Jim Cathey wrote:
I vote alternator as I don't know how you would be measuring 320mA for an _internal_ battery short (a common failure mode), so my best guess is a bad diode in the alternator. This is a nice double whammy as it also prevents the alternator from charging properly. Glow plug relay is also separately fused. Alternator and GP relay are both easy to unplug, leaving only the starter as a final suspect.
I unplugged the harness for the GP relay, and the current draw did not change, so I think that rules that out. The alternator still charges the battery just fine, though. Tomorrow afternoon's first troubleshooting step will be to remove the connection on the alternator.
You might also check for auxiliary fuses, you could have missed some. Various MB's can have a basket-load of them, particularly the ones in the 70's.
I'll consult the ETM further to check on this. -- John L. Ervine 1981 240D 4-spd 268+kmi 1980 300TD 170+kmi 1980 300SD 277+kmi 1977 280S 4-spd 80+kmi
