1988 240 GL wagon. Will not charge by alternator, will take charge from the onboard external charger, or a jump start. There is a small red wire coming from the spade clip on the alternator. It has either broken or got cut somehow. Is this supposed to run to the sensor that is in the side of the block just ahead of the oil filter? The wire coming out of this sensor is not connected to anything either, so I assume that the two should be joined. If so, is this a possible reason for my battery not staying charged?
On a different topic, my mileage is in the low teens. I know that 225,000 miles is a lot to ask of any car, and this car certainly has been a good car. The exhaust is very smelly, as in motorists behind me can smell it with the their windows rolled up. The catalytic convertor has been hollowed out, there is a slight leak at the junction of the header/down pipe, and the tubing from the heat shield to the air box has been patched up but probably leaks some still. Any/all of these factors contributing to my mileage woes and smelly exhaust?
Thanks for any responses. Vio el Vio!