Alternator or battery ? Recall on alternators !

[Chas]

Folks

My S320 (2001) battery charge warning light came on today whilst driving past the MB dealer!
I dropped in and they said just charge the battery, its a common problem this time of year,with dark nights cold weather etc.
I drove off some 4 miles and the battery warning fault came on, this time followed by the ABS, ESP and BAS.(These things happen when voltage drops below 10 volts, apparently)
The power steering and power assist brakes now failed as I enterd my driveway at home. I tried to start the car but battery is dead.
I called MB mobillo rescue people and the chap came out, stuck a few leads on alternator and battery and said it is the alternator which is faulty.( battery reading 11.5 volts)
I am charging the battery at the moment, and am booked in for a new alternator tomorrow.
Is there a recall on alternators ? Should I try a new battery first ? Am I about to be shafted by MB ?? !

I have only driven the car about 6 times on 1 mile journeys ( STOPPING AND STARTING SEVERAL TIMES )in the past week at night in awfull weather ( all electrics on )

I am hoping its just the battery.
Should it read 12 volts or 13.5 when I try the voltmeter on a charge battery ?

thanks for any help guys

 

[Blobcat]

You are asking a lot from the battery and alternator with your current journeys. Take the longer route and the car will only thank you for it.
If the alternator is working correctly at ~2,500 revs the battery voltage should be 13.5Volts

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

The battery on my Audi died at around 116,000 (not bad for the original battery), but my volt meter was showing about 9v when I tried to start the car. I thought it was the Alternator but just fitting a new battery fixed it up a treat.

Get a new one from Halfrauds. If it makes no difference I'm sure they would give you your money back if you tell them it was actually an Alternator fault. Mind you, if it is an alternator fault it may have killed your battery anyway.

In other words, try the battery first. You need to do some searching on this forum on changing the battery because I belive there are some issues where you can actually damage the car if the battery is not changed correctly.

 

[Chas]

You are asking a lot from the battery and alternator with your current journeys. Take the longer route and the car will only thank you for it.
If the alternator is working correctly at ~2,500 revs the battery voltage should be 13.5Volts

I am hoping my car S320 (2001 July) falls into the recall category, check this out !
http://www.carpages.co.uk/mercedes_benz/mercedes-benz-car-recall-04-04-05.asp

 

[Blobcat]

That is the alternator upgrade, when did you last visit a dealer as they should have checked for this. Also have you put your VIN into the decoder to check the delivery dates. The reality is that your car was probably built well before June 01. You can tell by pulling out the ashtray and looking at the date stamps.

 

[Chas]

Great news I just phone MB on 00 8001 777 7777
AND GUESS WHAT !
MY S320 IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL .......

YIPEE ............

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

"On vehicles with six and eight-cylinder petrol engines built between June 2001 and November 2004 the voltage regulator in the alternator is being checked and if necessary replaced"

oh, that includes my car as well then. I'll ask them if they have done this when it goes in for its service on the 12th.

Would it be possible that a dodgy voltage regulator could cause my remote locking to stop working and my cruise to fritz-out on occasion?

 

[Chas]

That is the alternator upgrade, when did you last visit a dealer as they should have checked for this. Also have you put your VIN into the decoder to check the delivery dates. The reality is that your car was probably built well before June 01. You can tell by pulling out the ashtray and looking at the date stamps.

How do I put my car VIN into the decoder ( and what is it)

thanks

ps excuse my non technical ignorance

 

[Blobcat]

Here you are; http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

 

[Chas]

That is the alternator upgrade, when did you last visit a dealer as they should have checked for this. Also have you put your VIN into the decoder to check the delivery dates. The reality is that your car was probably built well before June 01. You can tell by pulling out the ashtray and looking at the date stamps.

After a close inspection by the MB dealer the alternator is ok. The problem was water penetration in wiring loom causing electrical faults !
The drain pelum was cleaned last month when my car (S320) was serviced, due to water penetration causing the alarm to go off.
I know this is a design fault, but is there any way to modify/cover anything to prevent the same thing happening again during continuous heavy driving rain ?

any ideas help would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[Waller26]

Power Failure

I drive a 2003 S500L which has just suffered similiar problem. I needed something doing on Alternator. Apparently a common problem.

 

[television]

I drive a 2003 S500L which has just suffered similiar problem. I needed something doing on Alternator. Apparently a common problem.

Its only the regulator pack,about £18 if you had to buy one.

Malcolm