1981 w123 230E, charging problem
 

Hi,

I've got a 1981 230E with about 137,000 miles on the clock. It is a European model with a four-speed manual transmission.

I have been experiencing problems with the charging system for the past couple of weeks: Every so often the car won't start, it either turns over realllly slowly and doesn't fire or it simply clicks. All signs point to a dead battery which I replaced but that didn't fix it.

Here's the catch: I found out that if I push the car for a few yards and try starting it again there's a good chance that it will turn over and fire like if nothing was wrong.

With the engine running at idle, the alternator sends 13.5 volts to the battery.

Can anyone shed some light on this problem? I'm a little lost.

Thanks!

No idea, but thanks for the link to ranwhenparked.net.

Makes no sense to me. What happens if you just wait out the period that it would take you to push it?

It doesn't start. Giving it a jump will start it, though.

It's an odd problem that I've never encountered on a car before but I feel like I am overlooking something very obvious. All of the connections are tight, etc. It's annoying because it's preventing me from using the car more regularly.

I just posted about the same problem yesterday......all ignition and fuel components (most) are new. I also replaced my tensioner prior.....I checked yesterday and my belt was somewhat loose, I tightened it, hopefully that fixes it. Try checking the belt for tightness also check the voltage regulator and have alternator tested.

I read your problem (I did a search before posting) but it's not the same thing - your issue appears to be caused by heat.

How about try giving the starter solenoid a whack when it fails. Contacts there going bad, perhaps? Has nothing to do with pushing it, but then, nothing would, it seems to me....

I'll give that a shot, thanks.

I'll hopefully take it to an empty parking lot this weekend so I can try to diagnose the problem in a controlled environment without being in the way of other people - not at the gas station with a woman in a Renault making rude hand gestures because I'm blocking her pump.