Intermittant Charging

[Its Broken]

Hi,

My 2000 S80 T6 has had a problem with the electrics. It has done 107000klm (70000 miles). It was first noticed as the dashboard lights and headlights would on occasion pulse or flare.

Last week during a 250klm trip the charge lamp and "el system service needed" would light up, then dissappear for a while and then come back and so on. I stopped and hooked up my scangage to display the voltage. While the warnings were not on, the charging voltage was normal. Then when the warning lamps went on the charging had ceased.

In my experience with my other cars, it didn't sound like a regulator or alternator problem because when these go they have always packed it in at once. Today I went looking for bad connections but didn't find any. Looking at the electrics diagram it seems the CEM controls the alternator, headlanps and dashboard.

Has anyone had this happen?

Cheers

[JDS60R]

Alternator brushes or loose/corroded connections ( check fuse box first)

[Its Broken]

Alternator brushes or loose/corroded connections ( check fuse box first)

Thanks,

I removed the alternator today, and found the nuts that hold the regulator on were not much more than finger tight.

So I cleaned the alternator and regulator contacts and did it up tight. Took it for a run and the warning didn't appear. The brushes are still 1/2" long approx and the rotor didn't have much wear.

Time will tell.

Cheers

[JRL]

You need to do full charge tests
Check your cables