What can tick you off faster than a repeat dead diesel battery???

Simple diagnostic tools save money.
The idea here is to connect this unit for a couple of days to find out what is going on, then remove the unit until needed again.
This unit will work on any 12V automobile.

Go to your local generic parts store.
Buy a gauge pack, volt and amp meter.
I have twenty five foot long wires on mine.
Make a simple cardboard box to protect the back of gauges, and wrap with duct tape for impact protection.
The volt meter leads should have colored clips, red for positive, black for negative, connect these to the battery.
Follow the directions with the amp meter to install.

There are many conditions where alternator charging must be checked, and this is a cheap tool to make.

After you use it a few times and understand what the readings mean, you will surprise people with your knowledge and skill.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I would actually advocate having a voltmeter permanently installed, as I find it to be the simplest way of "taking the temperature" of your charging system.

Whatever you choose, these are essential diagnostic tools when dealing with a vehicles electrical system.

Kevin

__________________
'85 300SD

Why doesn't MB put these gages in their cars as standard equipment? Why do they put in an idiot alternator light that doesn't signal the most common occurance of alternator failure: Worn out brushes?

P E H

I have had similar troubles with my 1989 bmw. What I did was I took apart and old cigarette plug adaptor from a cell phone and then wired it to the probes of my multimeter. This way I could easily test the battery voltage before starting.

Yes, two gauges I really wish they would put in these cars.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

I have a BEL radar detector that for some reason has a low voltage warning that triggers if it senses that condition. Seems like a silly idea until it saved a friend of mine whose alternator was dying, but not dead enough to show up on the idiot light (he has the same detector) Hey, if you need a detector you might as well get one that does a little more? RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K