Stop in front of a wall, start your car, turn the head lights on, look the reflection of the lights, press the exselerator. if your lights gat brighter then the alternator is fine. I belife this is thre easyes way to find out if your alternator is working. Good luck JJB236!
i had the same problem i was driving back home and all of a sudden my lights started to die out for some reason the music stoped working and all the lights started coming on so i got home and my windows ware opened i tried to close them and the car died next day i bought new battery got it in worked for half of the day and it died again so i realize my alternator died replace it for 120$ i believe and problem fix
Vehicle: 91 black 300E (from college days), 01 Vette, 01 Porsche 911, 08 Porsche 911
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 410
All you guys were right with the diagnosis. My tech says the brushes on the alternators are worn out and needs the voltage regulator replaced. But his price is steep. $70 for the part, and $70 for the labor.
Should I just replace the alternator while it's at the shop?
All you guys were right with the diagnosis. My tech says the brushes on the alternators are worn out and needs the voltage regulator replaced. But his price is steep. $70 for the part, and $70 for the labor.
Should I just replace the alternator while it's at the shop?
it takes two screws to take out the voltage regulator. 10 minute job. The part is about 30 dollars.
You have to decide if the price is too steep. I to say it... but the car will nickel and dime you to to the tune of 2k a year if you don't do the basics.
That's not an indictment on you, but I would venture to say that 80% of the people on boards like these who own 15-20 year old cars, do a majority of tasks themselves.
But then again, after looking at your stable of cars, you seem to be able to afford a minor inconvenience or two.
Good Luck
Last edited by lee polowczuk : 01-07-2008 at 10:06 AM.
Reason: additional info
Vehicle: 91 black 300E (from college days), 01 Vette, 01 Porsche 911, 08 Porsche 911
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 410
I just called my tech back, and told him to replace the alternator while it's in the shop. I really want to be able to fix things on my cars, since cars are my hobby. Did you guys take auto mechanics classes or mechanical engineering background? Where can I start to learn about fixing cars? Take evening classes auto shop 101 at a local community college?
In 16 years, my 300E stranded me on the street only twice, which is not bad. The other time was in the freeway about 6 - 7 years ago, when distributor cap went broke for some reason. What other things should I expect that would cause the car to have me stranded in the future? I want to replace those parts now ha ha
Get a good set of metric tools and a Haynes manual for your car and have at it. Start with the simple jobs, oil change, clean and lube the antenna, replace the air filter and oil filter etc. Progressively work to the harder jobs as your confidence builds.
Get a good set of metric tools and a Haynes manual for your car and have at it. Start with the simple jobs, oil change, clean and lube the antenna, replace the air filter and oil filter etc. Progressively work to the harder jobs as your confidence builds.
Greg
I worked at a gas station when i was a kid..and got some basics... well the cars i own now are still basic cars. I am 50 now. Most of the time it just takes a bit of a leap of faith. Almost everything bolts and unbolts on the 124's.
I would be lost with electronics. The toughest electrical job i have don is splicing in a new o2 sensor.
I always have a spare OVP, fuel pump relay, klima relay, serp belt, and voltage regulator, along with fuses.
All of the jobs have been straightforward.... toughest probably has been the water pump.
The toughest that I will have to look forward to someday will be the a/c evaporator. I know i will have to do one, since we will keep our CE as long as it doesn't get involved in a wreck.
Greg has it right... you have to build confidence. that's another reason why i order parts each month and do the jobs when i am not under the stress of getting the car on the road again. Rubber parts come to mind
__________________
1988 260E 215k miles (mine)
1989 300CE 168k miles (wifes)
1989 300E 180k miles (son's)
1998 Ford Expedition 167k miles (semi-retired)
Sold: 1972 280SE 4.5 153k miles. The car that started my passion for simple, well made automobiles.
Vehicle: 91 black 300E (from college days), 01 Vette, 01 Porsche 911, 08 Porsche 911
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 410
Quote:
Originally Posted by neanderthal
same thing happened to me last year or year before.
regulator. $40.
So, it looks like many guys here have already went through with this problem... What's your mileage when this happened?
Were there other incidents that made your car to make you stranded? As I said previously, I only became stranded twice in 16 years of ownership. First time was due to a broken distributor cap that made me stranded in the freeway. That time, the engine gradually lost power and I was able to slowly decelerate to the shoulder.
What more problems can I expect to see (197K miles 1991 300E) that will make our cars stall, so that I could take some preventive measures and have parts replaced?
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