I can’t find the right alternator for my Mercedes-Benz. 2003 Mercedes SL500
I have spent the past week, and gone to at least 50 websites looking for the correct alternator for my Mercedes-Benz. All the alternators I've found are 12 volts 150 AMP. The original alternator i brought out of the engine, which i'm currently looking to change, is 14 volts and 150 AMP. This alternator came with the car. Please do you know a website where i can buy a 14 volt 150 AMP alternator that fits a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500? Please include direct link to the webpage. (if there's any.)
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello – any of the MB parts sites selling a "12v, 150 amp" alternator that fits your SL500 is selling the correct specification alternator. Your cars electrical system is nominally 12 volts. The voltage regulator within the alternator allows the alternator to charge at up to 14 volts in order to bring the battery back up to at least 12 volts. While cranking for example, system voltage can drop to 10 volts or so. The difference in "system voltage vs charging voltage" is a bit confusing, but hopefully, this has helped your understanding. If not, shoot any other questions our way.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Consumer Reports did single out the new version 2003 SL500 as one of the very least reliable cars sold in 2003, and lo and behold, it also came up as the car with the very highest percentage of customers who would definitely buy one again.
If electronics in your Mercedes are showing signs of trouble, then the problem may lie with your alternator. The alternator is the component that uses the engine`s power to keep your battery fully charged.
The most common reasons a Mercedes-Benz SL500 won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
Mercedes-Benz Alternator at a Glance
The alternator is important because it keeps the battery charged, which allows for the use of the ignition system, headlights, dashboard instruments, and more.
You want your Mercedes-Benz SL500 to last as long as possible. If you put in the effort to keep up with proper maintenance, your SL500 has a good chance of hitting 200,000 miles or more. Not an expert in what services your car needs and when? No problem.
With performance stats that include a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.1 seconds and a (electronically limited) top speed of 155 mph, the SL500 can boogie if it wants to.
“An alternator, as an integral part of every combustion engine vehicle, its main responsibility is to convert chemical energy to electrical energy so that you can charge and replenish the battery in your engine and other electrical components in a car.”
Issue: Faulty Starter
A faulty starter is a very common reason for a Mercedes-Benz C 300 not starting. It is responsible for cranking your engine to life when turning the ignition switch. Repeated clicking, grinding, or loud noises when cranking the ignition is a telltale sign your starter is faulty.
Check fuses and relays
Mercedes won`t start, and there are no batteries? You`ll need to check the vehicle fuses. Check the fuses for these certain parts, which are important: starter, ignition, engine ignition, and pump. It may vary from model to model whether a certain circuit affects starting.
One of the most common problems you`re likely to experience with an alternator is a failure in the bearings. There are needle bearings in the alternator that allow the rotor to freely spin inside the housing, and those bearings can break down over time as a result of exposure to heat and dirt.
Alternator repair kits are usually less than $30, depending on which components you need to fix. Again, you need the proper tools and a little know-how, but if you`re able to find the right kit and know what you`re doing, you can rebuild an alternator for a fraction of the cost of even a remanufactured unit.
Mercedes Benz vehicles have an average reliability rating, lasting 15 to 17 years when they are properly maintained.
It can accelerate from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds going up to a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
My research online shows that only approximately 2,000 Launch Edition cars were made.
You will do no harm installing a higher output unit as the amps are on demand. Now if you install a lower output unit then you will have issue with the battery not being fully charged and the alternator not supplying the required power and the car running more off the battery. This will leave you stranded.
You should have a stamp on the alternator with a part number and amperage. The part number that starts with F3UZ is the 130 amp, and the F1TZ is the 95 amp.
Choosing the Right Alternator for Your Vehicle
Switch each electrical component on and off, noting their amperage draws. Add up the total ammeter readings. Your alternator output should be 50 percent greater than that figure.
The amp rating of the alternator is matched to the vehicle`s electrical system. Older vehicles with fewer accessories may only need a 70- or 80-amp alternator, while a newer vehicle with lots of electronics and accessories may need a 120- to 160-amp alternator.
We drove the SL500, which will be the most powerful version until the SL63 AMG arrives. It has a twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 that produces 429bhp.
There`s certainly enough power on demand from the twin-turbo 4.7-litre V8 under the bonnet.
Why won`t my car start but the battery is good? If your car won`t start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
One of the most common problems that Mercedes A-Class owners may experience is electrical issues. These can manifest in a variety of ways, such as dashboard warning lights, faulty sensors, or problems with the car`s infotainment system.
If your alternator fails when you`re far from home, you can typically drive up to 200 miles on battery power alone. That`s assuming your battery is in good shape and fully charged. Of course, it`s best to get the alternator repaired or replaced as soon as you can.
Unreliable Engine
One of the first issues you might notice when your alternator is on its last legs is the engine struggling to start or randomly stalling as you drive. This is because the engine depends on the alternator to provide energy to the spark plugs and trigger the ignition process.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I can’t find the right alternator for my Mercedes-Benz. 2003 Mercedes SL500
ANSWER : Hello – any of the MB parts sites selling a "12v, 150 amp" alternator that fits your SL500 is selling the correct specification alternator. Your cars electrical system is nominally 12 volts. The voltage regulator within the alternator allows the alternator to charge at up to 14 volts in order to bring the battery back up to at least 12 volts. While cranking for example, system voltage can drop to 10 volts or so. The difference in "system voltage vs charging voltage" is a bit confusing, but hopefully, this has helped your understanding. If not, shoot any other questions our way.
Battery good, alternator good, brand new alternator cable, still not charging.
ANSWER : Hi There,
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
I have a Dodge Ram and I ran a mailbox over on my right side. When I turn left and right there’s a grinding noise on the right.
ANSWER : After running over the mailbox, the box or stem could have bent the backing plate and is now causing the grinding noise as the backing plate is scraping against the brake rotor on the right side. Inspect your brake system and see what is causing the grinding noise. If you need further assistance with the grinding noise, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Alternator belt or whole new alternator?
ANSWER : Hi There,
If the diagnosis was that the battery is being overcharged, you may have a faulty voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
If the diagnosis was that the battery is being overcharged, you may have a faulty voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
I need to buy an alternator today. Mine had to much wattage due to my new sub and amp. How do I know what alternator to buy? 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
ANSWER : Hello – the real question here, and this is for your sound system person, is "How many watts does all this new gear pull?". Then you calculate how many amps that translates to what capacity alternator you need. (Amps = Watts/voltage 12 volts in this case). So 600 watts of sound system load equals 50 amps of ADDITIONAL load on the alternator. (600 watts/12 volts = 50 amps). The first generation alternator on this model was rated at 105 amps, 2nd gen at 130 amps. Replacement alternators are available for up to about 250 amps, then you need to think about liquid-cooled alternators, dual-alternators, etc. Then there is heavier wiring to directly wire (through fuses and relays) the sound system, heavier battery to float high-load periods, etc. Determine your requirements, then consider how the whole system needs to be upgraded.
How much oil needs to leak into an Alternator to cause the Alternator to go bad
ANSWER : It would be difficult to say exactly how much oil it would take to cause the alternator to fail. However, oil leaking on the alternator due to leaking valve cover gaskets can cause it to fail. It seems as if the technician who is servicing your vehicle may not have performed a courtesy inspection to check for other potential issues prior to starting the other repairs you had requested. I would recommend having the alternator replaced if it has oil leaking on it as well as resolving the valve cover gasket leak to prevent it from happening again. You may try to use a different mechanic who is more upfront and honest in the first place. Consider YourMechanic as services such as this can be completed from your home or office.
My Mercedes Benz Gl450 will tilt to the right quite a lot and the air matic won’t work and the front right wheel almost touches the fe
ANSWER : This is likely a compressor issue. The compressor may be faulty or may have a bad connection. This can be tested several ways. You may have a code available from the computer which explains more about the compressor issue. You can also test for available voltage at the compressor to make sure it is getting power.
If you do not have power, you will want to trace those wires and find where the power cuts out. If you do have power, you can bet that the compressor needs to be replaced. You may want to test the airbag as well, as there is likely a reason it was low in the first place. Have a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, perform an inspection to determine exactly why your car is leaning.
Bmw alternator question
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. You will want to go with what they call an "OEM" (original equipment manufacture) part. This just means that the company which is producing the part uses the manufacture’s design, and it should be the exact type (or upgraded version of) the exact alternator that came with the car. There are going to be a wide variety of alternators that will work for you car, but an OEM part will assure the mounts fit and the power ratings are equivalent. While we can not advise you on the exact part or company to purchase it from, a search with the letters "OEM" should bring up what you are looking for. When purchasing a part, typically it is best to go with a middle priced replacement unless going to upgrades (say you power a lot of electronics or sound systems). For more help replacing the alternator, contact our service department.
