got a qstn ( if anyone could help..)

[Endri_SHO]

hello guys, :wave:

well i got a qstn for you all or if anyone could help me resolve aproblem i am having .. this is not a SHO realted problem... well the issue is happening with my 1991 190E (sport) 3.0 liter Benz.. last week i replaced the alternator because my battery left me stranded in the middle of the highway I 190 in niagara falls , NY. since then its already been one week and my battery left me again 2 hours ago .. car has new alternator in.. i replaced the battery with a spare one that i had on the trunk not an original but almost there, and teh car fired right up.. i took it for a spin again like half hour ago and i drove it around for like 15 miles and it ran fine..( but i know that it will do the same thing again probably) so if anyone please could help me .. do i have wiring problems now..
what to check for .. what is going on ..???? i took out the sound system for the car so wouldnt effect anymore the charging.. anybody out there has any ideas what it might be or has any knowledge more than I for the old benz's.. i do not want to take the car at the dealer as all of you know the labor hour $ is $145/hour..

any info is really appreciated.. thanks

endri

 

[tominos]

have you tested the alternator? how many volts is it putting out at the battery cables with the car started?

 

[Endri_SHO]

hey man thanks for replying.. i took the car to advance auto parts near my house and they measured it .. it read 12.6 volt.. ( the machine read a good battery) but he didint know how to do the alternator test, and neither do I .. so if anyone could detail a little how i can test my alternator.. thanks all

endri

 

[SHOpoor]

Do you have a volt meter? If so, Measure at the battery with the engine OFF. You should see about 12V. Then start the car and make the same measurement. You should see approx 14V if the alternator is charging properly. If you see 12V or less - Change the alternator. If you see 14V, then you have a bigger issue.

 

[38SHO]

ok I've had an issue like this before on a S500.......

the wiring harness was all chaffed up and touching inside the loom. 180 bucks later my cost the guy had a new harness from the starter, oil pressure, altenator, etc...

also maybe you didn't charge up your old battery when the light was on before. The Altenator is not really a battery charger, it is more of a maintainer, it is designed to keep the battery charged from the use it gets from the vehiculr electrical systems... putting a dead battery on an altenator can harm the altenator. Maybe the new battery was charged better and that cured the problem.

If not I'd check out that wiring harness. I was dealing with a different Benz, but most car companies keep the same style of building cars if you know what I mean.

 

[Endri_SHO]

hey 38sho and rlock thanks for replying,

well i had a brand new battery put in yesterday and now is dead again, i just went to the car to start it up and it started once i shut it off , now it just keeps trying until it dies.. so i dont know what is going on ..

 

[38SHO]

exchange the altenator and/or check out that wiring harness...

I know it was a PITA to do on the s500, but it defintely should be worth checking out.

 

[SHOtimer]

Take the alternator out of the car and to the autoparts store, so that they can test it. Sounds like you need a new one.

Doug

 

[Endri_SHO]

heu shotimer,
the alternator is new also , it was just replaced last week, i bought it at autozone.. you think as it is autozone stuff might have be a defective one ??

thanks

 

[38SHO]

most defintely it can!!!! have it tested as that is somewhat easy to do, and if the altenator really is the problem that will cure up your trobules 100%... if not look at the wiring.

 

[93silverbulletSH0]

when I was looking into a benz (Turbo Diesel!) some research found chafing of the wiring harness was a common problem in that era of benz. I would check that.