96 855 Turbo Smoking alternator

Post by **JimBee** » 02 Oct 2016, 20:35

I hadn't driven this car in for a couple of weeks. It started right up, after driving around for 15 minutes I started to smell smoke. Lifted the hood and the alternator was clearly smoking. I removed the serp belt and drove it home, getting some (needed) strength training in the upper body due to no power steering.

Surprisingly, spinning the pulley by hand, it sounds and feels normal. The bearing is quiet. I haven't pulled it yet. Any chance it's just a shot voltage regulator and the rest of the architecture might still be useable?

Also mysterious the battery light went out while the engine was running with the alternator disconnected, but with the ignition off, the battery light was on. Any insights on that?

Post by **tryingbe** » 02 Oct 2016, 22:00

Get the alternator tested at the auto parts stop.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Oct 2016, 04:56

Bad alternator, probably just the regulator.

I had mine rebuilt for about 1/2 price of new but kept the OEM.

Post by **sleddriver** » 03 Oct 2016, 11:38

I had a brand new Bosch alt turn from new shiny silver to honey gold due to overheating. Must of had an internal short. Not sure if it was in the windings or diodes. Bad enough doing that job once, but twice? Geesh.....

Post by **JimBee** » 03 Oct 2016, 21:19

Yup, they buried it pretty well. If the computer box is so easy to remove, why not pull that first to get better access to the bolts?

Post by **abscate** » 04 Oct 2016, 01:41

I couldn't imagine pulling the alternator with the ECU box place on the 1999, and I don't have the PS in the way on that car, either. To be fair to Volvo , mine went 180 k miles before rebuild so burying it was reasonable

Post by **sleddriver** » 04 Oct 2016, 13:47

I like to pull that ECU box whenever I need more room in that area. Makes sense. Easy too.

Post by **JimBee** » 05 Oct 2016, 09:21

I took a quick look at mine after reading all your helpful comments and, yes, it looks easy to pull off the main part of the case that surrounds the ECU modules. When I posted, I was thinking the entire assembly, modules and all including the base, would come out. Is that what people do or just take off the lid and surrounding upper part of the split case and leave the base in place?

Post by **sleddriver** » 05 Oct 2016, 13:01

I remove lid, sides & and all modules.

Post by **oragex** » 05 Oct 2016, 13:32

Sure is not some fluid dripping from the steering pump connections?