Community Forums

Yooper2 · 02-26-2023, 06:22 PM

I'm guessing in about Oct 2022 the battery (MB Original 12.V 100 Ah 760 A) in our 2016 MB Sprinter 3500 exhibited signs of giving up the ghost. We are the third owners, so no history -- we bought the Tiffin Wayfarer in March 2022.

I bought and installed a replacement battery -- a Diehard Gold H8, 900 CCA, 1000 CA. No road trips, but a few starts of the RV requiring jumps many times led me to troubleshooting (including parasitic drain tests). I concluded it was a "lemon" battery and AutoZone replaced it in kind.

The "new" Diehard Gold seemed a bit stronger, yet I took it to AutoZone and the CCA readings were low -- and I was given (actually an $18 upcharge) another battery. This one is a Diehard AGM, 850 CCA, 140 Reserve Capacity, 80 Amp Hours, Platinum H7-AGM).

Am I done with my problems? Anyone been where I am now?

Winterbagoal · 02-26-2023, 06:36 PM

Wasn't the original battery an AGM? I believe my 2017 chassis has and AGM as it's chassis battery.
Since your last attempt is an AGM, you might be ok.

CharlesinGA · 03-01-2023, 04:39 PM

All of the Sprinters with the battery under the floor are required to have AGM batteries. Parasitic draw is huge on a Sprinter and any time it is allowed to sit for several days or more, it needs to have the battery disconnected.

The "Battery Switch" as MB calls it in the owners manual, is the ground cable where it connects onto a stud near the accelerator pedal under the dash, You press a button on the top of it and pull it off the stud and fold it out of the way. If you don't do that, you will have weak and dead batteries.

Stand outside the drivers door and lean in under the dash to find the cable and disconnect, it is described and illustrated in the owners manual.

Why did you install the H7 battery, the Sprinter uses a H8 and they generally have more capacity as they are somewhat longer.

Charles

Yooper2 · 03-02-2023, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

Why did you install the H7 battery, the Sprinter uses a H8 and they generally have more capacity as they are somewhat longer.

Absolutely phenomenal reply. It was "definitive" and enlightening.

Why the H7? That's what the Autozone guy said I needed. And, yes, the H7 did not "fit" correctly in the battery compartment. I'll be heading back to Autozone for a 4th battery from them today. An H8 AGM, of course.

Yooper2 · 03-06-2023, 08:54 AM

Incredible! I found it. Right where you said it would be. B

eyecando · 03-10-2023, 06:48 PM

My 2019 chassis is on its 3rd battery. The previous battery was installed by the last owner less than 2 years before I replaced it again with an AGM H6 battery from Sams. It was an exact replacement for the Mercedes-Benz battery I removed.

I had kept the previous battery on a quality charger at float since I purchased it almost a year earlier but that didn't extend its life.

Yooper2 · 03-11-2023, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecando

My 2019 chassis is on its 3rd battery. The previous battery was installed by the last owner less than 2 years before I replaced it again with an AGM H6 battery from Sams.

Is your Sprinter a 3500? If yes, I am surprised the 2019 is an H6. I incorrectly purchased an H7 for my 2016 Sprinter 3500, it was "shorter" than the battery I replaced but did not take note of the difference during installation. I ended up getting an H8 at AutoZone to replace the H7 (both were AGMs).

Also, does your Sprinter have the battery cable disconnect next to the accelerator? I'm now disconnecting my battery with this feature to avoid parasitic drain while it's in storage.

eyecando · 03-12-2023, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper2

Is your Sprinter a 3500? If yes, I am surprised the 2019 is an H6. I incorrectly purchased an H7 for my 2016 Sprinter 3500, it was "shorter" than the battery I replaced but did not take note of the difference during installation. I ended up getting an H8 at AutoZone to replace the H7 (both were AGMs).

Also, does your Sprinter have the battery cable disconnect next to the accelerator? I'm now disconnecting my battery with this feature to avoid parasitic drain while it's in storage.

Yes, my Sprinter is a 2019 3500. The last battery was installed by Mercedes was also a Mercedes H6 battery. Both batteries were identical except for the labels and fit perfectly. H8 would probably fit in the space but there would have been no room to clamp it down.

Yes, it has the same disconnect but I have never used it since I keep a charger connected that keeps the battery around 13.2 volts.

eyecando · 03-13-2023, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper2

Is your Sprinter a 3500? If yes, I am surprised the 2019 is an H6. I incorrectly purchased an H7 for my 2016 Sprinter 3500, it was "shorter" than the battery I replaced but did not take note of the difference during installation. I ended up getting an H8 at AutoZone to replace the H7 (both were AGMs).

Also, does your Sprinter have the battery cable disconnect next to the accelerator? I'm now disconnecting my battery with this feature to avoid parasitic drain while it's in storage.

Is your battery on the passenger side under the floor? My battery is on the driver's side under the floor..

SteveNSue · 03-17-2023, 07:53 AM

We picked up a 2017 in early 2018. The battery was dead and was replaced. Then we stored the unit at home with a trickle charger. The charger showed a reverse polarity and we took it to Wal Mart. It read 6 volts and we picked up a new one. Continue story with trickle charge and replacement when reading 6 volts. We are on our 4th or 5th battery. Now we just disconnect the battery line and hope for the best.

Sgt B · 03-30-2023, 02:32 PM

New owner of a 2019 24D. I see that disconnect to the right of the gas pedal. Have not used it yet bc i have a question. When you use it to disconnect the chassis battery do you have to go back into the computer and reset everything each time?
S/F, Sgt B

Yooper2 · 03-31-2023, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt B

New owner of a 2019 24D. I see that disconnect to the right of the gas pedal. Have not used it yet bc i have a question. When you use it to disconnect the chassis battery do you have to go back into the computer and reset everything each time?
S/F, Sgt B

Jim, our Sprinter loses the clock and back-up camera functions when the battery is disconnected. It's relatively simple to reset these items. The primary "computer" functions are not lost.

Sgt B · 04-01-2023, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper2

Jim, our Sprinter loses the clock and back-up camera functions when the battery is disconnected. It's relatively simple to reset these items. The primary "computer" functions are not lost.

Thanks Bill, that's what I thought. I don;t think I will be shutting that switch off too often.

CharlesinGA · 04-05-2023, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt B

Thanks Bill, that's what I thought. I don;t think I will be shutting that switch off too often.

Oh, it will "shut itself off" in a couple of weeks, when the battery dies. Newer Sprinters have a huge vampire/parasitic draw on the battery when parked.

Charles