| jerryb1 |
08-05-2008 03:57 PM |
Strange Alternator/Regulator problem on 90 300SE
Here's a strange problem. The car had classic symptoms of a dying battery while driving one day. The radio faded in and out, the car died then wouldn't even turn over. I figured it was either not charging or the battery was unchargeable. I put another battery in and it started right up. The voltage across the battery while running was 14.4 volts, so I knew it was charging. I drove it home okay, but checked the battery voltage when I arrived and it was at 11.5V while running. I put the lights on and no change, so I figured it was the regulator or alternator. I disconnected the negative terminal then took off the voltage regulator and replaced it with another that I had that I know was good. When I tried to reconnect the negative terminal, there was a good size spark and then I heard something pop, that sounded most likely was the regulator. this leeds me to believe there is a short in the alternator, which blew out both regulators. The question I have is how and why did the first regulator work at first 14.4 volts when I started it this morning???
I'm really puzzled here. I don't mind buying a new regulator they are only $18, but I'd hate to replace the alternator if that's not the problem. If it's a shorted diode in the alternator, I can replace it if I can get at it. Any ideas on what happening here? Car has 104K miles
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