Many elements contribute to the performance of your Mercedes-Benz. The health of your battery is as important as any of the vehicle’s systems and since these systems are all interconnected, when the battery is fading, the vehicle’s performance suffers.
Signs of a failing battery include everything from corrosion on the connectors to dim headlights to a rotten egg smell when you pop the hood. The good news is that there are ways to maintain the health and integrity of your Mercedes-Benz battery.
Routinely Cleaning Battery
Whenever you check your fluids, you should check the battery for corrosion. If a Mercedes-Benz 240D battery, for instance, is experiencing corrosion, apply baking soda and a small amount of water to the area. This will cause a chemical reaction that will clear the area.
Run Inspections
A proper battery inspection includes a charge reading and an overall checkup, which includes investigating inter-cell connections, checking the posts and seals, looking for dust, corrosion, water and electrolytes and checking the covers for cracking.
5 More Tips for Maintaining Your Mercedes-Benz Battery
1. Check Battery Acid Levels
Every six months, you should check for acid stratification, which occurs when electrolytes remain on the bottom of the battery. This often happens to a battery that is perpetually below 80 percent charged. You can top off the battery’s water level with distilled water, only covering up the cell’s plates, being careful not to spill any.
2. Drive Often and Longer
When considering the health of a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 battery, or any other, you should take a drive every three days or so. This will ensure that the battery’s charge doesn’t drain completely from lack of use. Driving for longer periods will give the alternator time to charge the battery back up to full capacity.
3. Avoid Overcharging
It’s recommended that you check a battery’s charge every six months or 6,000 miles. You can check and charge your battery with a simple procedure that involves connecting the leads of a reading device to the corresponding battery terminals. Typically, if a reading comes up of below 12.4 volts, you may need to recharge the battery. Be careful about charging higher than 12.6 volts.
4. Consider the Life of the Battery
Mercedes-Benz batteries should last for six to eight years. You should consider purchasing a new battery at the six-year mark.
5. Pay Attention
There are a lot of other things in life to consider than your vehicle’s health. Often, people eschew car care until a service light comes on or they feel something that isn’t normal. When it comes to the battery, learn all the signs of a failing battery and pay attention to what your car is telling you.
Maintaining the integrity of your Mercedes-Benz battery is tantamount to the vehicle achieving maximum performance. When a 2004 Mercedes-Benz MI350 battery is operating as it should, it supplies power to that car the way a healthy heart supplies power to a body, year after year. Visit an online auto parts store today to check out the inventory of Mercedes-Benz batteries, parts and accessories that’ll keep your car running safely and efficiently.
