ipatel

Hello everyone. A total newbie here.

I hav owned a C270 CDI '03' plate for the last 5 years but recently had the alternator/battery light come on (well its been coming on for the last 4 months!) so got the alternator reconditioned and re-fitted and after about 2 weeks the light has come back on. Next I have purchased another reconditioned Merc alternator, had that fitted in and the light is still not going off. Oh yes, and when driving the car recently the lights blinked on and off momentarily a few times and the power went down. Please, please someone help me as this problem is driving me nuts.

ipatel

Hi everyone.

Just an update. I have had another alternator fitted once again very new and reconditioned and the light has come on after about a day. Just gutted! I have spent about £400 in total and I am sick of it. The car at startup makes a ticking noise and when the lights are in the dark it flickers on and off constantly, making it impossible to drive at night. Latest electrician told me the voltage was at 14.8 (too high!) blaming the alternator. Please someone help me, before turn grey!

ptcruiser

Bad ground?

ipatel

I'm not too sure. Is there anyway of finding out? Thanks. Also my latest mechanic tells me it is the front SAM unit which needs replacing as it was blown after when the first alternator problem came about.

ptcruiser

When it comes to computerization such as SAM, I am a babe in the woods.
A bad ground should be easy to find with a meter.
A loose connection could be the simple solution, or possible an intermittent short caused by a bare or loose wire.
I always start at the simplest route and go from there.
Have you had the system analyzed with the Mercedes STAR computer?
Lots of non Mercedes shops have them or something close enough to give you the answer.
Good luck

aisqua

Hi just to say that i had the same problem . changed the alternator twice . finally someone tested the front sam with a brand new one . and everything was working fine .currently waiting for the delivery of a new SAM. please do a Diag to see if there is any short circuit recorded by the sam . it was the cause for me .

ipatel

Thanks a lot pal..Problem solved after fitting in a second hand SAM unit.

pschiller

I am having a similar problem on my 2000 C230. First (original) alternator died a little over a year ago. Had it replaced at the dealer and 13 months later it died again. Naturally MB offers a 12 month warranty - that pi$$ed me off. Had it replaced just 3 weeks ago at the deal and now the darn battery light is back on. In fact I am taking it back in today to have them look at it again!

What is a "SAM" and how much does that cost?