alternator question

btmed · #1 08-08-2012, 09:50 AM

wifes x5 01, 3.0 was making screetching noise with faint rubber smell on the way home yesterday. i get home this morning thinking thrown belt or maybe tensioner bad. it was dead last night when she tried to move it. first look belt is still in place but i can remove without releasing tension. 1 tensioner was replaced last year. both spin but not freely.
Question, for those that have replaced their alternator, did the alternator freeze up or make a screeching or rattling sound on its last days? this alt is still spinning freely. Going for replacement tensioners and new belt and hoping its not alt. looking for upgrade to 09 or 10 this week.

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Zulu95 · #2 08-08-2012, 09:56 AM

Water pump?

btmed · #3 08-08-2012, 11:01 AM

no, dont think so zulu. no indication of coolant leak nor did the car overheat on her 15 minute drive home on the highway. fixing to go take it apart now.

btmed · #4 08-08-2012, 01:21 PM

took battery out and had it tested, dead, almost 6 years old so decided to get a new one. put battery in started up and headed back to parts plus they tested alternator and found that it was not charging. back to the house to pull alternator. PP quoted bosch for $252. wonder if it could just be voltage regulator?

epdarks · #5 08-08-2012, 01:26 PM

How many miles on your truck? I would almost look at the alternator as a wear item, lasting 100-150k. To be fair I don't have direct experience with the X5, but I do know mine went at about 120k.

Zulu95 · #6 08-08-2012, 01:50 PM

Be careful where you buy the alternator. Most of the big automotive parts places use "remans" that seem to be little better than an old unit with a fresh coat of paint. I have been reading on the boards for years of people on their third or more replacement unit within a very few months of service. Go to a good online place that sells the real OEM alternator at discount (e. g. BAVAUTO) or go to a Bosch dealer. It may be more up front but sure saves a lot of headaches later. (It is your wife's vehicle, right!)
GL

bastereo · #7 08-08-2012, 07:43 PM

That bocsh should be fine. I would stay away from most remans but bocsh is one brand we will use.

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btmed · #8 08-08-2012, 07:49 PM

think it has around 135k miles now and i agree i was lucky that the alternator and battery lasted as long as they did. went to auto zone to get the alt, valeo 120, came back, installed and wouldnt you know it, the pulley didnt line up, 1/2 inch off, pull it off look on the back and says bosch. should have read your post zulu Before getting the alt! I'll try again tommorrow... goal is 5 or 6 grand on a trade in for a 09 or 10. wish my wife didnt love this x so much!

bastereo · #9 08-09-2012, 12:25 AM

Dang. The valeo should have been good too. Didn't think AutoZone carried and real quality parts, especially from a smaller brand like valeo.
My opinion: AutoZone sucks.
But occasionally even good parts manufacturers have a bad piece slip through, not AutoZone's fault.

Wow, AutoZone is in autocorrect...

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btmed · #10 08-09-2012, 09:32 PM

they reordered the alternator for me and sure enough someone had packed the wrong alt the first time. Today got the right one, valeo 120 sent. put it in got everything back together including new belts and everything is good to go. oil change this weekend and now i can take my time looking for that upgrade.

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