This morning it was really cold in New York around 9 degrees .My car started to make a strange noise from the engine.I thought it was just the cold causing this but the "battery charge warning " came on . I call my local MB service tech and was asked if I saw the neg and pos symbols when I answered yes he seemed to get excited and started telling me about the alternator might be bad. On the way home with car the warning kept flashing battery charge, then the abs brakes warning came on, then the srs warning, and the asr warning came on and then the fss display went totally blank. Then the car must have went into the limp mode because the transmission felt like it was slipping but it got me home. Has anyone of you ever had an alternator go bad on you and is it covered under the starmark warranty?

Check your users manual. Having just gone thru a starting problem with this cold snap on the East Coast, and having to get my battery replaced, I read up on the manuals.

I believe that if that "Charge" warning comes on, it is telling you that the battery is not getting any juice to recharge it. In fact, you may have been running on battery power alone.

When my car would not start and needed the jump, the one thing I did feel better about was that the little battery symbol for "charge" alert did not appear. So I figured my batttery was being charged and the electrical systems were running off the "engine".

With all those lights going on, you are probably best to take it to the dealer to have a diagnostic check. Sounds like you got about 40% of the possible warning lights.

Quick question: can you start the car now?? Or is it dead?

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- Jon E320 210.055

90 Wrangler
77 Mustang 307,000 mi
63 T-Bird [fully restored]

These are the sure signs of no charging.

Your transmission is electronic, and will go into limp home without proper voltage. It sounds like your alternator is bad. If you have Starmark, read under "covered components" as coverage varies. Onmy Signature Class warranty (Canada) I have the 160K kilometer "comprehensive" warranty, and the alternator is covered. Your coverage might be different.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

If your battery is original, have it checked as well.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

I charged the battery over night and the car started and it is driving just fine, however I still have the "battery charge" warning.

I was able to get an appointment this Wednesday at my local Benz dealer with a loaner to boot.

I wonder if charging the battery overnight and driving it to work until Wednesday will damage the battery or the car. What do you think?


1998 E320 Smoke Silver 62k
1999 Volvo S80 Gray 47k

I am NOT a certified mechanic so take this advice with that stipulation.

I don't think that charging the battery and driving it anywhere but to the dealers is a good idea.

One problem is going to be that if the charge light is still continuing to come on, I would bet good money your alternator is not working.

Second problem is that as has been pointed out, several key systems rely on the electrical system.

Third problem is that IF the charge system is not working, you would be driving on battery power alone and the battery would almost certainly be dead when you tried to start it up to go back home.

I would say to get the car to the dealer ASAP for that scheduled appointment.

Just my two cents.

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- Jon E320 210.055

90 Wrangler
77 Mustang 307,000 mi
63 T-Bird [fully restored]

My Benz went to the shop on Thursday. I really miss the car. They gave me a 2002 c320 loaner. Not a bad car but it's a far cry from my 98 e320. The service advisor call today and found a lundry list of thing wrong with my car and said he's still not finished with the diagnostics. He mention getting starmark to cover the alternator,pully,tranny casing,and a some other tranny related stuff.It sounds like he'll stick me for a new battery but that's ok as long as the warranty covers everything else. He mentioned a new seat rail for the popping noise,he wasn't sure if starmark will cover the seat rail. So far it looks like the Starmark warranty is one of the best warranty programs around. I'll let you know how it all turns out .

1998 E320 Smoke Silver 62k
1999 Volvo S80 Gray 47k
1987 Cadillac Eldorado Black 140k

Glad you got the car into the shop and they are diagnosing the systems. However, it sounds like the problem might extend beyond the alternator?

When you bought the car, how many miles did it have? Did you get the complete service history record and have an independent mechanic inspect the car?

Thankfully it sounds like the Starmark warranty will cover the major fixes.

Keep us posted. This is obviously irritating for you but it will be interesting to see the root cause(s).

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- Jon E320 210.055

90 Wrangler
77 Mustang 307,000 mi
63 T-Bird [fully restored]

I had the exact same thing happen tonight. Car went into limp mode with 3 miles to home. It's started to have things go wrong quite a bit and the fixes are getting more expensive, this is probably end of the road. 176K miles on it, I've had it since 140K miles, 3.5 years.

ieucon99 - I don't know what model you have but I got a rebuilt alternator with a lifetime warranty from PepBoys for about $110 (for my 2002 E320 4Matic).

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07 E350 4Matic wagon, 06 S430 4Matic, 99 SLK 230
retired W210 (x3), W124, W126