Okay folks,
I try not to bag on places too much, but this really got my goat tonight.
I was going to replace the voltage regulator on the alternator on my 1999 W210 Turbodiesel.
I was able to loosen the 13mm nut, though it was rather tight.
I was unable to loosen the 10mm nut, the shaft upon which it threads was turning.
The terminal eye lug broke while trying to loosen the 10mm nut.
I found that the plastic covering, that holds the (now turning) shaft had broken from the ham-fisted over-tightening that I has been installed with. This nut only requires 4 Nm or torque, I had to use a second wrench to hold the shaft and about 15-18 Nm to brake it loose. It's a wonder the shaft didn't brake.
I will test the alternator to see if it charges within spec tomorrow, and then I will need to replace the terminal end and re-mount alternator and replace all of the stuff I had to remove to get it out.
1 hour job turns into multi-day due to the crap I have to put up with both a previous mechanic's incompetence and poor design.
