SEC won't start!! Baffled. Help?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jim B. · #1 05-08-2006, 02:14 AM

Coming home last night, noticed the electric windows went up much more slowly than usual. ABS light winked on for a second. (Years ago it went on continually, turned out to be a dirty sensor.) Is this one of those things where car is trying to "warn" me the electric delivery system is failing Like when I was helping a Chicago ebayer get a W116 300SD, and on the way home the turn signals slowed down etc ?)

Next morning it WOULD NOT turn over at all. What happened? Lights still come on, clock still works. Any ideas before I put on the trickle charger?

Could it be the alternator isn't recharging the battery as I was driving?
New battery 11/03, at about 9000 miles ago. Time for another?

Note, my mileage has been really low (about 3000 miles in the last year) and sometimes I only use the car once a week. And I know the car needs more highway time.

Once it is running I will drive it to a shop, and get caught up, have the brrake
fluid flushed, AT fluid flushed, sunroof greased, maybe. Seems right now the service is going to have to be TIME related, not mileage related, because of the low miles the car is getting. Sub. Outback seems OK for just going to the market etc

This is my first request ever for help. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks!! I will attend to it on Tuesday

Arthur Dalton · #2 05-08-2006, 08:26 AM

Low voltage condition..

Charge the battery and when you get it to your Indy, tell him you would like to have the charging system checked and a "load test" done on the battery...........

jhodg5ck · #3 05-08-2006, 09:53 AM

You could also pull your voltage regulator and have a look..common item to wear out/fail w/ use.

Jonathan

dpkreuze · #4 05-08-2006, 12:54 PM

Voltage regulator's got my vote.

Jim B. · #5 05-10-2006, 10:50 PM

Load test showed charging system OK and 2.5 year old battery OK; Typical, after a 30 min trickle charge at home, car started just fine. Like going to the Doctor and it doesn't hurt anymore

So the mechannic pulled the voltage regulator out, and sure enough, brushes on it (the original) were worn, so put in a new one, and everything just great.

You guys were spot on.

THANKS!!!!

The car will get rewarded with a new headliner for this next month!

Jim

jhodg5ck · #6 05-11-2006, 07:54 AM

Excellent...! Hope the VR was replaced w/ a Bosch unit and not a KAE..

As for the headliner, have you priced them out as of late? A lot of the colours are NLA as well....

Unless your fabric is stained I would recomend you remove and the re-attach the fabric the old head board.. The factory new headliners are not any better then the originals (no improvement to the glue used)..

Jonathan

Jim B. · #7 05-11-2006, 03:16 PM

Yeah, thanks for your help. Yes it was a Bosch in a yellow box.

Guy knows what he is doing. The car runs sweet! I amvery happy, except passing gas stations

Price up to 3.57 for Chevron/techron Supreme, and that has ALWAYS been the car's diet

As to the headliner, he is simply going to replace the whole thing, even the sunroof piece. We found a fabric (non MB that is pretty close, and except forr the rear vinyl piece above the window, found that matching black cloth will probably be just as good.

He is going on vacation, so car is going in on June 1, for a 2 day job. It is going to cost about $650. Semms like a good trim shop, successful and pretty busy but not cheap, and "he never did a Mercedes before." Gulp

Anyway I thought about it and pulled the trigger. I hope it works.

Thanks mucho for your interest.

Jim