Jim The alternator is easy to test. Just pull the connector from the back of the alternator and see if the current drain stops. By the way, an internal leak can kill the battery but it would not register on your ammeter. The alternator is the most likely cause (shorted diode(s)) in my experience. The reported 320ma leak should not kill a good battery in 8 hrs (only a few amp-hours) but if you have a bad diode, you are not getting much recharge while driving ... so the battery was probably low.
Scott Ritchey Kittrell NC 1982 300SD 220K 1979 300TD 350K -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John Ervine Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 9:18 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Excessive current draw - '80 300TD Jim Cathey wrote: > I vote alternator as I don't know how you would be measuring 320mA > for an _internal_ battery short (a common failure mode), so my best > guess is a bad diode in the alternator. This is a nice double whammy > as it also prevents the alternator from charging properly. Glow plug > relay is also separately fused. Alternator and GP relay are both > easy to unplug, leaving only the starter as a final suspect. I unplugged the harness for the GP relay, and the current draw did not change, so I think that rules that out. The alternator still charges the battery just fine, though. Tomorrow afternoon's first troubleshooting step will be to remove the connection on the alternator. > You might also check for auxiliary fuses, you could have missed some. > Various MB's can have a basket-load of them, particularly the ones > in the 70's. I'll consult the ETM further to check on this. -- John L. Ervine 1981 240D 4-spd 268+kmi 1980 300TD 170+kmi 1980 300SD 277+kmi 1977 280S 4-spd 80+kmi _______________________________________ http://www.striplin.net For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
