I have owned an astonishingly trouble-free 1993 300sd for over a year now, and I think I may have developed my first "140" electrical issue. This is, of course, coincidentally occurring as I'm considering selling the car and keeping my recently-acquired '87 SDL. I've used the search to look for people with similar experiences, but could find nothing that matches mine. Here's what happens:

I start the car. She idles for a few seconds while I turn on the A/C, radio, lights, what have you. Then, I shift into reverse, foot on the brake. At this point, the battery light illuminates, then quickly fades (not turns off, but fades), the engine speed "hiccups," the A/C shuts off for a moment, the instrument cluster resets, then all returns to normal. This happens only at startup after the car has sat for at least an hour or so. I have no other electrical issues, instrument cluster issues, A/C issues, etc.

What do you think is happening?

Thanks,

DL

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1995 E300 146,000 miles "Celia"--sold
1993 300sd 131,000 miles "Konstanze"--with Mom in Tampa
1987 300sdl 225,000 miles "Frau Grau"
1980 300sd 164,000 miles "Old Yeller"--sold

Check the connections at the battery, happened to me once, it turned out to be a loose ground wire. Problem solved.

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

But not at the battery, as I discovered. I had blown a fog lamp and had removed the old bulb in anticipation of the delivery of a new one. Seems I didn't remove it properly (I left the cloth-insulated wire on the fog lamp prong--it separated from the bulb) and caused a bit of confusion to the electrical system in my dear Konstanze.

Funny how sensitive these 140s are!

DL

__________________
1995 E300 146,000 miles "Celia"--sold
1993 300sd 131,000 miles "Konstanze"--with Mom in Tampa
1987 300sdl 225,000 miles "Frau Grau"
1980 300sd 164,000 miles "Old Yeller"--sold