Charge indicator light stays on until I start? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lindajane · #1 03-03-2005, 11:17 PM

Hello there,
Long time no question. Now I have one...
I just went out to start my 1983 300D.
When I turn the key to the position where the charge light goes out, the light doesn't go out. The car will start, but the light doesn't go out until I start the car.?...and then I shut the car off, and the charge indicator light came on, and my car ran for 15 seconds or so after I turned it off...
I just want to run one block to the store....what is going on?
Thanks
Lindajane

Dervman · #2 03-04-2005, 12:56 AM

What do you mean by "Charge Light"?

If you are talking about the Red light that shows if the Alternator is charging or not, then what you have described is OK. That light will stay on until the engine is started and then go out. If you stop the engine but leave the ignition in the ON position this light will come back on.

Or are you referring to the Orange Glow Plug light that is lit when you turn the key to position 2 and after it goes out you start the engine? If this is staying on until after you start the engine, then you may have a problem with your Glow Plug Relay.

Not sure why it is taking 15 seconds for your engine to stop. That sounds like a vacuum shut-off problem and probably isn't related to the glow plug relay.

lindajane · #3 03-04-2005, 12:59 AM

I'm too embarrassed to say what happened....I think the brake pad light came on and I got confused. I have had the car for almost 2 years, and all of a sudden, I'm looking at the wrong lights!

Jimmy Joe · #4 03-04-2005, 04:30 AM

Unless,
if the alt light stays on when you start the car, but dims or even goes out as you rev it, then when you come to a stop (low engine rpms) it comes back on....well then you have voltage regulator/alternator problems.

Johnhef · #5 03-04-2005, 11:37 PM

I've got no problems (that I know of) with battery or alternator and such, but everytime I start mine, the alternator and brake pad light stay on untill I rev the car, then they go off. Doesn't matter if the car idles 15 minutes, the two lights stay on until the first acceleration.

dieseldiehard · #6 03-05-2005, 12:34 AM

Johnhef You may have a slipping alternator belt! BTDT.
Be sure its tight and see if that goes away.

Johnhef · #7 03-05-2005, 07:17 AM

I think I had replaced the belts on this car... maybe not- Its hard to keep track anymore

Johnhef · #8 03-12-2005, 02:17 PM

update: the belts wern't replaced on this car, but are in good condition and are tight, still got the lights everytime I start it though. Doesn't seem to affect operation. I don't think the car did this when I first bought it.

TonyFromWestOz · #9 03-13-2005, 10:03 AM

Check the brushes on the alrernator regulator. I have read of similar problem when the brushes were nearly worn out. No charge at idle, charge lamp dims with increasing RPM. Eventually dies completely.

rg2098 · #10 03-13-2005, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyFromWestOz

Check the brushes on the alrernator regulator. I have read of similar problem when the brushes were nearly worn out. No charge at idle, charge lamp dims with increasing RPM. Eventually dies completely.

I would check here as well first, its free todo and fairly easy. You can tell if there is "meat" left on the brushes by the amount it springs out when you take the 2 screws out.

Jimmy Joe · #11 03-13-2005, 11:40 AM

You can get those puppys for $20!
Mine did the same thing, when I had a failing IP shutoff, it would take the motor a long time to die; rattling and shaking terribly. I think the extra vibration killed it, as it was fairly new. Put in a new one, fixed the problem.

Johnhef · #12 03-13-2005, 02:04 PM

I hadn't thought it might not be charging when I first start it, due to the fact the brake wear indicator comes on -and goes out- with the battery light. It doesn't get faint at all, its just on when I start it, then off the rest of the time.

Johnhef · #13 03-18-2005, 08:29 PM

Yep, I'm going to change out the voltage regulator and see what happens. Funny, I don't have any starting problems with the car, in cold weather or otherwise, and its putting out 12.1V when I start it up. At higher RPM I get to about 13.4V but with the stereo, amps and A/C on, it won't even crack 13.

I do have the large MB VRLA battery in it though...

Veloce300DT · #14 03-19-2005, 12:36 AM

I noticed some symptoms on my 300D that may be related to the items discussed in this thread-

Every now and then at night time when I have my headlights on and im at idle- either in drive at a stop or in park, all of the exterior lights flicker very lightly.... they dont flicker on and off, but they seem to decrease and increase in briightness on a pulsating manner... at the same time when this is happening with the exterior lights, if I open any of the doors and trigger the dome light, or turn on the dome light, it decreases and increases in brightness as well. I havent thought too much about it though (these symptoms have been coming and going... it doesnt do this all the time.) HOWEVER, about a week ago I was driving at night and as soon as I started to open my sunroof the headlights dimmed, and my CD player shut off. As soon as I let off of the sunroof button, the headlights returned to a normal brightness level and the CD player resumed its operation.

Seems like I am having a power drain somewhere? The batter is about 2 months old, and the alternator light isnt coming on... anybody have any ideas?

Johnhef · #15 03-19-2005, 12:46 AM

from time to time my 560 does this exact same thing, very noticably. I bought a voltage regulator for it but haven't had the time to put it in. It should fix the problem.

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