Wife driving to Missouri from Indiana got stranded at night.

She said that at first she couldn't get the windows down, then the cassette player sarted slowing down, then the ABS light came on, at the same time the heater somehow got turned on because the interior of the car got very hot!!.

Any way, after $55 for towing, a night at a motel, $45 for a voltage regulator and $55 for installation, we are a happy family again :)

If you are having similar symptoms, check your voltage regulator.

Thanks for the tip. With my 1983 300SD I got into the habit of plugging a Bescor voltmeter into the cigarette lighter plug. It reads 14-15 volts when the engine is running, reassuring me that the alternator is putting out some voltage and my battery won't be dead the next time I try to start the car.

Shortly after buying the car recently I had to clean off the battery terminals and ignition block connectors. The car had no power anywhere but the battery tested fine, excellent, in fact, because I had been charging it for the better part of a week. It tested 11 volts DC with a 200 amp draw at the local National Auto parts store. At least they were honest in not letting me buy a new battery.