Tools Needed
Replacing the battery on a Mercedes-Benz W201 is a simple task that can be completed with just a few basic tools. To remove the battery on a 190E or 190D, a set of metric drivers will be useful. The nuts that secure the battery bracket and battery terminals are 10mm and 13mm nuts. The nut on the battery bracket is in a tight location, so a ratchet with an extension is useful.
- Ratchet for 10mm and 13mm nuts
- Ratchet extension for 10mm nut
Tutorial Compatibility
In this tutorial, we explain how to remove and replace the battery on a Mercedes-Benz W201 190E or 190D. This tutorial is relevant to all Mercedes-Benz W201 models:
- Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 (1984-1993)
- Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 (1986-1987)
- Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.6 (1987-1993)
- Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.2 (1984-1986)
- Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo (1987)
- Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 (1987-1991)
Mercedes-Benz W201 190E and 190D: Battery Replacement Tutorial
Watch our quick TikTok video on how to remove the battery on a Mercedes 190E and follow the text tutorial below.
@mercedesblogger How to replace the battery on a Mercedes 190E W201 #mercedesbenz #classicmercedes #w201 #190e #190emercedes ♬ original sound – mercedesblogger
The Mercedes-Benz W201 had an anti-theft feature on it that will require you to have a code to reset the radio after power loss. When the radio loses power (either by theft or battery removal), it will need this code to begin working again. You will not be able to use the radio until the code is inputted. Ensure that you have this code before completing this process. If you have lost the code, a representative at a Mercedes-Benz dealership can help you retrieve it.
- Begin by pulling the hood release lever in the driver’s side foot well. The hood latch will release, and then on the front grille a hood release handle will pop out. This handle can be pulled to fully open the hood. An interesting feature on the Mercedes W201 is the ability to open the hood to a full upright position. There is a clip on the hood strut that will allow you to open it fully.
- Next, locate the battery. On both a 190E and 190D, the battery is located on the left side of the engine bay near the cowl.
- To the left of the battery at the base of it, you will find a bracket with a single nut on it. This nut will either be a 10mm nut. It is a bit tricky to reach, as it is a tight space that won’t allow you to fit a wrench into. Using a ratchet with an extension will be the best way to reach this nut. Once the nut is removed, you can take the bracket off. The arrow below indicated the space where you will find the battery bracket.
- The next step is to loosen the battery terminal nuts. These will be 13mm nuts. It is best to wear safety glasses and gloves while performing this step. Begin with the negative terminal, which is typically black in color and will have a negative symbol or say “negative.” You don’t need to completely remove this nut, just loosen it enough to take the terminal off of the battery. Repeat this process for the positive terminal. The positive terminal is typically red in color and will have a plus symbol or say “positive.” Be cautious and do not allow the two terminals to touch each other.
- Once the terminals are removed, you can take the battery out by lifting it from the bottom. These batteries may be heavy, and they have hazardous material inside them. Be sure that when lifting and transporting the battery it is kept upright.
- When installing a new battery on your Mercedes W201, the same process can be followed in reverse. Don’t forget that after restoring power to the vehicle, your radio will not work without entering the anti-theft code. This code can be found in your owner’s manual. If you do not have the manual, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer or the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center with your VIN number and proof of ownership to retrieve your W201’s anti-theft code.