[W126 Coupe] Weird Electrical Issues

[Shayegan, Richard]

The rheostat by itself can be replaced. $84 IIRC. I think youre problem is the voltage regulator on the back of the alternator, and not the alternator itself The brushes wear down creating a bad contact.
Richard

________________________________

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com on behalf of Calvin Young
Sent: Mon 6/27/2005 11:15 AM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: [W126 Coupe] Weird Electrical Issues



	Dick, I think you are right on.  I plan to take the care to a local alternator "checker" and rebuilder.  The car has a new battery so I know that that is not the issue.  I plan to charge the battery and "nurse" the car to the rebuilder.  I will check the tower wire.  I also have a new coil that I never installed.  I will put that in as well.  

	The thing is, the faltering engine that goes off and then restarts after a rest really seems weird to me.  It is almost as if a relay is blowing and then resetting itself.  When the car stops, it is dead, and then mysteriously comes back to life after a rest.  And the radio going out and in by itself.  I feel like the car is transporting me to the Twilight Zone.  

	One more thing, I strongly suspect that the rheostat for the dash lights is shorting out as I cannot get that to work at all.  I was adjusting that last time the car died on the road.  I thought it was just a bad battery so I replaced it with new.  Can the rheostat be replaced without replacing the entire dash assembly?  

	The tower wire looks good, no burnout, Just a normal coating of the contacts and rotor which scraped off.  I suspect the alternator or diodes.  I will have to check the wire from the coil when I replace it.  It is a little hard to get too, being under the AC hoses.

	Resting battery voltage is about 10.3v, obviously discharged.

	Can you provide the specific procedure to jumper the fuel pump relay?  I think you mean take out the relay and put a wire in its place.  

	 

	 

	
	Message: 1
	Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 17:47:17 -0400
	From: "Dick Spellman" 
	Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Re: MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 8, Issue 23
	To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" 
	Message-ID: <003001c57a98$9fd548e0$6401a8c0 at home2>
	Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
	
	Calvin:
	
	1. Check your resting voltage on the battery. If it's below 12.6 with engine off or below 13.7 with engine on it could be your alternator is on the way out.
	
	2. Jumper the fuel pump relay and see if you get the car to sit at idle in your driveway for more than 5 minutes without stalling.
	
	3. Pull the distributor cap and inspect it for bad tower wire or failed carbon pick-up.
	
	But, right away I suspect your alternator. So do not drive the car out of your driveway without checking things first or a tow-truck will be your next likely call.
	
	Dick
	



Sincerely, 



Calvin A.Young 

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