Regarding the non-charging alternater...
I took your advice and replaced the VR, and she's back up to 14.4v

It was the easiest VR replacement I have ever done. nice design.

Hopefully the rest of the alternator will stay in service for another year or so. (bearings)

Wow, now I can use my head lights again!! whoopie!
It's the little things in life, that make a feller happy, my neighbors just don't understand....
(nor do my wife or kids for that matter...)

thanks again PEH,
(and the Diesel forum,and all the good folks who cheerfully contribute, and not to forget Phil at Fastlane who always goes out of his way for quality service and cust.satisfaction.),

dave

If PEH suggested it you can sleep well knowing that you did not miss some less expensive fix for the problem...

Heck, whenever I use a PEH fix, not only do I save money, but the Scottish Faeries of Frugality actually leave an envelope of cash afterwards, and I MAKE money. Doesn't that happen for you.

__________________
The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

YES, But I was afraid I was the only one... and was afraid to tell anyone, lest the fund get depleted....

I've used a PEH fix a time or two and no cash. What gives?

Do you think it's because I bought a set of them thar gin-yoo-wine Hazet valve adjustment wrenches instead of bending up some old Craftsman tools purchased at a garage sale?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

You are very perceptive.... you have to follow the entire PEH program... deductions are taken for wasting money on such things as the Hazet wrenches.... and particularly for changing more than one glowplug at a time....

Dave,

You didn't follow my instructions. I told you to replace the brushes, not the voltage regulator. You would have saved even more had you paid attention.

I replaced my brushes in my 300SD in 1991 and they are still working 120,000 miles later. I was in Alaska when the alternator stopped working and I got all the way home to PA before I replaced the brushes. Its probably time for another set of brushes soon.

Leather,

Actually, last I replaced 2 GP because 2 were bad. One may have been bad for sometime and when the 2nd one failed, the car wouldn't start when cold. Its still a mystery to me why it wouldn't start, seems it should have started on 3 cylinders, but the engine was completely dead, didn't even sputter. It started instantly after the GP transplant.

BUT, I only put in one NEW GP, I took the second GP from another engine. So I think it was OK to replace 2 that way.

P E H

PEH,
I was unable to carry out your precise instructions as I was unable to locate brushes anywhere.

After several days of not using any electrical accessories, fan, wipers, headlights, etc. (and tired of charging battery from a 50' extention cord)

I finally broke down and came out of pocket $18 bucks, but I don't regret it I tell ya.

LeathermanG, I just kwew you'd jump in on this one. You boyz had me in stitches! (but, you did'nt make any sense on your dip stick theory)

Dave, I freely admit that I do not know why those dip stick anomalies occur... I was just arguing that the other theory had some holes in it...

Dave,

Brushes are avail at MB dealer as a last resort. I tried Fastlane and PartsShop and they don't have them.

Get new brushes and install them in old your VR. YOU
might need them in 120,000 miles or, that new VR probably isn't a BOSCH and might not last as long as the original Bosch did.

I carry a spare VR with brushes.

P E H

Sure, that is a good idea.. but surely you don't suggest he part with the money for those brushes 100,000 miles early ... do you ?

Leather,

Sure I suggest he gets those brushes 100,000 miles early. Its his money, not mine.

P E H

Hey ! You don't cut us that kind of slack .... is this guy your nephew or something ?