For the second time in a week, I got somewhere in my 1993 190E 2.3 and it wouldn't start after driving it somewhere I took the battery to have it charged and tested (it tested good). So when I got it home, I let it run and pulled the positive cable off, and it continued to run (it tests at 15V on an analog Voltmeter that I have). This is a fairly new battery (back in the winter) but the car sat up for the last month and a half because the radiator was bad (drove my diesel instead as diesel was cheaper for a long time than premium gas anyways). So while I had the positive cable disconnnected letting the engine run off of the alternator, I turned the headlights on and it killed the engine. Its a 70 amp alternator, so I'm guessing it should run the engine and headlights (nothing else on, no a/c, no radio, etc) correct? Does it sound like the voltage regulator on the alternator is gone south?

Make sure you don't have a bad starter. A few months ago I thought I had a bad battery in my '93 2.3...it was about 2 years old. If I charged the battery it would start a few times then it wouldn't turn over at all. After trying to resolve my battery issues, it turned out to be the starter. The symptoms were exactly like a bad battery.

I replaced the starter with a rebuilt Bosch from Autozone ($110) and it's been fine ever since.

Good Luck,

Dave

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1993 190E 2.3
2001 SLK230
1971 LS5 (454) Corvette Convertible

I wondered about the starter - how hard is it to change on these. Doesn't look like much room to work with under there. I bought a set of ramps at a yard sale this weekend, now I know why I came across them

arkie,

Also, my car with 87,000 miles had the original starter, over 14 years old, and after I replaced the starter it really turns over much faster than before and starts up quick.

Removing the starter is a tight job, but it can be done with a little patience.

Here is what I did to remove the starter from my '93 190E 2.3

1) Removed negative battery cable
2) Jacked up front end
3) Removed left front wheel
4) Turned steering wheel to far right
5) Removed cover/shield from under engine
6) Removed wiring from starter
7) Removed lower starter bolt
8) Removed upper starter bolt (this took longer to do since it was tight and in a tight space).
9) Removed starter by gently turning, twisting, and pulling out. It's tight, but it will come out without removing any other components.

*NOTE* Leave key in ignition and steering unlocked so you can move steering back and forth enough to allow clearance at pitman arm to remove and re-install starter. By doing this, nothing else has to be removed.

Good luck,

Dave

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1993 190E 2.3
2001 SLK230
1971 LS5 (454) Corvette Convertible

I am not absolutely positive about this, maybe someone with more experience with these alternators can correct me if I am wrong. YOU SHOULD NEVER RUN THE ALERNATOR WITHOUT THE BATTERY CONNECTED, IT DAMAGES THE ALTERNATOR. You will likely be getting voltages that are uncontrolled and increase with increase in RPM. This could have tripped your OVP relay and the car will not start. First thing is to either replace the alternator or get it rebuild from an alternator rebuilder. Then, make sure the battery is almost fully charged. Hookup, the alternator and the battery and try to start again.

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Saumil S. Patel