Problems with pagoda.. Please help! :-)

[Misty]

Hi I'm having problems with my 280 pagoda starting.. I have only recently got it, and I went to go in it the other day and it was dead .. The AA came out and said the alternator wasn't. Charging it at idol so I had a major service carried out and refurbished the alternator and was told the battery was fine.. I have just gone to start it aft work and its dead again?

Can anybody tell me what it could be?  If the battery is fine and iv refurbished the alternator what could it be ?

Obviously london is rainy and cold.. But would that do it?

I just need it to be reliable .. Just for rid of a 250ce coupe from 67 that nev let me down for 2 years every day!

Oh dear.. Any ideas?

Thank you so much for any help..

Misty

[franjo_66]

Hi Misty

I had the same exact problem on my 230SL and the cause of the problem was that the external regulator for the alternator had become unplugged. So no matter that I bought a new alternator & battery, as the alternator wiould not charge the battery without the regulator connected.

It is located on the passenger side of the engine bay (for LHD countries!) above the wheel arch. There is a little plug with wiring that should be connected to the regulator. I hope this helps !


Good luck
Franjo

[Misty]

Hi frango,

Thanks, is it a black box with a removable top ? And inside is a little coil?

Just down from this is a black plate with wires going to it (nearer the light) that has no cover ?

[Misty]

Does anyone know a good electrical engineer that can help with my pagoda ? I'm in east london..

Many thanks

[franjo_66]

Misty, just realised that your 280Sl may have an internal regulator in the alternator as the changeover from external to internal occured around August 1969. So I would check that first.

The external voltage regulator on my car is an aluminium-finish box with approximate dimensions of  70mmx70mmx35mm. It basically is mounted on the fender area just across from the cold start valve (which sits on the end of the intake manifold).

Regards
Franjo

[Jack Jones]

I have an August 1970 280SL and it still has the external regulator mounted on the right inner fender. I have never seen an internal circuited regulator on any 113 chassis unless converted after the fact.

[franjo_66]

that's interesting, as I am sure that I have read that later 280SLs had internal regulators ?? Perhaps some other 280SL owners could confirm

[Larry & Norma]

My '70 280SL has the regulator on the fender.

[Neil Thompson]

Mine on the inner wing also

[Bryn Jones]

Hi Misty
I have sent you a pm with contact details for Roger Edwards Motors, Amersham: Pagoda doctors!

[stickandrudderman]

There are other "pagoda doctors" around you know!

[ja17]

Hello,

All W113 cars came from the factory with external regulators as far as I know.  If the alternator is good, then the issue could be a simple wiring or regulator problem.  Something like a dirty battery connection can leave you stranded.  Be patient Misty, these cars are quite dependable once put right. You may have to spend a short time correcting past sins from previous owners and techs.

[w113dude]

Every now and then I get this kind of dead situations with my cars, almost always it's a bad connection at the battery.

[glenn]

Also, the negative battery strap to the car body sometimes is a bad connection. ..