Alternator Problems

OHMYX5 · #1 06-07-2007, 10:01 PM

Hi all, yesterday I was driving back home, I felt the Steering a little harder than it used to be, but I shrugged it off as nothing and proceeded to head home.

After an hour of driving and reaching my home, I turned off the stereo and I heard a whinning sound, not too loud, but audible.

As I reached my front gates, the idling became slightly erratic and than the engine died. I tried to start it and I was greeted with an almighty roar. Naturally, the engine started and switched itself off. I called my regular mechanic and he came over and inspected the car. He told me that my Alternator has siezed, and what I heard was the belt trying to turn the pulley and the alternator not giving way. Bearing sounds jammed. He said I would need to get a new alternator. This was a common thing in X5 he says, this will be his 3rd repair/replacement on it.

My question is, this Alternator is working perfectly, charging my battery well and all that is wrong with it, as far as I can tell, is that the bearing has jammed. Couldn't I just get this repaired? Is there a repair kit for this or will I have to take on the replacment path? Your valuable advice would help me save some much needed bucks.

My car is a 2001 4.4 X5. Thanks in advance all!

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Zulu95 · #2 06-08-2007, 08:26 AM

I remember somebody else trying to go this route and finding the parts hard to locate. You may need to search the web for somebody who will supply a rebuild or just go to the $tealer.

gotabyte · #3 06-08-2007, 05:41 PM

I shopped around when mine went out and found it for as little as $189 remanufactured at O'Reilly. Shop around BMW wanted $800 for the same thing.

OHMYX5 · #4 06-11-2007, 08:26 PM

I was quoted abt US$850 for it over here as well. Problem is, I cannot find anyone who wants to repair mine, so I went ahead to get a new one. Its already installed, along with a new serpentine belt. Now I can take my time to source someone who can repair the older one and just keep it as spare. Thanks.

Zulu95 · #5 06-11-2007, 08:54 PM

It's not the done thing to fix anything now days. It's even hard and expensive to source some parts. I was quoted $20 more for a magnetron to repair a microwave than it cost to replace it with a more powerful new unit. Same with window AC units and many other things. Bosch should stock parts but if they follow Hella's lead all the part numbers will not match up in any catalog. (I tried to get new clear lenses for the X5 headlights using the Hella part number found on the lens.

osofast · #6 06-11-2007, 10:02 PM

Was in the same situation couple months back, was told by service mgr that it could have easily cost between US$1000 - $1500 but was fortunate to have extended warranty cover the repairs.

Alternator was replaced together with tensioner pully and alternator belt...

PM me if you need the part no.

Good luck with the repairs! Don't know how much Perf motors S'pore will charge, but keep us posted if you find a good mechanic in S'pore.

OHMYX5 · #7 06-11-2007, 10:10 PM

I had mine repaired in Johor Bahru, south of Malaysia. Cost me US$ 950 for a new Alternator with 1 yr Warranty.

Alternator is already fixed along with a new belt, but, they broke the Coolant Resovior overflow pipe ( I think thats what they call it ). Now have to wait for that part to arrive, should be ready by today.

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