2000 V70 Voltage regulator replacement

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 19 Mar 2014, 09:54

Hello:

I have a 2000 V70 base model that has low alternator output (12.5-13V @ 2000 rpm with rear defogger, blower and a seat heater on). I also had a bad positive cable causing an additional 0.5V drop-- I swapped it out with a temporary cable while I wait for parts to arrive-- the original was burnt at the connection of the cable to the terminal. The voltage is now the same at the battery + and the alternator B+. The B+ cable also tests fine-- 0.04V drop between battery positive and the post in the fuse box under full load. The negative cable looks good and measures no appreciable drop either, but to be sure I cleaned all the connections. The battery is several months old and I charged it completely before taking measurements.

My working diagnosis is worn brushes in the voltage regulator. The alternator model is Bosch 0124515019 (120 Amp). I have some specific questions:

1) From Volvo parts sites online it looks like the Volvo part number for the voltage regulator is 30667899, and it is expensive-- best dealer online price so far is $116 USD, FCPgroton is at $136 (!), and RMeuropean.com has it for $91. Does anyone have a Bosch part number from one that they know works in the '99-00 cars? Ebay has regulators as cheap as $40, but they don't have the appropriate part number. I'm in Canada, so it takes a long time to get parts here and returning them is an expensive nuisance, so I want to get this right!

2) Has anyone been successful at replacing the regulator in the car in the 99-00 V70s? I got the 13mm nut off the B+ connection, the 15mm nut off too, but couldn't get access to the screw holding the cover on at the back because the intake manifold was in the way. I got the impression that there may have been plastic clips holding the cover on as well, but didn't want to pry on it because it was -10C and I didn't want to break anything.

3) What fastener type is used on the cover, and on the voltage regulator?

Thanks!

S373N · Post by **S373N** » 19 Mar 2014, 10:30

Not sure on the differences between V70 and 850 but I just went to do the VR on my 97 855... Unfastening the dipstick tube gives you some room but getting the three screws off the plastic alt cover and then the two screws to get the VR off prove difficult but it can be done...

I pulled the VR out of mine while the alt was still mounted in the car and at the end of the day the VR I was sent was the wrong one (same PITA situation being in Canada as you) and it turned out the slip rings were worn pretty badly. I ended up pulling the alternator and having it rebuilt for $120 - same day service. They did the bearing, VR, brushes, rings.... everything. Looked like new.

I would definitely consider this option and save yourself the hassle... I learned the hard way. If you're in the Hamilton/Niagara area of Ontario the place that rebuilt it is AFB Auto Electric in Hamilton.. Great place.

Post by **kahl** » 19 Mar 2014, 14:20

I have an alternator from a 2000 V70. The part number on the regulator is BR14-M1 then printed below the BR number is F OOM 145 230. The cover plate or cap is held on by the B1 and B2 nuts and a Philips screw. no clips. The voltage regulator is held on by 2 long Philips and one short Philips. It then slides out.

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 20 Mar 2014, 08:09

Thank you! Your two pictures are worth at least 2000 words! F-OOM-145-230 is the Bosch part number, and I've found independent confirmation that it is supposed to work with the 0-124-515-019 Bosch 120A alternator:

http://store.alternatorparts.com/ib230- ... ators.aspx

I'm thinking I may have to bite the bullet and pull the alternator to get access to the regulator. I saw a video that involved pulling the serpentine belt, moving the power steering pump and taking out the radiator fan in order to get the alternator out (all because of that one Phillips screw!). Any insight on this?

Thanks again!

Post by **kahl** » 20 Mar 2014, 08:39

See if you can find one of these small ratchet screw drivers. These worked for me on a 1994 850.

krenekj · Post by **krenekj** » 20 Mar 2014, 11:01

I have a 99 S70 Base MT. I replaced my original alternator last year with the following from FCP:

============================================================
Order Summary
============================================================
AL0805X Volvo Alternator 120 Amp (C70 S70 S60 V70) - Bosch AL0805X (1) @ $193.95 = $193.95
============================================================

Still working well after 10k miles.

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 20 Mar 2014, 11:20

That's a pretty reasonable price. I decided to go with buying just the regulator:

http://store.alternatorparts.com/ib230- ... ators.aspx

$49.95 + $12.95 shipping to Canada. The best I could find in Canada was $94.99 + 13% tax + shipping. If I can get the screw out of the cover without having to pull the alternator (I'm going to try a ratcheting screwdriver as Kahl suggested above), I'll be on easy street...

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 03 Apr 2014, 09:12

Just a quick update with a question.

The voltage regulator arrived-- a Transpo IB230 to replace the Bosch F-OOM-145-230 that was in my 0-124-515-019 Bosch 120A alternator. It works fine, so there is no need to use the much more expensive Volvo 30667899 offered by FCPgroton.com for $136.

I managed to replace it with the alternator in place using a Phillips bit in a small ratchet. Very fiddly work, but it is possible. There was one hiccup while putting it back together-- I dropped the screw for the cover plate and couldn't find it anywhere. It seems to charge fine-- 14.05V at the battery terminals. Should I be worried about this?

FreeFlyFreak · Post by **FreeFlyFreak** » 08 Jun 2016, 12:34

Herb Goltz wrote:Just a quick update with a question.

The voltage regulator arrived-- a Transpo IB230 to replace the Bosch F-OOM-145-230 that was in my 0-124-515-019 Bosch 120A alternator. It works fine, so there is no need to use the much more expensive Volvo 30667899 offered by FCPgroton.com for $136.

I managed to replace it with the alternator in place using a Phillips bit in a small ratchet. Very fiddly work, but it is possible. There was one hiccup while putting it back together-- I dropped the screw for the cover plate and couldn't find it anywhere. It seems to charge fine-- 14.05V at the battery terminals. Should I be worried about this?

Old thread I know, but I have a question for Herb.
I will be tackling this job on Friday, I hope to accomplish it with the Alternator installed as you did on a 2001 V70 T5, I just picked up the ratchet 90 degree screwdriver, the part arrives Thursday.

Herb, if you remember, how much disassembly did you do to get enough access? It is my daughters car and it is not here for me to look at and do some pre-planning, before I go to her house and tackle the job.

Herb Goltz · Post by **Herb Goltz** » 08 Jun 2016, 13:15

If memory serves, I did no disassembling at all, with the exception of removing the negative battery terminal from the battery post! I have read things since either here or on brickboard suggesting that it might help with access if you remove the dipstick tube. Other than that one cover plate screw, everything else was easy. I never did find the screw I dropped, but everything has been fine for a couple years now. Also, I have read that there are several variants of the voltage regulator for this alternator, one of which has a higher set point. If I had known about this, I would have ordered the one with higher voltage output because of the common voltage drops associated with the battery cables on these cars. Good luck!