Emergency! How to jump start SL500 with a locked trunk! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spinedoc · #1 08-10-2005, 07:27 PM

Just got some body work done on the rear end of my 96 SL500 and something must have been ground wrong when put together because I have a completely dead battery, and I mean really really dead. Even the trunk will not open, I turn the key and push in, and nothing, it must need a little bit of juice to open.

Is there an under the hood battery terminal like the BMW's have? Is there any way to jump the car from under the hood?

Thanks much, I am stuck at work until someone helps out here...

BrierS · #2 08-10-2005, 07:48 PM

I don't believe I'll be misleading you though keep in mind what I wrote above . . . the battery, if situated under the hood as in my two Mercedes, is on the right (driver's side) near the firewall (deepest portion of the engine compartment. There should be a cover over it that will slide upward and forward. If I am correct about the location, you will have no trouble having it jump started. I don't mean to make assumptions . . . please remember to pay very close attention to the positive + and negative - terminals. Typically, I make certain the free ends of the cables are not touching each other, hook the other end to their respective posts on the drained battery, attach the positive clamp to the service battery and then hook the negative clamp to any nearby ground other than fuel lines. I have had one battery explode from not following this procedure. As you can imagine, it was not a positive experience. Good luck.
Steve

Arthur Dalton · #3 08-10-2005, 09:30 PM

Remote terminal should be in the right/rear corner of engine compartment. Check there ..look for red tag.

mbdoc · #4 08-11-2005, 08:39 AM

All MB's with the battery in the trunk have a JUNCTION either under hood OR in the inside of the car. MOST R129 SL's have both. INSIDE the passenger footwell, under the carpet you should find a connection point from the battery

BrierS · #5 08-11-2005, 08:45 AM

I'll be darned . . . battery is not under the hood. Another day, another lesson learned. Glad I qualified my attempt to help with not being familiar with your model.

You have some of the pros leading you now so you'll be in good hands.

yal · #6 08-11-2005, 08:47 AM

Most cars with the factory battery in the trunk have a junction up front. My aunts S80 Volvo has one. Check your owners manual and it should tell you where to jump.

Arthur Dalton · #7 08-11-2005, 10:56 AM

[QUOTE=BrierS]I'll be darned . . . battery is not under the hood. Another day, another lesson learned. Glad I qualified my attempt to help with not being familiar with your model.

I find it best to wait up a bit on models I am not familiar with , cuz they all have some differences...which is the main reason we constantly ask for posters to at least give us a model/year.
Even when one gives a chassis [like 124] without any other info , it causes
the tech to pass it by , as there are so many changes within a chassis run ..............specially between 6 and V8 engined chassis, along w/diesel..
.. if you have a 6 and the poster needs info for a V8 , 90% of the time your
"same as mine " assumption will be wrong.

BrierS · #8 08-11-2005, 07:06 PM

Arthur,
The second lesson . . . and guilty as charged.

Guess the title of the original post and that no one with experience took over. Most of us know what it is like to be in a panic. I am glad someone was able to get him going in the right direction.
Steve

Arthur Dalton · #9 08-11-2005, 07:23 PM

Steve,
The tag on my post was et al . and not directed to you, but rather just a continuation of the Model/Year campaign we are on.. It not only helps us help the poster , but the long term advantage is the fact that all these postings wind up in the 'Archieves'... so , in the long run, that is the main concern.. a great archieves reference is dependent on it's contents and all these little things add up to making a good archieves .. which this one, I must say, is pretty damn good and after these few years , is prob the largest in the Benz cummunity .
I purposely sometimes do a system relevant, short tutorial when answering a common posting just b/c I know it will end up in the Archieves and be of later use to someone down the road..
I have seen your many excellent contributions and you are as much a good source of info as any of us.
Thanks
A Dalton

BrierS · #10 08-13-2005, 01:24 PM

Arthur,
Thanks. I assure you I didn't take offense to what you wrote and I thank you for the posting. As you could tell, I didn't have more than a slight clue what the original poster was up against . . . all I could envision was someone at the office wanting to go home not having a clue how to jump-start their Mercedes. When I read "with a locked trunk" I couldn't help wondering what, if other than getting at his jumper cables, that had to do with anything . . .

Been spending the early part of this weekend improvising some interior repairs. JB Weld, broken parts and some creative moments certainly makes the day move along . . .

Both Mercedes' driveshaft projects this coming weekend. The '84 out for a shop balance and the '87 should be more of an R&R.
Steve

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