charging light on & weird behavior

[slsmag]

Hi -

A couple of weeks ago, after filling the tank in my '98 SL500, I watched as the gas gauge slowly dropped from full to empty and both yellow lights on the gauhe lit up. I figured the sender was shot and I'd fix it at a later date.

But today (after sitting for a couple of weeks) I went out and started the car up. The gas gauge was still not working, but she started just fine.

I pushed the button to lower the top and got the dreaded 'flashing' red light in the button and the top wouldn't lower.

I turned off the car, waited a few seconds and restarted... same thing, only this time the red charging system warning light was also on. Shut it down again.

Tried to start the car one more time and there wasn't enough juice to turn it over. Put it on a 2 AMP charger for an hour and then started it again - and the charging system light is still on. (man, do cars get pissed when you let them sit idle for a few weeks while drive something else!)

Any of these symptoms sound familiar or do I just limp it in to the shop? Alternator? ECU/ME unit? Battery?

Thanks,

- michael

[LeaUK]

If the car is running and you have the charging light on then this indicates that the alternator isn't charging the batt. This may explain why your battery is dead!