Hi benz owners and mechanics

[Mr Arianit musa]

I have a S CLASS 2008, 3 weeks ago I had to do quite a big service on it, oil cooler changed, full service, cleaned the injectors all cost £1450. 3 days of having the car back the red battery sign came up so I phoned the mechanic and immediately he said it was the Altanator. So my question to fellow mechanic is could something have been done to the Altanator during the service ie damaged cables. Or its just a very big coincident.
I just changed the battery that's located in the boot the red battery sign still on. ¹

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome...
I doubt anything could easily be done like that, on the other hand I'm not 100% sure it is the alternator, might it not be the battery itself? During service it may not have been recharging and might have been poor anyway?

 

[bembo449]

Reads like you have been unlucky and checking the alternator for output isnt part of it anyway

 

[star]

Providing the belt hasn’t come off, just unlucky that the alt has gone down.

 

[sonic]

Having changed the battery there is only the alternator left, unless the belt has come off like Star said.
I am intrigued how the mechanic can remotely diagnose the fault as the alternator?
Battery failure is far more common than a faulty alternator. I have replaced about 5 batteries during my driving life, but never an alternator.

 

[A.J.]

I have a S CLASS 2008, 3 weeks ago I had to do quite a big service on it, oil cooler changed, full service, cleaned the injectors all cost £1450. 3 days of having the car back the red battery sign came up so I phoned the mechanic and immediately he said it was the Altanator. So my question to fellow mechanic is could something have been done to the Altanator during the service ie damaged cables. Or its just a very big coincident.
I just changed the battery that's located in the boot the red battery sign still on. ¹

Having changed the battery there is only the alternator left, unless the belt has come off like Star said.
I am intrigued how the mechanic can remotely diagnose the fault as the alternator?
Battery failure is far more common than a faulty alternator. I have replaced about 5 batteries during my driving life, but never an alternator.

I run a team of engineers in Felixstowe Docks. We maintain lifting equipment from a Fork Lift Truck to a Container Handler. I know it is a very different application but Batteries far outstrip the incidence of a failed Alternator so personally I would look at the battery first. Get your mechanic to do a drop test on the battery before you start thinking about Alternators.

 

[star]

Early cars do not have a battery warning, they have a charge rate warning which is a red battery symbol.

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

Welcome...
I doubt anything could easily be done like that, on the other hand I'm not 100% sure it is the alternator, might it not be the battery itself? During service it may not have been recharging and might have been poor anyway?

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

I had the battery changed this morning, although every thing is now working, I fear that in a short period the new battery will drain.

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

Having changed the battery there is only the alternator left, unless the belt has come off like Star said.
I am intrigued how the mechanic can remotely diagnose the fault as the alternator?
Battery failure is far more common than a faulty alternator. I have replaced about 5 batteries during my driving life, but never an alternator.

This is precisely why I ask the question as to how this mechanic can tell me that its the altanator.

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

Providing the belt hasn’t come off, just unlucky that the alt has gone down.

If the belt has come off does it effect any thing else, and is there a way I can see if it hase?

 

[star]

You loose your pas

 

[Botus]

if you had the injectors cleaned I guess is not a low mileage car... and it went over 3 years...

welcome to the new world car manufacturers have been developing, where you lease it without issue or you hand over lots more cash and have reliability issues

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

?

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

You loose your pas

I dont understand sorry

 

[Blobcat]

I dont understand sorry

You lose the Power Assisted Steering (PAS)

 

[Mr Arianit musa]

You lose the Power Assisted Steering (PAS)

Thanks for that, I fear it is the altanator then because PAS still good

 

[mioba]

Put a voltmeter across the battery engine running and to determine of the alty is putting out any juice i.e working.
My W220 alty dies after 14 years. Be sure to replace the belt at the same time if changing alty.

On the w221 you are better checking the regulator first.

 

[davemercedes]

Thanks for that, I fear it is the altanator then because PAS still good

Before you spring for the cost of an alternator - see if there is a local repair specialist: I have a repair local to me - they do alternators, starters etc and their work is 100% but dramatically less than buying a replacement unit.

You don't give your location so I can only suggest "look around".

 

[Blobcat]

Before you spring for the cost of an alternator - see if there is a local repair specialist: I have a repair local to me - they do alternators, starters etc and their work is 100% but dramatically less than buying a replacement unit.

You don't give your location so I can only suggest "look around".

That's exactly what I did with my 911 - £1,200 at Porsche, £600 for Bosch or £80 for an 83 year old gent to fully refurb it. No brainer