My alternator quit alternating last weekend while I was on vacation. Thanks to a great "parts guy" at a MB dealership, I purchased an alternator at 5:30 PM on a Friday afternoon. They close at 5:00 but I caught him going out the door.
Before looking for somone to install it, I popped the brushes out of the old alternator and they were wasted. I installed the new ones and the charging system is working great.
2 questions as a result of this experience.
1) My charging system red light never came on to warn me of a problem. First indication of a problem was ABS light. The light works. It comes on when key is turned to the run position. Any ideas??
2) The MB dealer is willing to take the alternator back and charge me for only the brushes. My car has 102K miles. Am I going to need a new alternator in the near future or just new brushes in another 100K miles??
Thanks for the help.

There is something weird about the charging system idiot light. If alternator output is low, it stays off. If there is no output, then you will see the light. If your charging OK now, go with the brushes. If it ain't broke (yet), don't fix it..

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

You have a little life in the alternator usually. I will run 2 sets of brushes, then replace the alternator.

The idiot light is wired THROUGH the brush set. IF the contact surface of the brushes quits, no light operation. (stupid huh??)

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
300E
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

If you do your alternator, consider that there is a more powerful one available that came on newer cars. All that's needed is some very minor wiring; Benzmac's described it somewhere in the archives, so consider a search there. Good luck!

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E, Almandine Red
'88 300TE: Arctic White

I believe that unless you have some added accessories which increase the required alternator output, upgrading to an alternator which can provide more amperage, is a waste of time and money.

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Larry,

You might want to consider that the higher capacity alternator's little or no more money than the original, and the wiring's a 5-minute job. It's simply the alternator from an E320 of '94 or '95 vintage.

My intent was for Robi to be aware of his options, and since the original alternator output was IMHO marginal at best (or else why would it have been increased in capacity in later W124s similarly optioned??) he might want to consider the upgrade. I know that I would've stuffed in the higher-capacity unit had I known such an upgrade was so straightforward. An alternator's kinda like a battery (or a motor )in my view; can't be too big. Larry, have you done the alternator on your '88 yet? Not trying to jinx you or nuthin', just curious...actually I'm knocking on wood for you on this end, given your recent vehicular woes; I wish you nothing but smooth sailing!

Whatever gets done, good luck with it.

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E, Almandine Red
'88 300TE: Arctic White

[This message has been edited by Michael (edited 09-01-2000).]

There were two possible alternators for my '89 300E. I don't remember the amps (60 and 70 or 70 and 80) but mine is the higher of the two. The output has always been adequate. I have no electrical load other than what came with the car. I only needed to now if the original alternator was good for another round of brushes and it sounds like it is. Thanks for the help!!!