Alternator Replaced (Red Triangle + Battery Light) 2005 S60 2.5T Topic is solved

Meliodase · Post by **Meliodase** » 24 Oct 2025, 12:28

It's my first car and honestly I'm not too car savvy but a family member let me have it for free as it's just been sitting for years but I still think I might have bit off more than I can chew

Anyway! I had the alternator replaced today with this part from ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/296182824398 and now there's this red triangle on the dash and red battery light. The reason I had the alternator replaced is when idling the car would shut off sometimes or have some intermittent power loss with the headlights flickering. I bought a scanner and monitored the voltage while the car was on and it would quite often dip to around 12v or below while running. Eventually the battery went bad and I had that replaced a few months ago. The car has 209k miles on it and this is the first time any actual parts has been replaced aside from some hoses as far as they can remember.

VPWR on scanner with car running: 13.6-14.2
(Car on) Multimeter on battery terminals: 14.3
(Car off) Multimeter on battery terminals: 12.29

I'm seeing that the voltage with the car off indicates the battery needs to be recharged but I did some googling and I saw that other models would get this issue (the lights) due to the voltage regulator not being built the same way as factory which was causing the lights to appear and my question is if that is the case here is that going to cause any permanent damage and if the lights weren't on before the alternator was swapped then it probably isn't the battery that's causing them to be on now right? Either way I'm going to get the battery charged as soon as I can just to be sure but I'm mainly concerned about causing some extreme damage with these lights on

Post by **cn90** » 24 Oct 2025, 13:54

Get the Bosch alternator.

Meliodase · Post by **Meliodase** » 24 Oct 2025, 14:28

cn90 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 13:54 Get the Bosch alternator.

Yeah, I figured as much from just snooping around. Do you think I'll do any permanent damage driving it for maybe 10 miles a day or so for a month? Just need to get back and forth to work while I save up for the bosch unit

Post by **cn90** » 24 Oct 2025, 15:09

New (N) is better than Rebuilt (X)...
AL0854N = 140A type
AL0832N = 160A type

Just find out what is in the car and replace with the same amperage.

PS: if you can find a low mileage Genuine alternator, such as 80K-90K, then it is good too.

Post by **cn90** » 24 Oct 2025, 15:25

Also,

For used parts, I trust LKQonline bc they tag every part with VIN and mileage. You should be able to find a unit with 80K miles on their website for $85. Genuine Volvo.

A good used Volvo alternator is better than a brand-new Chinese unit.

PS: the aftermarket is full of Chinese stuffs...

Meliodase · Post by **Meliodase** » 24 Oct 2025, 15:56

cn90 wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 15:25 Also,

For used parts, I trust LKQonline bc they tag every part with VIN and mileage. You should be able to find a unit with 80K miles on their website for $85. Genuine Volvo.

A good used Volvo alter is better than a brand-new Chinese unit.

PS: the aftermarket is full of Chinese stuffs...

I'll give them a look over, thank you! I should've been a little skeptical when I had this in my cart the price kept dropping so I jumped on it thinking I scored a deal but it's a learning experience now

Post by **cn90** » 24 Oct 2025, 18:20

LKQonline can ship the parts between cities (? for free iirc). You simply go to the local LKQ warehouse (if there is one in your area) and pick it up.

PS: junk yard is an option but look up odometer reading (using VIN) first...

Post by **cn90** » 25 Oct 2025, 10:23

Also, use FCPEuro website to check compatibility but Iirc, there is a split year, so 2001-2004 unit may physically fit, but will give you a warning light. So get unit from 2005-2009.

LKQonline website sometimes has issue with drop-down menu with S60, so look under XC90 and S80 with same engine. Best is to look at the old alternation for Volvo number and use the same part.

LKQonline also sells on eBay.

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 27 Oct 2025, 21:14

If the bearings are good then just replaced the voltage regulator if possible. My old 98 wagon had a Bosch alternator with a bad regulator. Changing the regulator boosted the voltage output to where it should be.

Post by **cn90** » 28 Oct 2025, 04:35

Yes and no,

Look at BMW bimmerfest E39 alternator rebuild threads...

Bearings to be replaced at 180-200K using Bosch.
VR (with the brushes attached)...Bosch only.
The problem is the Slip Rings wearing out, so even with new brushes, it can be a problem.

This is why I no longer use "X" re built Bosch bc idk what they did to it.

Either buy new or a good used unit with low mileage.
Or find a rebuild kit that has everything in it, incl the Slip Rings.