Delayed Charging... Battery? Alternator? Voltage Regulator?

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by BigBody

Yeah I figured thats what he meant but why spend 500 when the regulator is 50 bucks at fcp... what were your symptoms?



Symptoms?? 2 times in 100k sounds ridiculous

I never said replace it. I said the alternator is on the way out.

That's the same thing as telling you the knocking noise your engine is making means the motor is on the way out. I could of said its the $3 rod bearing.

Still looking at a motor rebuild.

The voltage regulator is getting lazy kicking in the alternator since we want to get technical.

This could be caused by brushes, the regulator or a few gallons of power steering fluid aka atf fluid. I have fixed them with any and all of the three causes.

Its still the alternator croaking.


If it is the atf fluid make sure to clean it out completely if you decide to rebuild. It will greatly shorten the life of the new parts and randomly cause it to cut out or not charge from time to time.

[whizzkid23]

Originally Posted by Crowz

I never said replace it. I said the alternator is on the way out.

That's the same thing as telling you the knocking noise your engine is making means the motor is on the way out. I could of said its the $3 rod bearing.

Still looking at a motor rebuild.

The voltage regulator is getting lazy kicking in the alternator since we want to get technical.

This could be caused by brushes, the regulator or a few gallons of power steering fluid aka atf fluid. I have fixed them with any and all of the three causes.

Its still the alternator croaking.


If it is the atf fluid make sure to clean it out completely if you decide to rebuild. It will greatly shorten the life of the new parts and randomly cause it to cut out or not charge from time to time.

Is there any DIY information available on the rebuilding process? I would like to give it a try next time...

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by whizzkid23

Is there any DIY information available on the rebuilding process? I would like to give it a try next time...

Yep. There are several of them out there including youtube vids.

This is a good one for bosch alternators for example.

DIY: 1998 528i Bosch Alternator Rebuild for $30! - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

[whizzkid23]

Originally Posted by Crowz

Yep. There are several of them out there including youtube vids.

This is a good one for bosch alternators for example.

DIY: 1998 528i Bosch Alternator Rebuild for $30! - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Thanks a lot....well, I guess i threw 800 bucks down the toilet over the last couple of years by thinking a alternator was a very sofisticated part that couldn't be serviced. Should have done more research on this...

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by whizzkid23

Thanks a lot....well, I guess i threw 800 bucks down the toilet over the last couple of years by thinking a alternator was a very sofisticated part that couldn't be serviced. Should have done more research on this...

Don't feel bad on that part. I have rebuilt a bunch of them over the years and I normally just buy a reman or new alternator.

Its not worth the effort in the matter to me. On a bmw unless you have a parts washer they get so nasty on the inside of the alternator from the power steering leaking into them combined with road grime I would rather just replace it than rebuild it. But to each their own.

The ones I will redo brush and regulator wise are the ones that can be done without removing the alternator. My F150 and the Mercedes 190D Turbo can be redone without removing the alternator itself. That's worth the effort for sure.

But with the trouble it takes to get to the bmw's alternator plus how nasty it gets I just replace it.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by whizzkid23

Is there any DIY information available on the rebuilding process? I would like to give it a try next time...

Two screws hold the regulator/brushes to the alternator after you remove the plastic cover. If you can't get the screw out with a regular screwdriver I would suggest you get one of those handheld impact with a phillip bit to remove the screw. If you mess up that screw then, and the only way to remove it is to drill it out.