E220 CDi Alternator error - Please help

[Ekko Star]

The light on the dash said the alternator needed checking.

The car was booked in for a diagnostic at the dealership and they diagnosed a faulty alternator. This they said they would replace under the extended warranty scheme that was taken out.

Thing is they say they've replaced the alternator but the light hasn't gone out on the dash. They say they replaced the alternator and it blew the ESP. The fault is now actually with the ESP and braking system and the are quoting £1500 to fix it because that is not covered by the warranty !!!!!

After nearly having a heart attack, we are very annoyed with the dealership. Their diagnosis was for a alternator after which they have replaced and they have then blown the ESP while in their garage.

Not happy about this at all. Surely, if they messed the job up in the garage it has got nothing to do with us ?

I'm racking my brain on what else the problem can be as I've read that a brake sensor and poor battery is a very common problem that gives rise to these symptoms.

Please help

 

[Parrot of Doom]

How old is the car?

 

[Ekko Star]

Year 2002. It's really bugging me since the ESP went faulty in there hands we've not had the car back since it went into the garage to get the alternator fixed.

They said they put the alternator in and it blew the ESP ! How on earth can they charge us for fixing something that they broke ? If they fitted the alternator incorrectly it's their fault surely ?

 

[BlackC55]

Speak to the person who fited it and get the truth. Sounds like a load of waffle to me.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I'd be astounded if all the computers on a modern car didn't have voltage regulators on their inputs.

You have the legal right to your car back in the condition it was given, subject to any repairs. If they've damaged a part of your car to repair another, without telling you first that such damage would occur, then its their problem, and they have to fix it.

 

[tech123]

can you find out more details? struggling to work out how a faulty ESP (and why it's £1500) can cause a battery/alternator warning to come on. could be a problem with the rear sam or battery control module.

 

[television]

I too am mystified by this thread, what has gone on the ESP

Can you put up the first 6 VIN numbers WDB??????

 

[Dieselman]

I bet they connected the alternator with the battery still connected and shorted out the +ve lead causing a spike which blew the ESP module.

Does the car still display exactly the same fault as before or is it now different.?

 

[recycled]

Smells like this

I reckon this is a dealership con. Correct me if i am wrong but is it not surprising that a lot of things under warranty still appear to have some charge on them?
My peugeot 306 gearbox went funny, i took it to peugeot and they said okay we will sort the gearbox under warranty but you will need a new clutch and linkage to cost £xyx pounds.
When i stated that there was nothing wrong with the clutch or linkages they refused to carry the job, putting me in a tight spot saying it is policy to change clutches when sorting out gearboxes. Never happend to me when i was in a saab.
What stops them from just quoting the price of the clutch as the price for sorting out the gearbox? I was told clutch is a wear and tear item.
__________________
What stops them from quoting the cost of the alternator warranty as a price for fixing the ESP.

 

[Ekko Star]

Thanks for all your replies so far guys.

The car is still in the garage. We have not seen it since it has gone in and it's still there ! I am only telling you what they are telling us.

1.They ran a diagnostic on it and told me it was the alternator gone.

2.This was covered under the warranty so they were given the go ahead to replace it - no charge to us

3. They then rang to say that they had replaced the alternator but the light on the dash had still not gone out. When fitting the new alternator the ESP and something to do with the braking system blew and would now need replacing.

4. They then offered to fix 'it' for £1500

We have refused and they are now saying that they will not be fixing the car and advised us to talk to head office. The alternator light on the dash is apparently still on ???

Totally shocking and unbelievable service from a Mercedes dealership.

 

[Ekko Star]

I bet they connected the alternator with the battery still connected and shorted out the +ve lead causing a spike which blew the ESP module.

Does the car still display exactly the same fault as before or is it now different.?

That would fit with the string of events and what they've told us. How can that be our fault and we get charged for that ?

I do not have the car to be able to tell you what fault it is displaying, but they said the light was still on ?

 

[tech123]

"something to do with the braking system blew"

for £1500 it could be the SBC. if so then MB will pay for it. Was told by someone from milton keynes (MBUK) that they will pay for SBC units to be replaced on cars that are upto 7 years old. still wouldn't cure the alternator/battery warning though.

 

[television]

If this car is a 211606 this could be caused by the Battery control unit with modified versions now available

 

[Ekko Star]

Model is WDB210006

 

[television]

Model is WDB210006

I will take a look in the morning, but on a 210 there is nothing odd with the electrics

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Well its still simple to me. Car is faulty. Fault diagnosis by garage is faulty alternator. Alternator is replaced. During replacement, expensive part of car is broken. Garage now legally liable for this damage. Garage refuses to pay. Owner contacts MBUK and complains, with law on his side.

Garage repairs damage at own cost under no illusion that not to do so will result in a summons to court for owner's costs.

 

[Ekko Star]

MBUK have been in touch today.

They have spoken to the garage who now claim that there were initially two faults to the car. Alternator and ESP !!!!

This is basically a blatant lie by the garage as they only diagnosed a faulty alternator. Also they had to get the go ahead from the MB extended warranty insurers for it to get the go ahead and they were informed of only an Alternator. Faulty alternator was the ONLY diagnosis.

The ESP has clearly failed during the time after installation of the alternator, at the dealership and hasn't left their garage. Frankly the dealership are trying to cover their **** now. We can't even go collect the car because it's now no longer in running condition !!!

MBUK said there is nothing more that they can do about it but have offered to help reduce the bill down to £1360.

My next step is to ask them to return the car in exactly the condition it was brought to them in, which was in running condition. Our car did not go them in any incapacitated way whatsoever and that is how it should be returned.

The car has been in their hands all along and hasn't left the garage since they started work on the alternator. How on earth they can expect to get away with this I do not know. No wonder they are called stealerships.

We have threatened them with trading standards and further action.