No code reader, my local guy has a proper one. I was going to replace the regulator as it has never been replaced. I thought it may be the regulator since the lights appear to be dimming along with the idle. My problem is no time anymore for my projects. She was a 1 owner vehicle. I have a hunch that all the wiring has issues, I do not know if any of you think that to be true of older benzes. I have a 190e 2.3 also only 68k miles and am thinking of just keeping that. I do love the V8. Changed all the fuses harnesses, throttle, wires caps rotors. It has run real nice but it is the intermittent issues that give me the blues. I have to say that this forum has been a godsend.