electronics shutting off, car switched to low gear
10-24-2009, 11:31 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 mbz c 240
electronics shutting off, car switched to low gear
Hi, new member here - 2003 C-240
While driving on the freeway, the battery light suddenly came on, within seconds the radio and A/C turned off, other warning lights gradually appeared ( abs, srs ) , then the windows stopped working, the dashboad display led lights readouts ( odometer, etc ) got dimmer almost to the point where you can't see them, the car switched into low gear, so at least I can drive it slowly but NOTHING else is working.
What would be the most likely cause of this ?
Many thanks in advance
Dan
While driving on the freeway, the battery light suddenly came on, within seconds the radio and A/C turned off, other warning lights gradually appeared ( abs, srs ) , then the windows stopped working, the dashboad display led lights readouts ( odometer, etc ) got dimmer almost to the point where you can't see them, the car switched into low gear, so at least I can drive it slowly but NOTHING else is working.
What would be the most likely cause of this ?
Many thanks in advance
Dan
10-25-2009, 09:06 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 0
Received 29 Likes
on
23 Posts
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Most likely your alternator has failed. Usually it's just the regulator that needs changing, but sometimes the fault is in the alternator itself.
Everything turned off because there wasn't enought power to keep everything running.
Everything turned off because there wasn't enought power to keep everything running.
10-26-2009, 07:25 PM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2003 mbz c 240
Thanks that was it ( regulator most likely , possibly alternator ) but since the labor charge would have been the same and an OE rebuilt alternator/+ reg. was only $ 275 ( which I thought was reasonable price ) I had the alternator replaced.
