Battery Alternator visit work shop (Mercedes C class 220 CDI 2001-2002 model)

Jordon

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Hi

I have Mercedes C class 220 CDI (2001/2002). When i go over 3000 RPM I get a Red warning message “Battery/Alternator visit work shop”. If I drive my car normally and don’t do over speeding I don’t get the message. But you know I cannot drive my car on 50-60miles on long motorway journeys and some times you have to rev the car to get a quick pick.

Some details and other symptoms:

1) I am getting this message for the last 4 months. So that means Alternator is charging the battery otherwise battery would be flat by now. Battery is pumping out the right voltage (I have tested that with a battery tester).
2) Car starts and runs perfectly, no problems at all, I get the message when I rev the car.
3) If I am driving in the night and get this message, car headlights goes off for 2 seconds and then come back.

I don’t know what to do.
1) Is that regulator issue? (How can I check that?)
2) Is that a loos drive belt? (Which is only 5 months old and I haven’t driven my car on very long journeys)
3) Can I stop this message by re-setting the computer (but I don’t know how to do that)
4) Should I unplug the battery and reconnect but then radio might go off.

Please help.
Many Thanks.
 

television

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What I would do here is to join a volt meter over the battery.

The normal voltage when running is 13.8 volts there abouts.

Take the RPM to over 3k where the warning comes on,,if the voltage across the battery falls to around 12 volt then a problem with the alternator, and this could just be the control pack that plugs in to the rear of the alternator.

The cheapest place to go is a Bosch service center, after all they made it.

Welcome to the forum
 

Alex Crow

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to add to TVs advice, some of the w203s did have problems with front sams and voltage monitoring, so if the voltage proves ok you would really need DAS analysis at a specialist or MB workshop.
 

television

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to add to TVs advice, some of the w203s did have problems with front sams and voltage monitoring, so if the voltage proves ok you would really need DAS analysis at a specialist or MB workshop.

Thank you Alexander, That is a very good point,,the early SAMs did have many problems,,we used to get many post on these things,,but they have fallen off of late
 
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Jordon

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Thanks very much for your time and suggestions.

I took the car to KwikFit and they tested the voltage and its fine.

Is there any way I can stop this warning message by getting a fuse out of the SAM box or from fuse box.

Is there any way I can do some kind of test before I take it to the garage.

I think you guys doing a wonderful job here, now I know few terms and I can explain this issue in a better way to the garage.
 

television

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I would find an indie with STAR and plug it in and see if the fault is shown.

You cannot take out a fuse for the SAM as the SAM is a signal acquisition module that has all of the cars info in it.

Do you have a good indie near you
 
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Jordon

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Thanks Malcolm. i will do this and will update once everything fixed. thanks a lot.
 
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Jordon

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Hello Everyone

I took my car for a computer test and they said they cannot find anything though computer test. So they did a further analysis and took £70 and told me that there is a small leak from turbo charger just above the Alternator and when I rev up to 3000 to 4000 RPM that oil gets into the alternator and alternator stops producing electricity.

Does this make sense to you guys?

They asked me that they can change the alternator if I want to but I put this on hold unlit you guys suggest me. I have this alternator changed 6 months ago and I paid £400. Will I gonna keep replacing alternators on my car?

What you recommend me I should do?

Many Thanks.
 

television

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I cannot see this as the answer,,oil would stop it at any speed.

I will have a think and post back,,this has never come up before
 

Alex Crow

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the oil leak will be from the compressor side pipework. surely they should be fixing this leak first? if what they say is true the charging problem would go away.

we have seen oil getting into alternators before like this but the cdi has a water cooled alternator sealed from the elements, including oil, although the oil could get into some of the reg/rec bits at the back.

try another garage, where are you located? - i can recommend a good one in suffolk :D
 
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Jordon

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Hi
Thank you very much.

Yes, I have booked another appointment with another garage in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

I took my car to Kwik Fit again and asked them to check the voltage of the Battery, Alternator and Regulator; they checked all three things and they said battery, alternator and Regulator are all fine; they are pumping out the right voltages.

I will pass your message to this new garage on Monday that they should check the compressor pipes for any oil leak first.

Thanks again.
 

turbopete

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i cant be 100% syre as ive not got it near me to look at but isnt the alternator on a 203 c220cdi on the passenger side of the car and the turbo on the drivers side? this would make it impossible for it to put any oil into the alternator if i remember right!
 

Alex Crow

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no pete, unless you look at it from a very funny angle! ;)
 

Midland45

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Jordon, if you are in the Newcastle area, a lot of people recommend Staithes garage in Gateshead for Mercs. Haven't actually used them but, some on the forum have.
 
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Jordon

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Thanks for your time.

I took my car to another garage and they said there is no oil going into the Alternator. It’s the alternator which needs replacing, they are saying that there are so many things within alternators and one of those things is not functioning properly.

They said when they rev up to 4000 RPM or go over 80 miles/h alternator stops generating power/electricity for 2 second and then comes back and that could be because one part of the alternator is faulty.

It doesn’t happen if I drive my car on 70 miles/hour. It only happens when I drive it on 80miles/hour or over.

What you recommend?


What you recommend? Is there any way i can stop getting the error message on my car dashboard. Please tell me if I can take a fuse out of the fuse box so that I can stop getting all error messages.
 

television

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I would recommend that you get Bosch to fit a new reg pack or stay within the speed limit
 

BlackC55

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No oil to the alternator? WTF?

Test the voltage at 1000RPM, 2000RPM, 3000RPM etc and see if it is consistant.
 

Jay Gee

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No oil to the alternator? WTF?

Test the voltage at 1000RPM, 2000RPM, 3000RPM etc and see if it is consistant.

I think the OP hasn't quite made himself clear(I hope :Oops:) I'm reading this 'no oil to the alternator' thing as : There is no oil leaking into the alternator. l
 

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