Hi all, I can use your expertise. My CL 500 has a dead trunk mounted battery. I thought no problem, I tried to use my spare key to open lock. The lock will not turn rt/lt, so I figure there must be a jump start post somewhere in the engine compartment. I never found one, so I jacked up the front of the car. I figure I will go to the starter and attach a jumper cable to get power and then pop the trunk open. Problem is, the starter offers no room to connect a jumper cable. My next idea was to jack up the back of the car and see where the battery cable exits the trunk. No luck, can not detect cable exiting from trunk. Next idea was to check back seat for ski exit through middle of seat, no luck. I read on this forum using the cig lighter, except my ignition will not turn on without power, any ideas.


John

John, check your Owner's Manual. As you noted there should be positive and negative terminals under the hood for jump starts. There will be a cover on the positive terminal. On our 1998 E320 the terminals are above the left front wheel well.

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Fred Hoelzle

Main junction under the carpet on passenger side, also junction under the rear seat.

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Also sometimes you need to grip the key blade with pliers to help carefully turn it, just using your hands can be difficult since the blade is so small.

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Hi, I want to thank everyone who answered my post. I tried most of the ideas presented to me. The information provided about the heavy positive battery cable, under the passenger compartment floorboard was right on. I did apply power to the trunk lock using a battery charger, however it did not work. I swapped to a 12 volt battery, still did not work. I then searched the engine compartment near and around the fuse box. Never did locate a lug/terminal used for jump starting. Finally I called MB Road assistance, the tech went straight to the passenger floorboard and applied power, no luck. He then went to the rt rear fuse box and jumpered the central locking system, no luck. Using a jump box and jumper wire to a box under the rear seat, the trunk finally opened. He worked on the car for over three hours before getting the trunk to open. He even said there is no lug/terminal in the engine compartment for jump starting. All the ideas presented were viable and probably would have worked, if my battery negative lead was not disconnected in the trunk. Again, thanks for your input.

John, please explain how the negative lead to the trunk-mounted battery got disconnected on its own.

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Fred Hoelzle