Battery - Parasitic Drain With Ignition OFF

REF. No. MBNA 54/30a

To: OUR MERCEDES-BENZ PASSENGER CAR DEALERS

DATE: February 1990
(supersedes MBNA 54/30, Jan. '90)

SUBJECT:
REST CURRENT DRAW FROM BATTERY (IGNITION OFF)
MODEL 129

Note:
The reference S.I. (last paragraph) changed to MBNA 54/22.

When a vehicle is parked or kept in storage for an extended period of time, the rest current (continuous current draw for all models) is 25-35 mA. In Model R129, however, the roll bar control unit and the radio continue to draw currents as follows:

1. Roll bar: both seatbelts buckled 400 mA for 1 hour
one seatbelt buckled 380 mA for 1 hour
both seatbelt unbuckled 360 mA for 1 hour

2. Radio: with ignition key in steering lock 200 mA continuously

Due to item 2, it is extremely important to always remove the ignition key from the steering lock when the vehicle is parked.

In addition we would like to remind you that batteries of vehicles in dealer stock (all models) must be checked and recharged monthly according to established procedures (refer to S.I. MBNA 54/22).