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#1
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Alternator Upgrade? (1985 300TD wagon)
Hi all--
I just switched out my sealed beam US headlights with (used, from ebay) Cibie HCR H4 lights, 60/55w bulbs. The lights are great, illuminate much better, etc., but I noticed last night that the alternator light on my dashboard was faintly illuminated, something I certainly hadn't noticed before switching the lights. It stayed illuminated even at high revs on the freeway, and I didn't notice any dimming or brightening of the lights with acceleration. Am I going to need to upgrade the alternator just to run these lights? The only other electrical change I've made in my car is to replace the Becker radio with an Alpine head unit. If an alternator upgrade is advisable, can anyone recommend an easy drop in replacement for the original alternator, and suggest a reasonable amperage (75A? 80A?). Or, is it possible that my battery is just getting old? Or, for that matter, could this be related to the bulbs I'm using, which are old Philips that came with the lights? I've read through various related threads about bigger alternators but couldn't quite find an answer to this particular question. TIA Michael ('85 300TD wagon with insanely low original 42K mileage!) |
#2
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The brushes on your Alternator may be on the way out.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#3
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From what I have read here the alternators generally are pretty sound and don't usually need replacement. Try the voltage regulator. It's a quick easy replacement. See if that make the alt. light go out. Also might look for a bad ground.
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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#4
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I agree, two 60W lights is only 10 amps which shouldn't be a problem for the stock (65 amp, I think) alternator. I would measure the voltage at the battery, then start with the voltage regulator and/or brushes.
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#5
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Alt
I would check the Alt output before changing anything. Check the Voltage with your motor running and lights on. I would think with lights on you should be getting 13.80V. With nothing on and motor running you should be getting 14V. If your reading is 12.4 etc , You need a Alt, but I would think the 65Amp should be suffiecient, I have the 55Amp Alt and it puts out 13.60 with Air con on and fan on high.
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#6
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If you do decide to upgrade - the V-8 ALT (ie 500SEL, 380SEL ect ect). will drop in without a problem and is rated at 120 - 140A. The only modification you will need to do is switching the pulley and measuring out a new set of belts. The fit is tight but it does fit.
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1983 Mercedes 300SD 1987 Mercedes 300SDL 2001 VW Passat 2.8 AWD 2007 OM642 Jeep WK 4x4 |
#7
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Quote:
Switching the diesel belt pulley to one that the gassers used? Or putting the diesel pulley on the gasser alternator? I don't get which one you mean. When my alternator dies I am definatley upgrading to one of the more powerful ones, I think mine is a 55A one.....its been going strong 30,000 miles so far though, no idea when it was replaced beyond that, its a remanufactured..... So overall I just want to know which pulley one would use to put the gasser alternator on the diesel. And maybe which belt size it'd need....
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#8
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Just need to replace the single pulley gasser with the dual pulley (and smaller) diesel.
__________________
1983 Mercedes 300SD 1987 Mercedes 300SDL 2001 VW Passat 2.8 AWD 2007 OM642 Jeep WK 4x4 |
#9
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The Mean Green site also says something about alternators- perhaps they make badass alts as well as starters for our application...
__________________
'02 BMW 325i '85 300D 450k '93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree) '08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k '06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold) |
#10
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I would like to upgrade this summer, what year ALT did you use,and from which model? Did you find it at a junkyard? |
#11
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An AL-69X is what I used for an upgrade. You may have a single belt whereas the upgrade will use two V belts. see this thread (used search feature!) alternator alternative (123)?
__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting! |
#12
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Quote:
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#13
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I can't remember what car it came out of but I somehow have two of them (one for backup while the other is out for rebuilding). It was a late model V8 benz... It could be 80 amps I'll have to check on that I always thought they were 120's for some reason.
As for the mean green ALT. No they don't make one for our car... you might ask them if the bigger V8 model is upgradable?
__________________
1983 Mercedes 300SD 1987 Mercedes 300SDL 2001 VW Passat 2.8 AWD 2007 OM642 Jeep WK 4x4 |
#14
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search "al129x"
"Alternator" 115 Amp Bosch AL129X works in 123s! |
#15
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A 115 should be fine, but I want to keep the door open for later projects. |
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