04 X5 Alternator NOT Charging?
 

Ok, can someone please point me to a possible direction.

History:

Replaced Battery and Rebuilt Alternator 2 months ago

Last week, got Battery Light, no reading of charging from Battery Post

Removed and brought back to Shop that Rebuilt Alternator

They said it was charging, but they changed out Voltage Regulator anyways

Put Alternator back in and nothing again.

Is there a Relay of some sort that excites the Alternator to start charging?

The DME is what excites it... and I wouldn't suspect that normally. It may just take some digging around to go through the basics on it. Just dig around with your meter and start checking the system.

The shop says it is charging properly on the bench test, so it could be the wires to it. I'd just make sure the big main wire to it is properly installed and tightned, then make sure the small plug it installed correctly as well.

Tightened the big red wire on the Alternator with 13mm socket. Plug next to it, clicks right in. How do I check them any more?

Also, what a DME?

The DME is the engine computer... it controls the alternator.

Ok, heres the update. I brought the car to Autozone to have them run a test on the Alternator and Battery. Their machine barely worked since my battery was very low and their machine is portable and puts a serious load on it. I told them that i would trickle charge the battery overnight and bring it back again the next day. I am sure my Alternator will show no charging, but what do you guys think I should do next?

I am going to try and remove the red cable (back of alt) and plug and maybe clean them and inspect but what else can I do? Next step after that is to buy another alternator but this time from Autozone. Is this a good plan? Anyone heard of the DME malfunctioning? The car ran great beforehand and no leading issues. Help please as my wife is having to drive my gas guzzler Expedition since X5 has been down.

If the alternator tests bad on the vehicle, go for the new one. I prefer OEM, but the autozone one should come with warranty as well. Just see if they can make a printout showing the failed test of the alternator so you can bring that to the shop that rebuilt it and try for a refund.

I'd pay a little extra and get a rebuilt Bosch one from Napa.

Dan

$199 Rebuilt from Autozone with a $35 Core. I will check with NAPA on the Bosch one. Good idea on getting a printout as I would use this in court if I need to. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

NAPA $220.40 Raylock Brand $50 Core.

I asked about a Bosch and they said they haven't carried Bosch in a long time.

Dropped off at the BMW Stealership for a Diagnosis. $130 Bones.

In regaurds to the "stealership" line, refer to the quote in my sig...

"You think professional is expensive, just wait until you pay for amateur"

They couldn't proceed with the diagnostics until I replaced my battery. They did a test on it and it had a bad cell. I quickly took my 2 month old battery back to Autozone for an exchange. Looks like they can't work on it till Tuesday since they are closed on Monday. Oh well, no biggie, but I did learn a couple things shooting the shint with the Shop Foreman. I didn't realize that a Rebuild is totally different than a Re-manufactured Alternator. Now I am almost positive that the "Rebuilt" Alternator is my main issue and I bet it probably ruined the 2 month old battery too.

Anyways, I am paying for a $130 Diagnostic so I might as well get the most information I can about my X5's charging system.

Sorry, local shops. No more. Going with the Big Retail Auto Shops from now on.

Sorry, not getting it.

Basically saying while it costs a bit more for the professional work (in your current case a remanufactured alternator) you end up paying more in the end to get cheaper work done (like your rebuilt alternator being bad and killing the new battery)

When people try to get out the cheapest way possible it often doesn't work and causes more damage... Then you not only wasted money on the cheap repair, but end up paying for the proper repair that should have beed done the first time.

Ah, got it. I get it now, but that's not really the case here. I got the Alternator rebuilt instead of buying the Autozone Re-manufactured one because I wanted to support the local economy.

The local shop actually was a little bit more ($30) than the Autozone $199 Reman. It's one of those things in life you learn as you go. I just happened to get a bad shop. Lesson learned.

Will it cost me more in the end? Not really. If the Alternator is found to be faulty by the BMW Dealer Diag, then the paperwork will be used to gain my money back PLUS the BMW Diag Fee. Will he give it? Probably not, but will a Judge in Small Claims Court? Absolutely yes, it's all about real evidence and having paperwork to prove it and it helps that it's from a big known name (BMW).

Was it all worth my time? Absolutely not.

This is how life is, we learn things as we go. If I wasn't already struggling with my Southern California Home Mortgage, trust me, I would have had BMW fix this and be done.