[W126 Coupe] Electrical Problem - bad ground?

[Dawid Loubser]

Ah, I also have the "flickering at a stop" problem, so this is likely  
it I presume. I'll hunt down a DC volt meter here
at work somewhere, and then go have a look. Can I order the regulator  
separately from Mercedes-Benz, or must
I find that somewhere else? (I guess online is no good to me if this  
something which will become a problem quickly,
the SEC is my daily driver, and things take ages to ship to here).

Thanks for the help,
Dawid

On 19 Jun 2008, at 1:30 nm., Markus Meyer wrote:


> Dawid,

>

> My car started and ran fine too.  I just noticed the lights a  

> little dimmer than I expected at times, or almost lightly  

> "flickering" at a stop.  Depends on how far you drive.  The  

> alternator on my RV recently went bad, but I still drove it home  

> fine over half an hour.  Depends how much juice is left in the  

> battery.  I conked out in my SEC when the alternator went bad but  

> it made it all the way to work (half an hour) and almost all the  

> way home.  In that case, I started shutting things off (lights,  

> radio, etc) so I ran without using much electrical stuff.

>

> To test voltage, connect voltmeter to the battery.  Without car  

> started, this gives you the voltage of the battery alone, should be  

> 12 or above I believe.  Then start the car and read the value again  

> - should be between 13-14.  If lower, it shows the alternator isn't  

> charging the battery properly.

>

> Markus Meyer

> mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com

> http://www.meyerprobateproperties.com/

> Meyer Probate & Properties, LLC

> 484-919-9762

>

> -------- Original Message --------

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Electrical Problem - bad ground?

> From: Dawid Loubser <dawidl at solms.co.za>

> Date: Thu, June 19, 2008 7:05 am

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>

> Thank you markus, I will do that. Most fuses have been replaced in  

> the past

> 2 years, so I doubt it's that, but it's worth a look. The Voltage  

> Regulator on the

> alternator sounds a better bet - but would that not preclude the  

> battery from being

> charged properly? As I said, it's guaranteed that the battery is  

> definitely being charged,

> she starts fine every time within less than a second of turning the  

> starter motor.

>

> Excuse the ignorance, but where is the best place to test voltage  

> on the running car?

>

>

> On 19 Jun 2008, at 12:34 nm., Markus Meyer wrote:

>

>> David,

>>

>> Just to be sure, I'd check voltage anyway - first with car off to  

>> test resting voltage of the battery, then with car running to test  

>> the alternator output.  I had something similar on one of my SELs  

>> and the voltage regulator on the alternator was bad.  Replaced  

>> that and all is well.   If both those test prove fine, the next  

>> thing I'd do is start checking fuses, or possibly replace them all  

>> if you don't know the last time it was done.  Lots of electrical  

>> gremlins have been solved by swapping fuses with the newer style  

>> ones, especially if what you have in there are originals.

>>

>> Markus Meyer

>> mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com

>> www.meyerprobateproperties.com

>> Meyer Probate & Properties, LLC

>> 484-919-9762

>>

>>

>

> -------- Original Message --------

> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Electrical Problem - bad ground?

> From: Dawid Loubser <dawidl at solms.co.za>

> Date: Thu, June 19, 2008 3:14 am

> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>

> Hi All,

>

> My SEC started developing a subtle but strange problem a couple of

> days ago (it may have co-incided with

> the attempted theft of my vehicle two weeks ago, but let's not go

> there - suffice it to say that I live in

> South Africa, crime capital of the crime continent of the world).

>

> When I step on the brake pedal, the headlights and interior lights

> dim ever so slightly. Even when the turn signal

> is activated, all lights go slightly dimmer in tune with it. This is

> a subtle problem, but it worries me.

>

> My car starts fine, every time (fairly new battery) and the low

> voltage warning light in the car does not light

> up. What could the problem be? I was thinking of taking the car to an

> auto electrician, but I'd first of all

> give it a go myself if you have some insight for me. I can't imagine

> this being an alternator problem, as

> then my battery would be running down - but for more than a week like

> this, I have not had any problems

> starting my car.

>

> thank you,

> Dawid

>

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