The battery in my one year old GLA 250 seem to deplete very quickly. Mercedes service says it's normal if I don't drive long distances often. Is this the case?
Lyn
Welcome to the forum.
Yes. The battery recharges via the alternator when driving (typically around 14 VDC provided). Long periods of stagnancy and/or only occasional short drives can deplete the battery. If you know you'll not be driving for an extended period it's prudent to attach a smart battery tender. I actually attach a tender periodically just to help reverse/stave off sulfation, but that's another subject.
Due to COVID pandemic far less travel many of us found our batteries were being depleted.
btw: The main 12V battery in our 2018 FWD died at almost exactly one year post-delivery. But that was determined to be a latent defect in its manufacture and was replaced under warranty. Our 2018 AWD is still on its OE main battery. Both are still on their OE Aux li-ion batteries and still viable as evidenced by auto start/stop provision.
What is the model year of your GLA250? I ask as you cited "one year old" (MY2022/2023?) but posted in the 2014-2019 model year section.
Original Equipment (OE) Battery?
Always good to provide as much insight of your own as possible when asking for forum insight.
Yes. The battery recharges via the alternator when driving (typically around 14 VDC provided). Long periods of stagnancy and/or only occasional short drives can deplete the battery. If you know you'll not be driving for an extended period it's prudent to attach a smart battery tender. I actually attach a tender periodically just to help reverse/stave off sulfation, but that's another subject.
Due to COVID pandemic far less travel many of us found our batteries were being depleted.
btw: The main 12V battery in our 2018 FWD died at almost exactly one year post-delivery. But that was determined to be a latent defect in its manufacture and was replaced under warranty. Our 2018 AWD is still on its OE main battery. Both are still on their OE Aux li-ion batteries and still viable as evidenced by auto start/stop provision.
What is the model year of your GLA250? I ask as you cited "one year old" (MY2022/2023?) but posted in the 2014-2019 model year section.
Original Equipment (OE) Battery?
Always good to provide as much insight of your own as possible when asking for forum insight.
Thanks Huey.
I must have inadvertently posted in the 2014-2019 model year section.
Mine is a 2022 model. I do drive it everyday but not for long distances. When I complained to Mercedes, they asked me to get a charger trickler. A charger trickler for a brand new car? Does the GLA have 2 batteries?
I must have inadvertently posted in the 2014-2019 model year section.
Mine is a 2022 model. I do drive it everyday but not for long distances. When I complained to Mercedes, they asked me to get a charger trickler. A charger trickler for a brand new car? Does the GLA have 2 batteries?
Daily driving is generally good for overall vehicle "exercise" but if only for short distances it may over time be insufficient to keep the battery well charged. Modern vehicle electronics are always on to some degree and therefore constantly battery draining. Only a bit but again aggregate over time your short drives may be insufficient.
btw: Short drives may also produce more carbon buildup as each cold start of the engine is fuel "rich" which leans out over a longer drive.
For overall vehicle health it's therefore better if you can periodically do some longer drives.
"Trickle charger" typically denotes an ol' school "dumb" charger so be sure to get a modern "smart" Battery Tender. Probably just your dealer's/locale's semantics tho'.
Yes two, the GLA has the main 12V Lead-acid battery, typically in an absorbent glass mat (AGM) packaging which is higher quality than more standard types. However still not necessarily what is considered a "deep cycle" type.
The other 12V battery is a small Li-ion type which usually resides under-behind the glove box, near the cabin air filter. Its primary purpose is to handle engine auto start/stop functions.
Both batteries are recharged by the alternator when the engine is running.
Much prior discussion here (easily searched), especially related to pandemic lesser driving, so will leave it there.
What Huey said!!!
The situation is further aggravated by parasitic losses (lots of computers these days that stay powered up for monitoring things like keyless entry) as well as "intelligent" charging that controls when the alternator is charging (or isn't).
The situation is further aggravated by parasitic losses (lots of computers these days that stay powered up for monitoring things like keyless entry) as well as "intelligent" charging that controls when the alternator is charging (or isn't).
Just speculation, but I always click the key fob to lock the doors whenever i park the vehicle overnight (garaged) as that might possibly result in less trickle (parasitic) drain on the battery.
But of course thereafter keep the key fob a good distance from the vehicle to curtail its intercommunication with the vehicle. That more wears the fob battery but also another potential vehicle parasitic drain. Also a very minor item, but a sum of the parts situation.
Reminds me that I have far too many electronics status lights around the home. All LED, but still ….
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