Finally got some time and some daylight to examine the Benz this morning. Sure a ****, the is NO GROUND strap anywhere from the block to the body, much less the block to the battery. Aha! Eureka! Will the engine still be grounded to the batt? Maybe yes, but probably not, and almost certainly not in the way that the alternator needs to "see" it. Could be the car never had one, could be that it rotted away during my car's 12 year storage slumber. At any rate, good diagnostic advice on this SIG, and thanks to all who helped.

And since it's been on my mind these last couple of weeks, I think I'm going to install a traditional amp gauge in the car. Maybe in one of the heater vents, or maybe in the console somewhere where it can be easily removed if I want to keep the car stock. This problem (and expense) could have been greatly simplified with a regular old gauge. They don't call the idiot lights for nothin'.

Kip Amore