[W126 Coupe] Dash Electrical Mystery

[Dick Spellman]

Both Richard and Axel could be correct.  If it's an 85 or earlier, what 
you described is managed by a single fuse (#12 I think).  If it's an 86 
or newer then two fuses would have to be bad and that's unlikely (fuse 
#'s 7 & 11).

A quick check with no tools while at the office of the 
regulator/alternator would be to turn the ignition key on without 
starting the engine to see if the battery indicator light comes on or is 
off.  If it's off your alternator/voltage regulator needs immediate 
repair.  Driving any distance without the alternator will drain the 
battery and you'll eventually be stuck by the side of the road awaiting 
a tow truck.

I've limped along with a bad alternator twice in the 126 sedan and it's 
no fun.   Turn off everything you do not need, avoid touching the brakes 
as the brake lamps pull a lot of power, and hope your reserve on the 
battery will get you to your garage or repair facility.

Good luck,

Dick

to onkashella at comcast.net wrote:

> While driving to work this am dash board indicators all failed.  
> Speedometer went to 0, tach to 0, fuel gauge to E, Oil pressure to 0.  
> Car kept running though.  Went to use turn signals, did not work no 
> blink indication on dash, no clicking of relay.
>  
> About 1 minute later, the seat belt indicator light came on for a 
> second and everything came back to life.  No problems on rest of drive 
> to work.
>  
> Is anyone familiar with this situation?  What could be going wrong?
>  
> Greg Kashella
> kashella at comcast.net <mailto:kashella at comcast.net>
>  
>
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