Hi all, hope I haven't broken any guidelines by posting here straight away but I've got a problem.

Bought a 2001 Mercedes 220 CDi, 130k miles, for £3,000 about a month ago.

Last week, on the day it was due for a service, it wouldn't start. AA got me started and my mechanic tested battery and said it was fine.

But in with the service documents he noticed an invoice from earlier this year. It had been for tests because the battery was going flat overnight.

Previous owner had spent £120 on tests that found fault to instrument cluster showing 0.08 amp when disconnected. It was sent to Cluster Repairs UK who said it couldn't be repaired due to a software malfunction within the cluster that's keeping the CAN network alive. This is due to an external voltage surge.

After a few days without problems since the service, it now won't start.

Anyone got any ideas what I should do?

 

pull the fuse for the cluster and see if the battery still dies. also you said it won't start? you mean it wont crank?

 

It's completely dead like battery is flat. I can't even open boot using either key or button inside to release it.

I'm technically inept so would have to get mechanic to pull fuse out. Can you give more instructions on what it would tell me? Thanks.