General Chat

Bob our Solar panel works when the engine is off we have used it for ages on the BMW when we had it.

Merlin, we tried that, they were not interested, not covered under the warranty. We have had the car since August, travelled down to Dorset and then to Hampshire and back no problems. The man we get our batteries from is excellent, he said that the battery was clapped out, well after 8 years it would be, and the alarm system might have been enough to flatten what was left of it. The new one is guaranteed for 4 years.

these solar powered charger things that plug into the cigar lighter,surely the socket only works with ignition on?or at accessory position.......

I have one and have not used it in that fashion but by clipping directly to the terminals under the bonnet....but that means having the unit IN the car and threading the lead via the door seal and under the bonnet lid

Bob

Picassos have a socket in the backwindow, mainly for cool boxes and portable fridges,which was live all the time, but that was discontinued i believe because the equipment was likely to run the battery flat,when parked up........so now its live on ignition, only.

Ann, I,d have a chat with the people you purchased your Merc from , meybe they might help with the cost of the Battery,**M**.Ps. there should be a period of warranty for it.

Not a great one for coach travel and I am sure that my oh would not do 6 hours on the coach, although as he gets older it may be that we have to. I believe it is only a couple of hours N Express from here to heathrow.

Normally Birmingham wouldn't be a problem, it is only just about one hour from here and driving back at night is easy. It was just the car problem and being a newish (to us ) car there were things we didn't know about it. However, OH has just been and bought a new battery and had the other one checked. It was apparently on its last legs (8 years old as it was the original battery) so not the fault of the car just our bad luck to buy the car just before having to leave it for 2 weeks. All sorted now and it hasn't spoiled the memory of our holiday. If we had ben flying from Heathrow it wouldn't have been a problem as where we leave the car they run it before we get back, and sometimes we have them deliver it to the airport, so they would have put it on charge for us.

Anyway, full marks to Britania Rescue, couldn't fault them and would thoroughly recommend them. :-)

I have just read this thred and sorry to read that Ann had such a welcome back from the car.
Rather like you Liz I always use the National Express bus and have never had a problem.

We do not travel very far as OH isn't I tested in going to different countries but does enjoy going to Ireland so next year we will definetly go for our 20th wedding anniversary and the family said it wouldn't last. It is a second marriage for both of us.
OH has also said that he would li,e to travel by coach to different parts of Europe. Not France, Holland, Spain,Poland answer have been to these countries allsugestionswill e considered ........

Bridget in Spain

Sometimes the journey home is so tedious it takes away a lot of the benefits of the holiday don't you think Ann?

We never use the car for the airport run. The National Express bus does the job and we got the whole journey - there and back - for both of us for £67 including insurance. Called Funfares, the timing worked out well, it meant being on the coach from 6.10am to 12.15pm but then we had time to have a walk around before the flight and time to eat our sarnies etc - our holiday started when we got the taxi to the bus station. The return journey worked out ok too, we had an hour and 20 mins to get off the plane, collect our luggage and get to the bus stop, again plenty of time to stretch our legs, have a coffee and snack and then snooze all the way home. A taxi from the bus station and we were indoors before midnight. Funny that the journey to Gatwick from here takes longer than the flight from Gatwick to Crete.

Can't wait for next year's hols - even better when we go from Norwich but they don't 'do' Crete.

Hope you soon get back in routine and all the washing done and put away

Lizx

Thanks Bob, well it isn't in the trunk then. Actually we suspect, as it seems to be an original Merc battery it could well be quite old. Going to our very good battery man to get it sorted tomorrow. I wouldn't start again just now so is on charge.

LOL Ann

US...........UK

Trunk........Boot

Hood .......Bonnet(red riding hood)

Hi Wendy

Actually the sun is shining but it is cold enough for 3 layers. The flight was ok although not the best we've been on, very cramped seats, a long time since we have been on a plane with seats that close. And I had one of the only ones who just had to have the seat pushed right back. But he was almost half an hour early landing so, if the car had been ok we'd have been home at a reasonable time.

It was great to see you. Hope your visitors enjoyed their stay and, yes we look forward to April. (when we shall travel with Iberia. We decided the two journies with a break to walk around is preferable to the four hours with knees pressing the seat in front. :-D

Sorry you had such an awful return home after a lovely couple of weeks away.

Hope its not raining so that you can get all your washing dry.

Looking forward to seeing you again in April. xxx

Merlin, we had a booster for the BMW and we had a solar charger plugged into the merc but that didn't seem to work, no doubt the weather was too poor to boost it via solar power.

BC thanks for the welcome back, there is that much alcohol in my veins that I think it ought to be an alcohol free night tonight. :-D

Ann you can get a Battery Booster which fits into the "Cigar/Gigarette" Plug.useful to keep in car for emergencies like that.**M**.

Welcome back Ann, so glad you enjoyed your holiday but what a to-do on your arrival! I think a very large G & T is on the cards for this evening, and then early to bed <3

I am sure I will Wend.

Bob The battery in this one is under the bonnet. The trunk is american, does it refer to boot or bonnet I can never remember.

Welcome back Ann. Sorry you've come down to earth with a bit of a bump.

Hope you have a good sleep in a warm and cosy bed tonight.

:-D Sue We can confuse all of the people all of the time.

Island, Thanks yes we did the weather was fantastic, no rain and only 2 cloudy (although warm) days.

quote..........(edited the spelling in places)

Depending on the year of the car the battery is located in the trunk on the right side of where the spare tyre is located.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_battery_located_in_a_c_class_Mercedes#ixzz29SaiYuZd

That'll teach you to go off enjoying yourself ;-) :-D

Welcome back Ann, hope you had a great time :-D

lolol Ann rather like aged BIL who will be asked a question and give an answer that bears no relation to the subject at all :-S

We have only had the car a few weeks Bob, it is a Merc C series, open the bonnet and there is nothing there except a complete matal 'shield'. It is all electric and computerised, a real pain if the battery goes. The Britania man was convinced it was in the boot and spent ages poking around for it, he was quite puzzled, if it had not been gone 1am it would have been funny.

Sue, yep, letting him sort a lot of it (with supervision) but the M&S involves me as he has to phone and explain to the person the other end that I can't hear very well on the phone (especially as I am one aid short at the moment), I then have to give all password details and say he can speak for me etc, it is sooo involved. :-|