Should I be worried about battery?

[SlavaB]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Just buy a jump box and teach her how to use it.


I guess then she'll buy some grocery and will teach me how to prepare some dinner just in case lol.
I'm a believer she shouldn't bother about it at all, anyways thx for your input

 

[atikovi]

Stouffers and a microwave is all you need for dinner. If you have to be taught that, I don't know what else to say.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted by eljefino
What's so awful about her asking for help with a jump start? It's one of those very basic life skills.


You've got to be kidding.

 

[SlavaB]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Stouffers and a microwave is all you need for dinner. If you have to be taught that, I don't know what else to say.

No wonder weight loss programs are so popular in states haha

 

[HangFire]

I have no idea how long the OEM AGM battery should last. But planning for a random no start morning sounds like a bad plan to me.

I would either get it tested, or just replace it. If I was very cost sensitive, I would recharge it once a week with a charger that has an AGM mode and keep a close eye on it.

For reference, I replace wet cell batteries at 5.1 years, unless they start giving weak starts before that. Whenever I forget this plan, I either get a gentle reminder (slow cranking) or a not so gentle one.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted by AZjeff
Originally Posted by eljefino
What's so awful about her asking for help with a jump start? It's one of those very basic life skills.


You've got to be kidding.


No, I'm not, and this is a two-parter:

"Hey, I need help, could you help me."

"There's a very basic car subsystem that can be fixed with a $10 tool sold everywhere, I should know how to do it."

OPs car shows no visible symptoms of battery issues so if it went kablooey tomorrow it would be as random as if she left the lights on or got a flat tire, both things any adult driver should be able to handle.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted by MasterSolenoid
I was worried about my Battery (4 years old).

Went out this morning and bought an EverStart Maxx at Wal-Mart.
Size 59 for $120.00 with 3 year full replacement, 2 year pro-rated.

Although my old Battery started fine, it was 4 years old and showing non-stellar results while testing.

I will sleep better tonight.



I've never understood this. It's going to kick the bucket at the worst time, so why not just replace it at your convenience like the poster above stated. Besides I've had them give me money back at autozone even though they weren't bad.

 

[GSCJR]

Replace it if it makes you feel better about it.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
Besides I've had them give me money back at autozone even though they weren't bad.



???????????????????????????????

Autozone will NOT warranty a battery as "bad" if it does not test out as "BAD"

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted by MasterSolenoid
I was worried about my Battery (4 years old).

Went out this morning and bought an EverStart Maxx at Wal-Mart.
Size 59 for $120.00 with 3 year full replacement, 2 year pro-rated.

Although my old Battery started fine, it was 4 years old and showing non-stellar results while testing.

I will sleep better tonight.



I've never understood this. It's going to kick the bucket at the worst time, so why not just replace it at your convenience like the poster above stated. Besides I've had them give me money back at autozone even though they weren't bad.


You could say that of any used car. Or for that matter, any one of the thousands of parts in the a car. Like key ones might be the starter, alternator, belts, engines, transmission, etc.

The question is, once you embrace this logic, where do you stop?

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by SlavaB
Hey folks!
Question about my 2015 MB GLA250.
It has only 23k miles, yet it's 4 years old now and my wife takes lots of short trips.
The battery shows no signs of going bad, at the same time it was like that for my Kia as well and then it just wouldn't start one morning.
Should I invest early into the new battery?
There're 2 nice deals going on right now:
1. Champion AGM $160 + tax (including $18 core charge refundable) https://www.pepboys.com/champion-agm-battery/product/2071686
2. Autocraft Platinum AGM $168 + tax ($22 core charge refundable) (which seems to be rebranded german Varta) https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...-group-size-h6-760-cca-h6-agm/10210829-P


My 2008 MB E350's battery lasted 4 yrs under the same conditions. If yours is a AGM it will not give you any warning, it will just fail.
I would only use an OEM battery, I think Varta is still the supplier, they are more expensive, but you get what you pay for, 2nd choice would be Odyssey or NorthStar (same company also expensive) 3rd choice EastPenn/Deka. Don't wait till it fails as it will affect many other features of the vehicle.


Hey, that's the same car I have, you're in a colder location too so don't know what happened. Mine is 11+ years old so it's just one of those things. I wonder what your voltage was. You can get to the voltage display on the E350 by switching to the temperature display with the engine off and hitting the reset button 3 times. Varta is Johnson controls.

Also if OP decides to get the battery, Pepboys has a $40 rebate on the Champion AGM battery til March 31st, but they've extended that rebate a couple times since December. Champion is also JCI along with Autocraft so get whatever is cheaper. Advance auto typically has a 25% off discount code on retailmenot.com. Autozone is usually just 20% off and their pricing is similiar to Avance auto so Advance Auto is usually a little cheaper.

https://pepboysrebates.rewardpromo.com/#/home/current-offers

The correct response is to get it load tested. Otherwise you're just replacing something that isn't bad. Load testing is free at auto parts stores. AGM is supposed to last longer than flooded but as you can see, it can vary.

 

[SlavaB]

I don't know why I haven't checked before, but apparently my previous dealer in CA changed it in October 2017 and I didn't even know till today.
When I pulled the cover off the battery I realized it's non-factory installed one and has autonation brand on it.
I can sleep well again, thx everyone for the help tho

 

[Donald]

Well I would not sleep too well, your new battery is an Exide battery. The worst of the manufacturers. Expect white fuzz around the battery posts. And a short battery life.

 

[SlavaB]

Originally Posted by Donald
Well I would not sleep too well, your new battery is an Exide battery. The worst of the manufacturers. Expect white fuzz around the battery posts. And a short battery life.


Thx for the info, will keep an eye on it.
At least I dont see a reason to change it right now, my main concern was I thought it's a 4 year old battery.
This one is only 1.5 years and works great for now.

 

[pezzy669]

The '09 C300 still had its factory installed battery in it (date sticker was 9/08) and IIRC it finally kicked the bucket around July or August 2016 so it lasted almost 8 years. It gave very little warning before it just did not have enough juice, I had maybe 3 or 4 slow cranks before it finally just gave in. I knew it was a Mercedes battery but figured there was no way it was original as the car spent its first 6 years down in Miami with its battery killing heat.

I replaced with another genuine MB battery - at the MB dealer IIRC it was like $220 or $230 (no core charge so I just dropped the old one at Pep Boys).

My E350 has an aftermarket in it that came with the car, not sure when that was installed but looks pretty new as it is not dusty at all on the top. Once that aftermarket kicks the bucket I'll go back to genuine MB.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Donald
Well I would not sleep too well, your new battery is an Exide battery. The worst of the manufacturers. Expect white fuzz around the battery posts. And a short battery life.


It's an AGM, they don't tend to vent as much as flooded batteries. My 11 year old AGM one is still pristine.

Originally Posted by pezzy669
I replaced with another genuine MB battery - at the MB dealer IIRC it was like $220 or $230 (no core charge so I just dropped the old one at Pep Boys).

My E350 has an aftermarket in it that came with the car, not sure when that was installed but looks pretty new as it is not dusty at all on the top. Once that aftermarket kicks the bucket I'll go back to genuine MB.


MB uses Varta which is a JCI battery. You could have tried charging up the battery. The last time mine died from a bad alternator, I put it on the charger and was able to get it up to 12.1 volts. once it was in the car. I had it at 12.5 volts at home which is close to 12.7 max when it's at the no load voltage so it's loss a little bit of capacity but it's still good. It's still holding fine at 11.5 volts in the winter which is what it's been at for the last couple of years.

 

[Piston_slap]

Originally Posted by eljefino
Originally Posted by AZjeff
Originally Posted by eljefino
What's so awful about her asking for help with a jump start? It's one of those very basic life skills.


You've got to be kidding.


No, I'm not, and this is a two-parter:

"Hey, I need help, could you help me."

"There's a very basic car subsystem that can be fixed with a $10 tool sold everywhere, I should know how to do it."

OPs car shows no visible symptoms of battery issues so if it went kablooey tomorrow it would be as random as if she left the lights on or got a flat tire, both things any adult driver should be able to handle.


There are some that depend on the government to rescue them from any decision or problem. Soon we will all be driving the government approved "Micro-cars" for trips beyond bicycle range.The $10 tool mentioned earlier is located in the glove box of your new Gov-Car. It resembles an Altoids' tin box filled with mood leveling drugs

 

[TheLawnRanger]

Yes. If a problem with your battery is starting, fix it now or you'll be sorry like I was yesterday. It only started to sound a little off the day before. Replaced now and good to go.

 

[HowAboutThis]

My batteries have all lasted 8+ years. However, I check the cells for water yearly, too. Even if they are "maintenance free" this can be done. Some types you can't, however. Mercedes might use batteries you can't/don't need to. Just a thought...

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by HowAboutThis
My batteries have all lasted 8+ years. However, I check the cells for water yearly, too. Even if they are "maintenance free" this can be done. Some types you can't, however. Mercedes might use batteries you can't/don't need to. Just a thought...


Mercedes tends to use AGM batteries. You don't add water to those batteries. They also don't tend to out gas like regular flooded batteries which is why my 11+ year old battery has pristine battery terminal posts.