Take the car to any Autozone, Checker, Murray, Advance auto, or other big chain and have them test the alternator; they'll be able to see if the problem is the regulator.

 

Greetings,

From what I've read alternators rarely fail. Mine started discharging and I replaced the voltage regulator, it's very easy, two screws and the plug, no worries since.

OEM Bosch Voltage Regulator 65-115 amp part #1197311028 $25.97 USD @
www.autohausaz.com

Enjoy!

 

About the only thing that can go wrong with the alternator would be bad bearings; if your alternator is not making any noise, I'd say replace the regulator first.

I don't think there is any way to full field the regulator since its internal to test it.

Jamie

 

I went in to Advance today to look at chargers/emergency jumpers, and to ask this question of them. The guy told me that if it was the regulator, it would be OVERcharging, and an under or non-charging condition is caused by a bad alternator, but to bring it in and they will check it out.

Does that sound like total BS, or what?

 

The regulator could be over, under or non-charging the battery. I've also seen them drain the battery with an internal short. Have you taken your old regulator out yet? Easy to do, just remove the two screws holding it in. You don't even have to remove the alternator! Easier to reach from under the car, though.

Do this and check the condition of the brushes. Check and see how worn down they are. If they are near the little Bosch etching, go ahead and replace it. Sometimes its possible to clean up the brush ends with fine sandpaper and get a little more life out of them.

Jamie

 

Here's a picture of the voltage regulator brushes. They aren't properly hitting the connections.

If I could get it another 1/4 inch into the alternator, it would be great.

Anyway, I took off the excess with a needlenose plyers and will see if that doesn't cure it.

BTW, I found one screw easier to access from the top and one screw easier to get to from underneath the car. No big deal though.

 

My regulator went one rainy night about a month ago and left me stranded. The car works without electricity, but with no lights or wipers, driving at night was...challenging. The regulator was replaced by a mechanic who claimed to have diagnosed the problem. A week later, my AC fan started blowing really hard and loud, and my radio would shut off if my RPM got above 2000K. The alternator was putting out too much juice until a few days later when the altenator stopped charging at all. I took it back to the mechanic who replaced the regulator again. 3 days later, the system was not charging again. I bought a remanufactured alternator complete with a regulator for about $145 USD, swapped it out and had no problems since. For $10 bucks, I'd replace the regulator first and see if it holds up or not and respond accordingly. Use loctite blue and lots of torque on the pulley bolt when re-installing (it can and will get loose and fall off).

 

Mines stopped charging and replacing the brushes fixed it.

Not sure if this works on mbs, but on american cars, you hold a screw driver near the case and if it sticks you know the alternator is working when engine is running,

 

Voltage regulator 1998 SLK230

I did go to Autozone & the voltage regulator is bad. Where do you get one?? Link or phone number to a vendor that actully has one. What are part numbers. People that look on these forums are here because someone has sucessfully done this job, are you out there - I need voltage regulator part number that can be purchased - found plenty of links to vendors that after you get to their site do not have any for my car. Number on the old regulator returns nothing in searching on the net. Who knows where to get a voltage regulator for a 1998 SLK230, help! Part number on my current Bosch voltage regular is 1197311533 - can not find it or a replacement part number.:surrender:

 

I did go to Autozone & the voltage regulator is bad. Where do you get one?? Link or phone number to a vendor that actully has one. What are part numbers. People that look on these forums are here because someone has sucessfully done this job, are you out there - I need voltage regulator part number that can be purchased - found plenty of links to vendors that after you get to their site do not have any for my car. Number on the old regulator returns nothing in searching on the net. Who knows where to get a voltage regulator for a 1998 SLK230, help! Part number on my current Bosch voltage regular is 1197311533 - can not find it or a replacement part number.:surrender:

To come on a forum that is not even the right one for your car and then demand an answer to your question is a good way to alienate yourself for good. This is the W123 forum. Mercedes stopped making them in 1985. This would imply that you haven't done any homework yet. Go ask you question on the correct forum, and do it in a more patient fashion and after you have truly searched for the answer. Otherwise folks will get the impression that you are just lazy.

 

Check the dealer.

 

SLK230 Voltage Regulator

Thank you. The reason I tried on an forum is all logical, normal & reasonable attempts to obtain a voltage regular have failed. Try the dealer, your kidding right? I am sorry but how does that even begin to respond to the specific request I made. That seems to be the nature of almost every response to all the cries for help on this forum - none ever apply or resond to the request made regardless of the topic or urgency of the need for help. The knowledge required to join the forum & ask for help is while not rocket science it should be indicative of that prior to asking for help on the web and stating I can not find it anywhere, that calling the dealer would have been something I tried before seeking out the forum. I am confused but thank you anyway for reading the post..

 

Thank you. The reason I tried on an forum is all logical, normal & reasonable attempts to obtain a voltage regular have failed. Try the dealer, your kidding right? I am sorry but how does that even begin to respond to the specific request I made. That seems to be the nature of almost every response to all the cries for help on this forum - none ever apply or resond to the request made regardless of the topic or urgency of the need for help. The knowledge required to join the forum & ask for help is while not rocket science it should be indicative of that prior to asking for help on the web and stating I can not find it anywhere, that calling the dealer would have been something I tried before seeking out the forum. I am confused but thank you anyway for reading the post..

You're welcome! I answered your question, which more than begins to respond, in the future, I'll know better than to waste my time on you.

I also attempted to locate the part you were kind enough to provide a number for. I came up empty as well. Forgive me for not having the answer you desire, these things happen (my fault?). Yet, I have found any part I need and can't locate via the keyboard is available from my dealer.

Good bye.

 

This is not exactly the right forum to ask questions about a 1998 SLK 230, but 1197311533 is a current Bosch number. The MB number is A0031540606 by the way.

You might try a Bosch dealer, you can find one in your neighbourhood on this page:
Where To Buy
Look for a dealer that sells alternator parts.

Go to this webshop page:

http://www.lima-shop.de/en/product_info.php/info/p39_Charging-Regulator-for-Bosch-alternators-14-5V-387-1117.html

to find some other corresponding numbers for the regulator. You can order there too, but it seems a bit inefficient to order it in Europe, and I don't know the reputation of this shop.

 

Forums are great but people do not always have the specific answers that people need.

On the other end of that is the choice to help someone is voluntary. If no one helps you find a part you simply have to take the time and trouble an research it for yourself.

 

Pardon me I went to no specific forum. Isearched what I joined benzworld.org by voltage regulator issues and started speaking to that. The issue perhaps is your not quite bright enough to rember it is first a benz forum and if you are so locked in to your model perhaps you should not make your issues or concerns searchable. If yu spent half the effort or time you put ito yor last rsponse another benz owner might have solved an issue instead of addressing your petty thoughts about the new guy is in my forum. OMG! Hope you are happy with your efforts. I will seek assistance else where and remember the hate from your particular model forum.

 

9/18/15 i have 240D MB - Alternator started to die, replace Voltage Regulator with Cheap Chinese, failed in days, Lights were dimming while driving in night.. went dead, stop charging battery, bough new battery, regulator went complete dead, battery light was not coming on,
replace again regulator, this time good, seems those Chinese ones, not so good, better buy 2 or 3, or just get a good one $35 bucks