Alternator or battery ? HELP !

[Chas]

Folks

My S320 (2001) battery charge warning light came on today whilst driving past the MB dealer!
I dropped in and they said just charge the battery, its a common problem this time of year,with dark nights cold weather etc.
I drove off some 4 miles and the battery warning fault came on, this time followed by the ABS, ESP and BAS.(These things happen when voltage drops below 10 volts, apparently)
The power steering and power assist brakes now failed as I enterd my driveway at home. I tried to start the car but battery is dead.
I called MB mobillo rescue people and the chap came out, stuck a few leads on alternator and battery and said it is the alternator which is faulty.( battery reading 11.5 volts)
I am charging the battery at the moment, and am booked in for a new alternator tomorrow.
Is there a recall on alternators ? Should I try a new battery first ? Am I about to be shafted by MB ?? !

I have only driven the car about 6 times on 1 mile journeys ( STOPPING AND STARTING SEVERAL TIMES )in the past week at night in awfull weather ( all electrics on )

I am hoping its just the battery.
Should it read 12 volts or 13.5 when I try the voltmeter on a charged battery ?

thanks for any help guys

 

[Denise]

having been through the same problem as you just a couple of weeks ago, i can quite confidently say its probably the alternator (sorry to be the bearer of bad news). On my 2000 E220 CDi a recon 'service exchanged' Bosch fitted by an independent cost about £600 at a dealer £1000 would be closer to the mark, on my 98 Honda Civic a recon fitted is just £150 fitted!

However it all depends on the alternator itself, apparently in my E-Class model there are two sorts, one water-cooled and the other isnt, being my luck i have a big fat water cooled one which i why i paid more to get a replacement the standard non-watercooled alternator would have set me back £400 fitted.

Just a side note!

The other day i got some literature by MB UK on the new S-Class it said people who drove the new S-class were so relaxed that there hearts beated less, over two years the literature stated that almost an extra months of heartbeats were saved.
I think the editing department must have removed the bit where it said drive an S-Class and when it does go wrong you will either have a massive heart attack, or you will need to submit yourself to the cardiology ward to save whatever heartbeats you have left!

Mercedes + Heart = Bad connection !
Stress, Anxiety, Financial problems, fear of even going to you local tesco's in case u hear a 'beep' displaying an error code, too costly just for an image!

 

[Chas]

I am hoping my S320 (2001 july) falls into the recall category. I got it in feb 2005, and it was serviced last month. No one mentioned the recall or upgraded my alternator !
http://www.carpages.co.uk/mercedes_benz/mercedes-benz-car-recall-04-04-05.asp

 

[Chas]

I just phoned MB and my car is coverd by the recall!

http://www.carpages.co.uk/mercedes_benz/mercedes-benz-car-recall-04-04-05.asp

A merry XMAS for me now !

 

[Chas]

After a close inspection by the MB dealer the alternator is ok. The problem was water penetration in wiring loom causing electrical faults !
The drain pelum was cleaned last month when my car (S320) was serviced, due to water penetration causing the alarm to go off.
I know this is a design fault, but is there any way to modify/cover anything to prevent the same thing happening again during continuous heavy driving rain ?

any ideas help would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[mioba]

After a close inspection by the MB dealer the alternator is ok. The problem was water penetration in wiring loom causing electrical faults !
The drain pelum was cleaned last month when my car (S320) was serviced, due to water penetration causing the alarm to go off.
I know this is a design fault, but is there any way to modify/cover anything to prevent the same thing happening again during continuous heavy driving rain ?

any ideas help would be appreciated.

thanks

there is a fix for this its to add another drain valve to the side of the chamber. this is on the MB wis and your dealers should have done it.

 

[Chas]

there is a fix for this its to add another drain valve to the side of the chamber. this is on the MB wis and your dealers should have done it.

Many thanks sir

Is there a reference I can quote them when I pick up the car tomorrow? My car is an S320 (2001) Y
My tech. is poor, could you explain which chamber, and was this a recall fault ?

cheers

Chas