[W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay charged

[Dick Spellman]

In addition to the info on the line sent previous...be sure and top off 
the tranny fluid first before driving to shop.  See how bad the leak is 
by turning on engine and observing volume exiting one of those lines or 
the radiator if it's very old.  I would not drive if it's a steady loss 
of fluid and you can't effect repair at your home.  Get a flatbed.

Good luck,

Dick

terrako at comcast.net wrote:

>

>

> 1987 560 SEC,

>

>  

>

> Problem Transmission Fluid leak. When I came to a stop and pulled off  

> the transmision seemed to slip,  I get the car home from a 200 mile 

> trip, and pull into the drive way and smoke from under the hood, awful 

> smell. I let the car cool down, near the radiator, I have a puddle of 

> Transmission fluid.  Transmission replaced 3 months back with rebuilt 

> unit, I dont want to go back to the shop that did the work without, 

> getting some input from the forum.  Any feedback would be greatly 

> apprecieated.

>

>  

>

> TS

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: "Mark Foster" <mfoster at fosterfirst.com>

> To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:36:50 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay charged

>

> You know it’s a funny thing. I have been on this forum for 3 years I 

> think and have read the back and forth emails usually with great 

> interest. The email I sent yesterday was the first time I have 

> actually asked for advice.

>

> I have to say, you guys are amazing . I am so glad I found this site 

> to turn to, even for the little things. The alternative to this is 

> usually always frustrating - trying to find someone who knows what 

> these cars are all about.

>

>  

>

> Thank you very much MB Coupes.

>

> Mark

>

>  

>

> PS – in order t be added to the Members’ Cars list – since it looks 

> like I would be the only Canadian member – where would I add the 

> photo, my name, location & email address?

>

>  

>

> *From:* mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com 

> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] *On Behalf Of *Markus Meyer

> *Sent:* June 19, 2009 2:49 AM

> *To:* Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

> *Subject:* Re: [W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay charged

>

>  

>

> Mark,

>

>  

>

> Check out Interstate Batteries, I believe the website is 

> www.interstatebatteries.com <http://www.interstatebatteries.com/>.  

> You can search for a local dealer/distributor.  I have been using 

> their batteries in all my vehicles with excellent success.

>

>  

>

> For the future if you plan to leave a battery unattended that long, 

> I'd suggest a trickle charger of some sort, such as a battery tender.  

> They can get totally discharged from sitting and this is not good for 

> them, even if fairly new.

>

>  

>

> Markus Meyer

>

> mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com <mailto:mfm at meyerprobateproperties.com>

>

> www.meyerprobateproperties.com <http://www.meyerprobateproperties.com/>

>

> Meyer Probate & Properties, LLC

>

> 484-919-9762

>

>  

>

>  

>

>     -------- Original Message --------

>     Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay

>     charged

>     From: "Mark Foster" <mfoster at fosterfirst.com>

>     Date: Fri, June 19, 2009 12:40 am

>     To: "'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists'" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>

>     Hi again,

>

>     In the event I need to buy a battery, is there anyone on this forum (

>     possibly in Canada ) that might know where I can get a replacement

>     battery

>     for a 1982 380SEC other than the Vancouver dealer?

>

>     Thanks,

>

>     Mark

>

>     -----Original Message-----

>     From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>     [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>     <http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>]

>     On Behalf Of Jay Hirsch

>     Sent: June 18, 2009 9:09 PM

>     To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>     Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay charged

>

>     Mark,

>     Unlike a 57 Chevy or 57 Mercedes any car from the 80s on up draws a

>     lot of volts even when just sitting.

>     Alternators do not go bad from sitting.

>     I have had batteries that give off false information.

>     If you have another car that you could take the battery out of

>     would be the simplest way to go for a test.

>

>     You could also take the car for a good ride with the "old" battery

>     of an hour and see what happens when you try to restart...at home in

>     the driveway

>     keep cruisin

>     Jay

>     On Jun 18, 2009, at 11:22 PM, Mark Foster wrote:

>

>     > Jay,

>     >

>     > The battery was about a year old before the coma set in.

>     >

>     > I will check the resting and running voltage and report back.

>     >

>     > Any thanks - Jay - Dick & An,

>     >

>     > Mark

>     >

>     > -----Original Message-----

>     > From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-

>     > bounces at mbcoupes.com]

>     > On Behalf Of Jay Hirsch

>     > Sent: June 18, 2009 8:16 PM

>     > To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>     > Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 1982 380SEC - started but won't stay

>     charged

>     >

>     > Alternators do not go bad from sitting

>     > How old was the battery prior to the one year the car was in a

>     > coma?

>     > Buy a new battery

>     > Jay H

>     > On Jun 18, 2009, at 10:59 PM, Dick Spellman wrote:

>     >

>     >> Hi Mark,

>     >>

>     >> check battery resting voltage (engine off)...check battery voltage

>     >> with engine running..then report these two readings to list

>     >>

>     >> Regards,

>     >> Dick

>     >>

>     >> Mark Foster wrote:

>     >>> Hi,

>     >>>

>     >>> I suspect this is an alternator issue - but I thought I better ask

>     >>> the

>     >>> expects in this forum.

>     >>> My 380 SEC has not been running for about a year. I went out and

>     >>> started it

>     >>> today and after a 20 minute jump it started but I had to turn the

>     >>> key a

>     >>> number of times as it seemed as though it would not always catch.

>     >>> The

>     >>> dashboard starting lights would illuminate but there was just a

>     >>> click sound

>     >>> and then nothing. So I gave it a few more minutes - tried again -

>     >>> and this

>     >>> time it started. I gave it a few minutes running, then shut it off.

>     >>> Naturally it would not start again ( actually was surprised the

>     >>> old girl

>     >>> started for me in the first place) so another jump and the same

>     >>> scenario -

>     >>> clicks - then finally it caught and roared to life. This time I

>     >>> let it run

>     >>> for half an hour - watching all the gauges ( seemed normal ) -

>     >>> then went

>     >>> for a very short drive. Up and down my street - just in case ;-)

>     >>> So I finally turned it off and - guess what? Nothing! The battery

>     >>> seems fine

>     >>> as I had it on charge for a few days before attempting this. So,

>     >>> I am

>     >>> guessing the next natural trouble shooting progression would be the

>     >>> alternator?

>     >>> Thoughts/comments greatly appreciated.

>     >>>

>     >>> Mark ( Vancouver - Canada )

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>> -----Original Message-----

>     >>> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-

>     >>> bounces at mbcoupes.com]

>     >>> On Behalf Of kabed1980 at yahoo.com

>     >>> Sent: June 17, 2009 5:14 PM

>     >>> To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>     >>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Suspect OVP relay (update)

>     >>>

>     >>> When I finally got to my 560after 7 years of sitting not running I

>     >>> finally

>     >>> got to u got it running bitter then new I had the run in with the

>     >>> alternator

>     >>> same description Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

>     >>>

>     >>> -----Original Message-----

>     >>> From: "Iain Gunn" <igunn at bmts.com>

>     >>>

>     >>> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:08:54 To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing

>     >>> Lists<mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>     >>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Suspect OVP relay (update)

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>> Here, let me tell you another one that will throw you.

>     >>> Speedometer starts bouncing all over the place, all gages start

>     >>> going erratic, everything starts shutting down, blower motor goes

>     >>> on to high heat.

>     >>>

>     >>> Think you're in the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" movie?

>     >>>

>     >>> Brushes in the alternator, or alternator.

>     >>>

>     >>> Anyone got more for the new guy?

>     >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Afzaal Khan.M"

>     >>> <afzaal53 at gmail.com>

>     >>> To: "Vance Rowley" <vance.rowley at tiscali.co.uk>; "Mercedes Coupes

>     >>> Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>

>     >>> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:04 PM

>     >>> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Suspect OVP relay (update)

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>>> Great! fault diagnosed and rectified.

>     >>>> mak

>     >>>>

>     >>>> On 16/06/2009, Vance Rowley <vance.rowley at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

>     >>>>

>     >>>>> Yes, at last, confirmed. Received my new OVP relay this morning

>     >>>>> and before

>     >>>>> the delivery truck had driven away, I had the parcel ripped open

>     >>>>> and fitted

>     >>>>> the relay. My thoughts as I was about to turn the ignition key

>     >>>>> was "well,

>     >>>>> here goes" But as soon as I did, I could tell that this is it,

>     >>>>> as the engine

>     >>>>> started immediately and the ABS/ASR warning lights went out. It

>     >>>>> used to take

>     >>>>> around 10 seconds or more of the engine turning over to start

>     >>>>> with the old

>     >>>>> relay. The engine was very smooth and no stumble or hesitation

>     >>>>> when revving

>     >>>>> the engine. The idle was fine also.

>     >>>>> I know that the OVP gets blamed for everything, but it looks

>     >>>>> like if you

>     >>>>> have the 4 symptoms all at the same time.

>     >>>>> 1. Takes a long time to start

>     >>>>> 2. High Idle

>     >>>>> 3. ABS/ASR warning lights remain on.

>     >>>>> 4. Rough running of the engine.

>     >>>>> Then it looks like the problem is almost certainly the OVP

>     >>>>> relay. Of course

>     >>>>> it is possible that the fuse is just blown, but if that is OK

>     >>>>> (as mine was)

>     >>>>> then a new OVP should be the next step.

>     >>>>>

>     >>>>> For those who want to have a go at repairing the relay, from

>     >>>>> what I have

>     >>>>> discovered along with input from this group, it looks like if

>     >>>>> you get all

>     >>>>> symptoms at the same time, then as long as the fuse, relay coil,

>     >>>>> contacts

>     >>>>> and solder joints are OK, then the most likely culprit is the

>     >>>>> diode

>     >>>>> connected between pin# 15 and the relay coil. It is unlikely

>     >>>>> that the zener

>     >>>>> diode is the problem, as this would more likely blow the fuse if

>     >>>>> the zener

>     >>>>> was at fault. If you get only 1 or 2 of the above symptoms, then

>     >>>>> a solder

>     >>>>> joint (or more) would be most likely.But of course when you get

>     >>>>> only 1 or

>     >>>>>

>     >>>

>     >>>

>     >>>>> 2

>     >>>>> of the symptoms, say for example the ABS warning light on, then

>     >>>>> it's

>     >>>>> possible the OVP is fine and that the problem could be the ABS

>     >>>>> computer

>     >>>>> itself. It's understandable that the OVP gets blamed for

>     >>>>> everything, but is

>     >>>>> certainly the first thing to check.

>     >>>>>

>     >>>>> Thanks again to everyone who gave their input.

>     >>>>>

>     >>>>> Regards,

>     >>>>>

>     >>>>> Vance.

>     >>>>> The MB Coupes Website!

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>     >>>>>

>     >>>>>

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