Dimming lights
 

Hi
The other morning driving home after a 12 hour night shift my headlamps began to dim then come back to normal, it happen a few times then I noticed the console lights ,dash lights doing the same thing. Does this mean my voltage regulator is going bad or maybe a grounding problem? Haven't dealt with Mercedes before.

HELP

Rick

dim lights
 

hello

don't know what model you have but to me the varying lighting level is likely brushes (voltage regulator in a 420sel) in the altenator, a slipping belt but could also be a battery that is losing it's ability to hold a charge. maybe a combination.

i see autozone people going out to the lots and testing peoples charging system and i don't think they charge for that except a tip for the guy going out of his way.

based on mileage and age a voltage reg for a 420sel is cheap 20 bucks or so. belt is cheap and if the battery is a cheap kmart or ?? brand even a good battery is cheap compared to a tow.

but before you start throwing money at the car get someone to check the charging system. heater on, lites on etc: then fix what's wrong then decide on the other stuff.

Thanx,
Sorry, 76 450 SL with the 4.5 engine, not sure of the mileage, over 200,000.

Thanx again

lights
 

hi rick

i would definitely pull into autozone or some other location to test your charging system.

it looks like you may have some maintenance issues to work on in the charging area.

the good thing about an autozone or ?? is they are only interested in the parts other service shops will want to do the repairs as well.

good luck
craig