What Does The Auxiliary Battery In A Mercedes Do?

What Is the Auxiliary Battery? – The auxiliary battery is the secondary battery in some Mercedes models. It’s the main battery’s backup and is used to run the car’s electrical components like lights, audio systems, and air conditioners. In some models, the auxiliary battery is only a capacitor to store electricity.
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What happens if the auxiliary battery dies?

1. The vehicle won’t crank – Having a battery that is dead will result in you not being able to crank the car when needed. Usually, the car will run once it has been jumped off, but will quickly die back out after it is turned off. This is due to the fact that while it is running, the alternator of the vehicle is giving it the charging it needs.
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Does the auxiliary battery affect the main battery?

What is the Auxiliary Battery? – Every car, SUV and truck has a 12 volt battery for starting the engine. Since the mid-2000’s Mercedes has also installed a second battery. This is what they call the auxiliary battery and it’s just a smaller version of the main battery.

1. To be accurate, in a few Mercedes-Benz models it’s actually a capacitor, which is another device for storing electricity.) The auxiliary battery is a backup for the main battery.
2. It does a number of jobs depending on what model of car it’s installed in.
3. These range from powering electrical accessories like the radio/infotainment to operating the engine stop-start system.

Like the main battery, the auxiliary battery is charged when the engine is running. And just like that battery, it lasts around four to six years. When it can’t hold a charge the computer pops up that malfunction message.
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Can I drive my car with a failed auxiliary battery?

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Auxiliary Battery? –

AUX Battery light on in the dash Some or all accessories not working properly

While a failed auxiliary battery will not prevent your vehicle from driving, it can cause significant complications, including important accessories malfunctioning or not working at all. It can also put additional strain on the rest of your charging system components.

1. Have the auxiliary battery replaced as soon as possible.
2. This could very well be the issue.
3. A few other things that should be check before condemning the pump itself are the fuse to the pump, the switch that activates the pump and the hose that goes to your windshield.
4. Hi there: Once your vehicle starts, the job of the battery is pretty much complete.

The alternator is what powers vehicle systems while the engine is running; which is possibly what’s causing the battery to drain, and the engine to. Check to see if there is warranty coverage on the work that was performed. It is not clear if the issue is the engine jerking or the transmission jerking, or both.
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Can I drive my Mercedes without auxiliary battery?

IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH AUXILIARY BATTERY MALFUNCTION? – The short answer is yes and no. If you need a Mercedes auxiliary battery replacement, you should get it into a certified repair shop as soon as possible. However, it is generally safe to drive for up to 100 miles after the warning lights come on.
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What happens if you don’t replace auxiliary battery?

How Does a Faulty Auxiliary Battery Affect My Vehicle’s Performance? – An auxiliary battery malfunction affects your vehicle’s performance by causing errors in the car’s electrical systems. If you have a faulty auxiliary battery, your car’s electrical components and safety features will stop working.
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How long do Mercedes auxiliary batteries last?

How to Replace Your Mercedes-Benz C 300 Auxiliary Battery. – We always recommend taking your vehicle in to a certified technician but fixing the C300 auxiliary battery can be very easy. This process should take no more than 20 minutes for even novice mechanics who have never been under the hood before.

Activate your emergency brakes and pull the driver’s side hood release to lift up the hood.To the left of your engine bay, locate the auxiliary battery under your cabin air filter housing. Remove the cabin air filter’s bolt and then remove the cabin air filter housing to reveal the auxiliary battery.Use a 10mm socket wrench to remove the negative battery terminal, followed by the positive battery terminal. From there, remove the battery bracket using the same tool.Remove the old auxiliary battery and install the new battery by fastening the brackets in place and connecting the positive terminal, followed by the negative terminal. Pop back the cabin air filter housing over your auxiliary battery to complete the process.

With your new auxiliary battery, ensure it comes in the standard 12V configuration and specific to your Mercedes-Benz C 300. A licensed technician is more than capable of providing the correct recommendation. You can expect your auxiliary battery to deteriorate over time before failing completely.

On average, auxiliary batteries have a service life of up to seven years, more or less depending on usage and driving conditions. This process should take no more than 20 minutes from start to finish. Someone with limited mechanical skills could easily take this on. Your Mercedes-Benz C 300’s auxiliary battery works to keep your most critical driving visuals such as Lane Assist, GPS, radio, and other electrical components turned on.

Again, though it may not directly affect driving performance, you also have the option to consult a licensed technician to diagnose and replace if needed.
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How often should you replace the auxiliary battery?

Most auxiliary batteries have a lifespan of between 5 to 8 years, but it could be more or less. Nonetheless, once your auxiliary battery declines, it will put a strain on the rest of your car. You may see accessories start to fail and problems with other car functions.
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What causes auxiliary battery malfunction Mercedes?

The main cause of this problem is generally attributed to a faulty voltage converter and you can also get a computer error message reading ‘Stop vehicle shift to P leave engine running’ when the auxiliary battery begins to malfunction.
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How much will it cost to replace my Mercedes-Benz auxiliary battery?

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Can you jumpstart an auxiliary battery?

Important – Connect the jump cable carefully to prevent short circuits with other components in the engine compartment. Fold back the cover over your vehicle’s positive (+) jump start terminal (2). Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable to your vehicle’s positive (+) jump start terminal (2).

1. Clamp the black jumper cable onto the auxiliary battery’s negative (-) terminal (3).
2. Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to your vehicle’s negative (-) ground point (4).
3. Make sure the jumper cables are securely attached to help prevent sparks while jump starting.
4. Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and let it run for a few minutes at a higher idling speed than normal, about 1500 rpm,

Start the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.
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Why do Mercedes have 2 batteries?

Do you own a Mercedes or BMW? Then it’s important to know if the model of your vehicle has one battery – or two. The Mercedes S550 is one model that has two batteries; one to start the engine, and another – called the auxiliary battery – to run the car.

• We recently had a Mercedes S550 in the shop that was experiencing some battery issues and wouldn’t start.
• If the auxiliary battery dies, the power locks don’t work, all of the accessories that work with without the key won’t workbut the car will still be able to start,” said HomeTowne Master Technician Keith Clausson.

One of the benefits of having a two battery system is that if your car’s main battery goes dead, you still have the ability to work the locks and get into the vehicle. But, it can also sometimes be a challenge for drivers to identify the problem if they’re not aware of the two batteries.
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Does auxiliary mode drain battery?

KEY LEFT 2 DAYS IN ‘ACCESSORY’ SHOULDN’T DRAIN THE BATTERY Question: I accidentally left my key in the “accessory” position over the weekend. On Monday morning, I had a dead battery. I was surprised, because the car is new. Nothing in the car was turned on.

1. Where did all my little electrons go? JR Ray: Good question.
2. Turning the key to the “accessory” position doesn’t actually draw any electricity from the battery.
3. It simply allows you to draw a limited amount of electricity to run certain accessories, like the radio, the power windows and the interior lights.

Tom: So something had to be on, despite your protestations. And because you’ve already admitted to being spacey enough to leave the keys in the ignition all weekend, we have to assume you’re spacey enough to leave other stuff on – like the dome light, for instance.

Ray: If you’re absolutely certain that nothing was switched on over the weekend, then the answer might lie in the ventilation system. In most newer cars, the blower fan cannot actually be turned off. Even when you move the switch to the “off” position, the fan continues to turn at a very low speed whenever the key is in the “accessory” or “run” position.

And that would certainly be enough to kill the battery in 48 hours. Tom: So that’s probably where your electrons went, JR. They were keeping the air moving inside your car all weekend. What do they know? They figured you were spending a nice, relaxing weekend in there.

1. WHERE TO GET REBUILT ENGINE Q: I have a 1984 Chevy Caprice Classic.
2. The engine is leaking all over the place.
3. I need to buy a good rebuilt one.
4. Please don’t suggest that I buy a new car instead, because I can’t afford one.
5. I have found a site online that sells rebuilt engines and gives a 7-year, 70,000-mile warranty on them.

My mechanic doesn’t want to install this engine. He wants to get one from his usual source. He says it will cost me between $2,000 and $3,000 (that includes installation). The rebuilt one online (without installation) is $889.00. What should I do? Terri Ray: Well, I can tell you from the point of view of a garage owner that I wouldn’t install that engine for you, either.

1. Tom: One reason is because I would have to forego my profit on the engine.
2. And the other reason is that I wouldn’t be comfortable guaranteeing the work for you.
3. Ray: Let’s take your local pizzeria as an example.
4. You go in, and he’ll sell you a pie for $7.
5. What if you came in with your own tomatoes, herbs, flour, water and cheese, and asked him if he’d use your ingredients and charge you only for the labor and the use of his cookware and oven? He’d tell you to flake off, wouldn’t he? Tom: And the reason is twofold.

One, he makes money by marking up the cost of his ingredients. Well, garages do the same thing. If a garage bought a rebuilt engine for $889, it’d sell it to you for $1,500. And that’s legit. All businesses do that; they buy stuff at wholesale and sell it at retail.

• Ray: The second reason he wouldn’t use your ingredients is because he can’t guarantee his pizza.
• Let’s say you taste it and then spit it out and say, “This is awful! You’ve made a terrible, tasteless pizza.” And he says, “It wasn’t my cooking; it was those lousy ingredients you pulled out of the dumpster on the way in here.” You guys yell at each other and disagree, he throws you out and you’re stuck with a lousy pizza.

Tom: Well, the same is true with your engine by e-mail. If there’s a problem, there might be no way for the mechanic to know if it was his fault or the fault of the rebuilder. So he might legitimately say, “Hey, not my problem.” And then what do you do? Ray: It’s worth the extra money to have a mechanic you trust supply the engine and guarantee the work.

But if you can’t afford that, you can probably find a mechanic who is willing to install the online engine for you and just charge you for the labor (check the Mechan-X-Files at the Car Talk section of www.cars.com for recommended mechanics). So here’s my advice: Ask your mechanic (and a Chevy dealer for comparison) for an actual price to install his own rebuilt motor.

And ask him how long a guarantee he offers on parts and labor. Tom: And then add up the real costs of the online engine. Find out how much the labor will be and what additional seals, gaskets and other parts you will need to pay for. Then you can see what you’d really be saving (my guess is $500 to $700), and you can decide if you want to take the risk.
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Does the auxiliary battery recharge?

How Does Dual Battery System Work? – In a dual battery system, both batteries function as two isolated systems. While your vehicle’s engine is running, your starter battery works with your alternator to power your vehicle and its electronics. While your vehicle is turned off, your secondary battery powers all gear and accessories attached to your vehicle; meaning that you can run your portable fridge, lights, and inverters without having to keep your engine running.

1. This is achieved thanks to the function of an isolator that disconnects your starter battery from your secondary battery, meaning that you only draw power from one battery at a time.
2. Eeping each battery functioning independent of each other is crucial in ensuring that your starter battery does not become drained and prevent your fourby from starting up.

The battery isolator will also ensure that both batteries charge properly. Be aware that some 4×4 dual battery isolators can allow your starter and secondary batteries to work together, boosting starting power to your vehicle should the starting battery suddenly drop in voltage.
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How long can a car run on auxiliary battery?

Typically about 30 to 45 minutes depending upon what you have running including the radio, the fan blower, the lights (cabin or otherwise), etc.
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How long does auxiliary power last?

When a dual battery system is added to a vehicle, it is usually because accessories have been added to the vehicle that are not factory-standard, and the primary battery in the vehicle does not deliver sufficient power to drive these new accessories effectively.

Understand that we’re not saying you need an auxiliary battery to power, say, a phone charger or a stand-alone GPS. It’s more like if you’ve converted a cargo van into a camper, and you’ve added a fridge, microwave, entertainment system you get the idea. In that case, it can be highly advantageous to have one battery to deal with starting your vehicle, and another to operate your accessories.

That way, once you’ve reached your campsite, you don’t have to worry about drawing power from your primary battery. So, how long will your auxiliary battery last? Properly cared for and maintained, you can expect anywhere from 18 months to 3 years of life from an auxiliary 12-volt battery.

• Much will depend on frequency of use, and how well the battery is protected.
• Rough roads can cause the cells to break down, reducing the lifespan.
• Allowing it to drain to less than half of its rated capacity will also reduce the life of the battery.
• And of course, if you are parking your vehicle for any length of time, you should use a battery maintainer.

Signs that your auxiliary battery needs to be replaced include:

Accessories not operating properly Accessories not working at all

If you think your auxiliary battery could be failing, have it checked. A professional mechanic can test your auxiliary battery, and replace it if necessary. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details
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How much does it cost to replace an auxiliary battery in a Mercedes C300?

Mercedes-Benz C300 Battery Replacement Cost Estimate. The average cost for a Mercedes-Benz C300 battery replacement is between $2,398 and $2,424. Labor costs are estimated between $100 and $126 while parts are priced at $2,299.
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Can you jumpstart an auxiliary battery?

Important – Connect the jump cable carefully to prevent short circuits with other components in the engine compartment. Fold back the cover over your vehicle’s positive (+) jump start terminal (2). Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable to your vehicle’s positive (+) jump start terminal (2).

Clamp the black jumper cable onto the auxiliary battery’s negative (-) terminal (3). Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to your vehicle’s negative (-) ground point (4). Make sure the jumper cables are securely attached to help prevent sparks while jump starting. Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and let it run for a few minutes at a higher idling speed than normal, about 1500 rpm,

Start the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.
View full answer

Does auxiliary mode drain battery?

KEY LEFT 2 DAYS IN ‘ACCESSORY’ SHOULDN’T DRAIN THE BATTERY Question: I accidentally left my key in the “accessory” position over the weekend. On Monday morning, I had a dead battery. I was surprised, because the car is new. Nothing in the car was turned on.

1. Where did all my little electrons go? JR Ray: Good question.
2. Turning the key to the “accessory” position doesn’t actually draw any electricity from the battery.
3. It simply allows you to draw a limited amount of electricity to run certain accessories, like the radio, the power windows and the interior lights.

Tom: So something had to be on, despite your protestations. And because you’ve already admitted to being spacey enough to leave the keys in the ignition all weekend, we have to assume you’re spacey enough to leave other stuff on – like the dome light, for instance.

Ray: If you’re absolutely certain that nothing was switched on over the weekend, then the answer might lie in the ventilation system. In most newer cars, the blower fan cannot actually be turned off. Even when you move the switch to the “off” position, the fan continues to turn at a very low speed whenever the key is in the “accessory” or “run” position.

And that would certainly be enough to kill the battery in 48 hours. Tom: So that’s probably where your electrons went, JR. They were keeping the air moving inside your car all weekend. What do they know? They figured you were spending a nice, relaxing weekend in there.

WHERE TO GET REBUILT ENGINE Q: I have a 1984 Chevy Caprice Classic. The engine is leaking all over the place. I need to buy a good rebuilt one. Please don’t suggest that I buy a new car instead, because I can’t afford one. I have found a site online that sells rebuilt engines and gives a 7-year, 70,000-mile warranty on them.

My mechanic doesn’t want to install this engine. He wants to get one from his usual source. He says it will cost me between $2,000 and $3,000 (that includes installation). The rebuilt one online (without installation) is $889.00. What should I do? Terri Ray: Well, I can tell you from the point of view of a garage owner that I wouldn’t install that engine for you, either.

1. Tom: One reason is because I would have to forego my profit on the engine.
2. And the other reason is that I wouldn’t be comfortable guaranteeing the work for you.
3. Ray: Let’s take your local pizzeria as an example.
4. You go in, and he’ll sell you a pie for $7.
5. What if you came in with your own tomatoes, herbs, flour, water and cheese, and asked him if he’d use your ingredients and charge you only for the labor and the use of his cookware and oven? He’d tell you to flake off, wouldn’t he? Tom: And the reason is twofold.

One, he makes money by marking up the cost of his ingredients. Well, garages do the same thing. If a garage bought a rebuilt engine for $889, it’d sell it to you for $1,500. And that’s legit. All businesses do that; they buy stuff at wholesale and sell it at retail.

• Ray: The second reason he wouldn’t use your ingredients is because he can’t guarantee his pizza.
• Let’s say you taste it and then spit it out and say, “This is awful! You’ve made a terrible, tasteless pizza.” And he says, “It wasn’t my cooking; it was those lousy ingredients you pulled out of the dumpster on the way in here.” You guys yell at each other and disagree, he throws you out and you’re stuck with a lousy pizza.

Tom: Well, the same is true with your engine by e-mail. If there’s a problem, there might be no way for the mechanic to know if it was his fault or the fault of the rebuilder. So he might legitimately say, “Hey, not my problem.” And then what do you do? Ray: It’s worth the extra money to have a mechanic you trust supply the engine and guarantee the work.

1. But if you can’t afford that, you can probably find a mechanic who is willing to install the online engine for you and just charge you for the labor (check the Mechan-X-Files at the Car Talk section of www.cars.com for recommended mechanics).
2. So here’s my advice: Ask your mechanic (and a Chevy dealer for comparison) for an actual price to install his own rebuilt motor.

And ask him how long a guarantee he offers on parts and labor. Tom: And then add up the real costs of the online engine. Find out how much the labor will be and what additional seals, gaskets and other parts you will need to pay for. Then you can see what you’d really be saving (my guess is $500 to $700), and you can decide if you want to take the risk.
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Does the alternator charge the auxiliary battery?

How To Charge Your Van’s Batteries While Driving – Every vehicle has an alternator. An alternator is a device that converts the mechanical energy from your van’s engine into electricity, and uses that electricity to power electronics in your van and charge your starting battery. You can easily use your alternator to charge your second (auxiliary) battery simply by connecting the positive terminals of both batteries so that they’re in parallel.

But paralleling your batteries means that when the engine’s off, your electrical loads will also drain the starting battery – not good if you want to start your van in the morning! So you need a device that allows you to charge a second (auxiliary) battery from your van’s alternator without draining your starting battery when the engine isn’t running.

There are two kinds of devices for this: DC-DC chargers and Battery Isolators, We’ll go over both in this post, but in general we recommend that most people get a DC-DC charger for their rigs.
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How long does a car battery last on auxiliary?

When a dual battery system is added to a vehicle, it is usually because accessories have been added to the vehicle that are not factory-standard, and the primary battery in the vehicle does not deliver sufficient power to drive these new accessories effectively.

• Understand that we’re not saying you need an auxiliary battery to power, say, a phone charger or a stand-alone GPS.
• It’s more like if you’ve converted a cargo van into a camper, and you’ve added a fridge, microwave, entertainment system you get the idea.
• In that case, it can be highly advantageous to have one battery to deal with starting your vehicle, and another to operate your accessories.

That way, once you’ve reached your campsite, you don’t have to worry about drawing power from your primary battery. So, how long will your auxiliary battery last? Properly cared for and maintained, you can expect anywhere from 18 months to 3 years of life from an auxiliary 12-volt battery.

Much will depend on frequency of use, and how well the battery is protected. Rough roads can cause the cells to break down, reducing the lifespan. Allowing it to drain to less than half of its rated capacity will also reduce the life of the battery. And of course, if you are parking your vehicle for any length of time, you should use a battery maintainer.

Signs that your auxiliary battery needs to be replaced include:

Accessories not operating properly Accessories not working at all

If you think your auxiliary battery could be failing, have it checked. A professional mechanic can test your auxiliary battery, and replace it if necessary. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details
View full answer

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