How many of you have driven without the alternator/battery? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 12-05-2012, 08:32 AM

Hey everyone,

Prompted by my journey home last night I am curious as to how many of you have been in the same situation?

On my way to work yesterday about 30 min into my 1 hour drive my alternator dropped out. I've got a voltmeter in my glovebox and it read off 11V. I got to work, bought a new regulator.

On the way home it got progressively worse, even with keeping just the bare minimum running lights on. It got darker and started pouring so the headlights and wipers were called into duty.

By the time I was 15 minutes from home the batter voltage had dropped to 9V and the glow plug relay was evidently confused. It kicked on and sucked the power down to 5V. At 5V not much works. My climate control also was confused, it didn't understand OFF and kept the blower engaged.

But I made it home in one piece. Traded up for the 190E and will be installing the regulator tomorrow.

I'd bought the alternator off eBay. Took it down to Autozone and it tested fine. I clocked it when I went to install it. While I was re-assembling it I failed to realize the voltage regulator needed to be removed to successfully re-assemble until it was a bit late. I had already jammed the rotor shaft into the assembly a few times and probably damaged the brushes. Oh well. Lesson learned.

So have you been down this road before? I'm grateful that the diesel didn't need the battery/alternator.