This has been an enlightening thread.

I think I should have checked my bulbs before buying the new alternator last month. But, my original was 11 years old with worn down brushes so maybe it was time.

The bulb issue and “boot up” Bill mentions makes a ton of sense. I had no idea a working idiot light was actually necessary for a functional charging system. Btw my bulbs always worked. I had measured the low charging voltage before blipping with a meter at the battery.

On my todo now is put in a new charge light bulb. And, check my ground straps...I haven’t looked at the tranny one in a few years. I remember it was the wire rope type on the SD. I guess it’s cheap insurance to just get new ones.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles