Hey, I've gotten all the pretty lights on the dash to light up. Up to and including the low battery light. Car basically stopped on me the other day after I went for groceries. SRS stayed lit the whole drive. (The car hasn't had the engine wiring harness done.) If i revved the car over 3k, the lights went out, but if the AC was on, the car about died. I measured the battery voltage with a meter: 11.5v (and presumably dropping).

I've been doing some reading on the alternator on this car and it seems that the sway bar hasta come down, but what about the hose that comes off the bottom of the rad? Anything else I need to know?

I found the gotcha of disconnecting the wire from the rear of the alternator already. Now I get to jack up the car, reinstall the alternator, then take it back off. Oh boy! This is what you get when you don't have a manual...

Since I haven't gotten the alternator off, I haven't gotten it tested. O'Reilly's sez they can get a non-Bosch reman for $160-ish. Any thoughts on that vs the reman Bosch that's stock?

Thanks for the help,

M

__________________
I'll move back to VA when they change the weather

I thought you just drive the car in and have them test the alternator. Voltage regulator is a far more common problem, and cheap. And your lower engine wiring harness would be suspect too.

Car = DOA = no driving it to the parts place.

Since I don't have a manual, where's the voltage regulator?

M

__________________
I'll move back to VA when they change the weather

From V-12 Uber Alles:

Alternator removal on a '97 W140 V-12. (Similar?)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?searchid=5143313

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

It's easy to replace the brush reg pac on the back.

I don't like non-bosch rebuilds. Infact, I would only use a bosch regulator/brush pac. Online $25-45.
For a bosch reman, the dealership ones are the same price wholesale and carry a better (easier to use) warrentee.

I don't know the Amperage of that alternator? 110A? They ussually need brushes between 100-150,000 miles. The rear bearing is a little noisy and easy to replace($5 or so).

M

I have that alt dismantled right now, it was choked with oil residue. The removal is pretty easy, I think I did it from above by pulling the air pump out of the way first. This alt is marked 115amp although as I understand it there was a 90amp option also, so check yours first.

A new voltage regulator is fine if your slip rings are in good shape, otherwise you might be back to square one.

steve a

__________________
Steve A
92 W140 OM603
97 VW Jetta TDI
90 Passat variant TDI 6 speed MT
94 Chevy K1500 6.5TD
05 E320 CDI
+ others

I got the alternator out, hopped down to O'Reilly's and got it tested. Machine sez 'no go.'

I've found alternators across the board price-wise. Bosch only? Will anything work? I know these guys sell one, but I'd like it NOW... Anyone bought one from the dealer? They're within walking distance.

:ear

M

__________________
I'll move back to VA when they change the weather