, in group 49 for a reasonable price. I paid $60 for mine, they were $70 the last time I looked at the price. Warranty is something like 7-8 years, so if it fails at five you get a nice discount on the next one.
[MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (:
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
Yeah Levi, The Walmart batteries are made by Johnson control. Arguably the best battery maker in the nation I have heard. They do have a 1000CCA model for like 69 bucks for thier MAXX which is thier top of the line battery. Mike - Original Message - From: Levi Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List Mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 7:18 AM Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (: ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
Levi - if you won't go $100 (with the club discount) for a M-B battery at the dealer, then the oft recommended batteries for our Diesels is the Interstate brand, and particularly the Optima (more expensive, but reportedly last a lot longer) Red Top. Looking for reliable service in a Diesel, from a $40 battery is wishful thinking, IMO. If the current battery is more than 4 years old, it is questionable that it will perform adequately. Remember that a Diesel not only requires lots of Amps to do the glow cycle, but that the engine itself draws a lot of current because of a compression ratio that is twice that of gassers. You are using Mobil 1/Delvac 1, of course?? Werner - Original Message - From: Levi Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List Mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 7:18 AM Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (:
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
The answer to A is YES. I had a 280Z that would not turn over the engine. The battery indicated a full 12 volts, all the connections were clean and tight, but it would not turn the starter. Just for grins, we stuck in another battery, and it started right up. We took the battery and had it tested. It showed two cells bad, and would carry almost no load. Tom Potter -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Levi Smith Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 6:18 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (: ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
Levi Smith wrote: So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Unwinterized fuel waxes at about 28 degrees. That can plate onto the filter and prevent fuel flow (especially if the filter is slightly occluded. A loose battery connection (inside or outside the battery - how old is the battery?) can behave as you've described. Any of the Johnson Controls 49 size top of the line batteries sold at Wal-Mart, Advance Auto, Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Sears are about equal and a good value (the Sears Die Hard battery will be a little more expensive, but it's no better in my opinion). Price will be between $60-$100 depending on which store you visit. When were the valves checked for adjustment. They are the second most common cause of poor/no start in OM61x engines in cold weather. Reliable winter starting really does require that EVERYTHING work as it should work. Marshall -- Marshall Booth Ph.D. Ass't Prof. (ret.) Univ of Pittsburgh School of Medicine [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
I will disagree about the Optima Red Top. I have used these batteries for heavy winching applications offroad and they do not hold up well at all in comparison to the NAPA(read Exide) Orbital. If you are going to go with a gel type the NAPA brand is way better than the Optima of any color. That's not from reading specs, that's from being left stranded from failed batteries. Now, as far as quality batteries go do a bit of research on who makes the best batteries for solar banks and other life dependant systems..You will find Johnson Control at or very near the top of the list...Believe it or not..Wally World batteries are built by Johnson Control and have an EXCELLENT service record as long as you buy the top of the line MAXX model for heavy winching or diesel cranking. Who makes the battery for MB? Mike - Original Message - From: Werner Fehlauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:36 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning Levi - if you won't go $100 (with the club discount) for a M-B battery at the dealer, then the oft recommended batteries for our Diesels is the Interstate brand, and particularly the Optima (more expensive, but reportedly last a lot longer) Red Top. Looking for reliable service in a Diesel, from a $40 battery is wishful thinking, IMO. If the current battery is more than 4 years old, it is questionable that it will perform adequately. Remember that a Diesel not only requires lots of Amps to do the glow cycle, but that the engine itself draws a lot of current because of a compression ratio that is twice that of gassers. You are using Mobil 1/Delvac 1, of course?? Werner - Original Message - From: Levi Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List Mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 7:18 AM Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (: ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
I thought the MB battery was more expensive. I'm not planning on $40, but $70 sounds more reasonable. Yeah, I've got M1 in there. I mean it WAS turning over just fine over the last few weeks with even colder temps. Just seems odd that it picks today to suddenly have significantly less power. I'm leaning with the dead cell theory at this point. I was originally wondering about the gelling fuel, but it turns out my fuel was fine I just didn't have enough of it in the tank to reach the pickup when it was inclined slightly. Yeah, she's been starting pretty good, but lack of electricity and fuel make it pretty hard to start. (: Levi On 12/6/06, Werner Fehlauer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Levi - if you won't go $100 (with the club discount) for a M-B battery at the dealer, then the oft recommended batteries for our Diesels is the Interstate brand, and particularly the Optima (more expensive, but reportedly last a lot longer) Red Top. Looking for reliable service in a Diesel, from a $40 battery is wishful thinking, IMO. If the current battery is more than 4 years old, it is questionable that it will perform adequately. Remember that a Diesel not only requires lots of Amps to do the glow cycle, but that the engine itself draws a lot of current because of a compression ratio that is twice that of gassers. You are using Mobil 1/Delvac 1, of course?? Werner - Original Message - From: Levi Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List Mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 7:18 AM Subject: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning So... as of last night I was thinking well it's supposed to be around 15F this morning so I'll see how my 83' 300D handles that temp. Woke up this morning and it was 25F, Pff, no problem. Well... Something funky seemingly with the battery... It ran the glow plugs fine, but barely turned over the engine. OK, get the charger... Try to start. Get some almost starting, but not quite. So... after a good while of monkeying I found out: A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) B) My fuel gauge has only ever read lower than normal, but apparently the sputtering I dealt with last night on the side of the road for a few minutes was because I was down to about a gallon of fuel and while sitting in the driveway with the left side lower there was effectively no fuel. Had to borrow a couple gallons of kerosene from the farm and prime for a while. I filled her up with diesel this morning and she started fine after that. We'll see how she does this afternoon. Of course it's supposed to be up to around 40F or higher by then. I'm just surprised, this battery has yet to show any problems (other than when the dog turns on the hazard lights for a few hours and I then try to start it) and it showed no problems yesterday at 20F a couple times. But this morning it suddenly loses amps? (I'm assuming the battery charger is looking at voltage and that the voltage must be fairly high if it's showing as pretty much full...) Ahh well... If the battery IS the problem, seems like someone said that Wal-mart had a 1000Amp battery that was a direct replacement? Anyone have the model number? Or somewhere else where I could get a reasonably priced GOOD battery? i.e. I don't want to pay 3 times as much for the same battery that says Mercedes on it and I don't want to get a 350amp battery Thanks! Levi (: ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
A) The battery charger seemed to think that the battery was about full, yet it would barely turn the engine over on it's own. (Have I got some issue where my battery still has voltage, but has lost it's amps?) Yeah, that happens a lot when batteries die. -- Jim
Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning
Autozone has one also made (AFAIK) by Johnson Controls for about the same price. I put one in my 240D last winter and it was just fine, WAY better than the whatever it was (at least 2 years old) it replaced. AFAIK its still fine now, the friend I sold the 240D to hasn't mentioned it. -Curt Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 08:18:32 -0500 From: Mike Canfield Subject: Re: [MBZ] Fun in the cold this morning To: Mercedes Discussion List Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original Yeah Levi, The Walmart batteries are made by Johnson control. Arguably the best battery maker in the nation I have heard. They do have a 1000CCA model for like 69 bucks for thier MAXX which is thier top of the line battery. Mike - Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Dec 06 22:06:43 2006 Received: from web32810.mail.mud.yahoo.com ([68.142.206.40]) by server8.arterytc8.net with smtp (Exim 4.52) id 1Gs4uZ-0004ZW-FF for mercedes@okiebenz.com; Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:06:43 + Received: (qmail 47586 invoked by uid 60001); 6 Dec 2006 22:02:56 - X-YMail-OSG: tL017JMVM1n6AaC.HqMkq6CDkrM3qV76Is36onlgvedNzHwLsJhDJqX_97re1v5VLV.Q3ZRpTcBL_qvUj9QueCyZcez2b1kOHqkf7zlprhYWwgYcrx8HsVZpdy5S0jI2ZrLfcp_75EndjUo- Received: from [198.51.119.130] by web32810.mail.mud.yahoo.com via HTTP; Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:02:55 PST Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 14:02:55 -0800 (PST) From: Curt Raymond [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Diesel List mercedes@okiebenz.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Antivirus-Scanner: Clean mail though you should still use an Antivirus Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9.cp1 Subject: Re: [MBZ] Cold start X-BeenThere: mercedes@okiebenz.com X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9.cp1 Precedence: list Reply-To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com List-Id: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes_okiebenz.com.okiebenz.com List-Unsubscribe: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Archive: /pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com List-Post: mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com List-Help: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Subscribe: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:06:44 - Fer cryin out loud, nobody could have come up with this like 2 weeks ago when the car was at my Indy's? IIRC I had him check chain stretch when I first got the car, I'll take a peek into the files. Is there any other indication of chain stretch like hard starting that should be obvious? How much work are we talking about to figure this? Its not that I mind work its that its cold out -Curt Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 09:19:34 -0500 From: Mike Canfield Subject: Re: [MBZ] Cold start To: Mercedes Discussion List Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original Just a theory here but...If your source of iron IS timing chain wear could it make any sense at all that the longer you run it the less it wears until the point of failure? I don't know how to explain what I am thinking..Kind of like there is less tension on the chain as it wears more so it would wear less until it breaksDoes what I am saying make any sense at all or am I just dreaming again? Mike - Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Dec 06 22:09:19 2006 Received: from web32804.mail.mud.yahoo.com ([68.142.206.34]) by server8.arterytc8.net with smtp (Exim 4.52) id 1Gs4x5-0004fR-CI for mercedes@okiebenz.com; Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:19 + Received: (qmail 80647 invoked by uid 60001); 6 Dec 2006 22:05:30 - X-YMail-OSG: agDlingVM1mGZDb59USdnUsAQhrsXY7Vg3cDfiP7Wi74fO5tXutiK1j52dYu8OVOvf9YKh1dlEoYnPmrFkmwt1ajbF3Evf1uY4n1ry2lF6Raeg4LoM6cpwpLLWwkRVHLDxmX1zp3.Xi0ciI- Received: from [198.51.119.130] by web32804.mail.mud.yahoo.com via HTTP; Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:05:30 PST Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 14:05:30 -0800 (PST) From: Curt Raymond [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Diesel List mercedes@okiebenz.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Antivirus-Scanner: Clean mail though you should still use an Antivirus Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.9.cp1 Subject: Re: [MBZ] Block Heater X-BeenThere: mercedes@okiebenz.com X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9.cp1 Precedence: list Reply-To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com List-Id: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes_okiebenz.com.okiebenz.com List-Unsubscribe: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com, mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] List-Archive: /pipermail
