Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
Well now the mech tells her that he has poked around and it has confounded him. He found that the glow plug relay stays on for some period after the car starts, which he somehow thinks is causing the battery to run down. Some mention was made of a red wire coming from a box going to short, but I am not sure which red wire or box. The girl was going to find out, and take the car to the Benz shop next door. It is clear the guy is not familiar with the car, guess I can't blame him. The GPR is fairly new as are the glow plugs, so I doubt if that is the problem. And even if it does stay on awhile that would not drain the battery, unless it is stuck even with the key off, somehow. She says the light comes on, so that should be OK -- in any case I don't think that would drain the battery. I gotta get this other car sorted and get it up to her and get this one back. --R On 8/8/13 9:34 PM, Scott Ritchey wrote: I don't know the year/model but these alternators have only two connections: One or two heavy wires that go to the battery + terminal (maybe via the starter or a junction block) and a smaller wire for the idiot light. In some models the alternator needs a trickle of current through the idiot light to get the alternator started. In other words, if the charge idiot light doesn't come on with the key in run the alternator may not charge. So I'd first insure that light comes on when the key is first turned to on or glow (assuming a charged battery). Going that, you probably need a real mechanic unless daughter unit fancies herself to be one. By the way, almost any FLAPS will test the alternator in or out of the car. Scott -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rich Thomas Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 11:50 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem Kinda funny, there is one like 2 doors down from her new apartment. I might send her there. She had this guy do the alternator a coupla weeks ago before she moved so that is why I told her to go back there. I'm thinking that might not have been the actual problem, maybe a bad wire or connection or short or something. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 7, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
You need to get it away from that mechanic before he has your harness cut, spliced and f'ed up. He has no clue what he is doing. The glow plugs should do that. They have in every one I have owned. Garages these days! Can't even find one around here that can balance tires right. Literally, weights fell off the last time. Mike On Aug 9, 2013 10:12 AM, Rich Thomas richthomas79td...@constructivity.net wrote: Well now the mech tells her that he has poked around and it has confounded him. He found that the glow plug relay stays on for some period after the car starts, which he somehow thinks is causing the battery to run down. Some mention was made of a red wire coming from a box going to short, but I am not sure which red wire or box. The girl was going to find out, and take the car to the Benz shop next door. It is clear the guy is not familiar with the car, guess I can't blame him. The GPR is fairly new as are the glow plugs, so I doubt if that is the problem. And even if it does stay on awhile that would not drain the battery, unless it is stuck even with the key off, somehow. She says the light comes on, so that should be OK -- in any case I don't think that would drain the battery. I gotta get this other car sorted and get it up to her and get this one back. --R On 8/8/13 9:34 PM, Scott Ritchey wrote: I don't know the year/model but these alternators have only two connections: One or two heavy wires that go to the battery + terminal (maybe via the starter or a junction block) and a smaller wire for the idiot light. In some models the alternator needs a trickle of current through the idiot light to get the alternator started. In other words, if the charge idiot light doesn't come on with the key in run the alternator may not charge. So I'd first insure that light comes on when the key is first turned to on or glow (assuming a charged battery). Going that, you probably need a real mechanic unless daughter unit fancies herself to be one. By the way, almost any FLAPS will test the alternator in or out of the car. Scott -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-bounces@**okiebenz.commercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rich Thomas Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 11:50 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem Kinda funny, there is one like 2 doors down from her new apartment. I might send her there. She had this guy do the alternator a coupla weeks ago before she moved so that is why I told her to go back there. I'm thinking that might not have been the actual problem, maybe a bad wire or connection or short or something. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 7, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com __**_ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.comhttp://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
It is normal for newer (pencil-style) glow plugs to stay on for a couple minutes after engine start. This produces smoother and cleaner idle until the engine warms up. On older cars (like my 82)the alternator isn't big enough to supply all the load for those few minutes so some battery discharge occurs but it is quickly recharged in a mile or two. But it is quite possible for the glow logic to stick or fail, which would drain the battery even with a good alternator. A couple voltage checks at the battery would be in order. Like I mentioned, a free quick check at Autozone, Advanced, Pep, etc. will tell you if the alternator and battery are working right. They have a cart they wheel out to your car and it only takes 10 minutes if they aren't busy. -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rich Thomas Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 10:12 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem Well now the mech tells her that he has poked around and it has confounded him. He found that the glow plug relay stays on for some period after the car starts, which he somehow thinks is causing the battery to run down. Some mention was made of a red wire coming from a box going to short, but I am not sure which red wire or box. The girl was going to find out, and take the car to the Benz shop next door. It is clear the guy is not familiar with the car, guess I can't blame him. The GPR is fairly new as are the glow plugs, so I doubt if that is the problem. And even if it does stay on awhile that would not drain the battery, unless it is stuck even with the key off, somehow. She says the light comes on, so that should be OK -- in any case I don't think that would drain the battery. I gotta get this other car sorted and get it up to her and get this one back. --R On 8/8/13 9:34 PM, Scott Ritchey wrote: I don't know the year/model but these alternators have only two connections: One or two heavy wires that go to the battery + terminal (maybe via the starter or a junction block) and a smaller wire for the idiot light. In some models the alternator needs a trickle of current through the idiot light to get the alternator started. In other words, if the charge idiot light doesn't come on with the key in run the alternator may not charge. So I'd first insure that light comes on when the key is first turned to on or glow (assuming a charged battery). Going that, you probably need a real mechanic unless daughter unit fancies herself to be one. By the way, almost any FLAPS will test the alternator in or out of the car. Scott -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rich Thomas Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 11:50 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem Kinda funny, there is one like 2 doors down from her new apartment. I might send her there. She had this guy do the alternator a coupla weeks ago before she moved so that is why I told her to go back there. I'm thinking that might not have been the actual problem, maybe a bad wire or connection or short or something. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 7, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
I had the glow plug relay in my Volvo TD stick, and it would run the battery down while driving with the headlights on! They draw 80 amps, as a rule, and that's a BIG drain on the alternator. Benz shop is the place to take it. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
I don't know the year/model but these alternators have only two connections: One or two heavy wires that go to the battery + terminal (maybe via the starter or a junction block) and a smaller wire for the idiot light. In some models the alternator needs a trickle of current through the idiot light to get the alternator started. In other words, if the charge idiot light doesn't come on with the key in run the alternator may not charge. So I'd first insure that light comes on when the key is first turned to on or glow (assuming a charged battery). Going that, you probably need a real mechanic unless daughter unit fancies herself to be one. By the way, almost any FLAPS will test the alternator in or out of the car. Scott -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rich Thomas Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 11:50 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem Kinda funny, there is one like 2 doors down from her new apartment. I might send her there. She had this guy do the alternator a coupla weeks ago before she moved so that is why I told her to go back there. I'm thinking that might not have been the actual problem, maybe a bad wire or connection or short or something. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 7, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
The daughter unit is using the Mamabenz for awhile. A coupla weeks ago the battery went dead. She gets it to the shop she uses, he says the alternator is bad, sends it to the alternator shop. I told them to just replace the regulator, which they did, A-OK. They also swapped in a new Interstate battery at no cost, which was not very old, said it was showing low ooomf. Good enough. So a coupla days ago, battery is dead, no starty. She gets a jump, runs fine no problem, starts a few times OK then battery goes dead again. Gets it back to her shop, they send it to the alt shop who say after some fooling around that there is one wire from the alternator, which if they remove it from the 4-wire box everything is fine. But they do not go further to see why that wire is a problem. They send it back to the mech who says he will try to trace it and figure out what is wrong. He would try to find a wiring diagram. I told the girl to find out which wire from which box is bad, i.e., what color wire. If I can find the wiring diagram on the 126 CD somewhere I can try to figure out where it is going, and go out and look at the other SD and see what it might be. Problem is I can't find a wiring diagram on the CD -- I am guessing there should be one on there, right? I found a junction box chapter (54-110) but no schematic. Anyone have ideas re: The Wire and The Schematic? --R ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
I found the wiring diagrams hidden in ETM (an incredibly intuitive location) named 126td83-85.pdf which might or might not assist. I am not sure what the guy meant by 4 wires coming from a box, it must not be the alternator circuit as there are only 3 wires shown. --R On 8/7/13 4:59 PM, Rich Thomas wrote: The daughter unit is using the Mamabenz for awhile. A coupla weeks ago the battery went dead. She gets it to the shop she uses, he says the alternator is bad, sends it to the alternator shop. I told them to just replace the regulator, which they did, A-OK. They also swapped in a new Interstate battery at no cost, which was not very old, said it was showing low ooomf. Good enough. So a coupla days ago, battery is dead, no starty. She gets a jump, runs fine no problem, starts a few times OK then battery goes dead again. Gets it back to her shop, they send it to the alt shop who say after some fooling around that there is one wire from the alternator, which if they remove it from the 4-wire box everything is fine. But they do not go further to see why that wire is a problem. They send it back to the mech who says he will try to trace it and figure out what is wrong. He would try to find a wiring diagram. I told the girl to find out which wire from which box is bad, i.e., what color wire. If I can find the wiring diagram on the 126 CD somewhere I can try to figure out where it is going, and go out and look at the other SD and see what it might be. Problem is I can't find a wiring diagram on the CD -- I am guessing there should be one on there, right? I found a junction box chapter (54-110) but no schematic. Anyone have ideas re: The Wire and The Schematic? --R ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 300SD battery/alternator problem
Kinda funny, there is one like 2 doors down from her new apartment. I might send her there. She had this guy do the alternator a coupla weeks ago before she moved so that is why I told her to go back there. I'm thinking that might not have been the actual problem, maybe a bad wire or connection or short or something. --R (sent from my miniPad) On Aug 7, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: You need for her to find a real mechanic, this isn't rocket science, but it's obviously out of the current mechanic's area of expertise. Look for an independent Benz mechanic. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
