Hello. A lady I work with has a 1985 Mercedes 300D turbo diesel. Today she was telling me that it was broken and she does not know what is wrong. She went to start it one morning and it would not start. When she went to turn the ignition back off, the "battery" and "fasten seat belt" warning lamps stayed illuminated. She said she had to disconnect the battery so they would go out, to keep the battery from going down. She said that she thought it was the ignition switch, but someone that was supposed to be working on the car said that it was not the switch.

She really needs the car going again, so any information that I can relay to her, I am sure she would appreciate. I told her I would try to find something out for her.

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a failed alternator.

Have it tested and replaced if required.

Thanks Ozzy. I told her that was the only information I have got for her at this time. She is really anxious to start driving it again. She likes the fact that it gets 25mpg city and prefers driving it over her other car.

Perhaps I can just talk her into selling it to me?


It is not the nicest looking car- the dark blue paint looks terrible- as if it was painted with a paint brush, but it is 100+% rust free and the engine runs perfectly (when it runs). Thats all that matters.

To update- she said they checked the alternator and it was OK. Any other suggestions?

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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

Guess not. . Anyway- to further update- the car has been repaired. It was something faulty near the ignition switch. I forgot what she said it was. The switched was replaced as well.

Thanks.