on my 84 euro 280e, which my indie just got the engine back in and running, the battery is running down. the battery light is on even when the key is shut off and it gets brighter when i put the brakes on. is it possible that i just need brushes in the alternator or is this a sign of a wire hooked up wrongly?

tom w

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If the light stays on with key off then a diode in the alternator is the likely problem.

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Friend,
Could the D+ wire from the charge indicator warning light in the cluster be wired incorrectly or shorted to ground somewhere? It's the smaller of the 2 wires at the alternator.
G'luck
dpk