Alternator - 120A, 140A, or 160A? Topic is solved

Jonboy74 · Post by **Jonboy74** » 10 Jan 2019, 20:49

How do you figure out which alternator came with your car ORIGINALLY? Is there some way to tell based on the VIN? I'm not 100% convinced the one installed is the correct one....and it is failing.

Thanks,

Jonboy

Post by **abscate** » 10 Jan 2019, 21:22

Try putting your VIN into the Volvo parts Lisle website and see what comes as " standard"

Jonboy74 · Post by **Jonboy74** » 10 Jan 2019, 21:41

Thanks. Tried that. Got all 3 options.

https://parts.volvocarslisle.com/a/Volv ... nator.html

Jonboy

dlundblad · Post by **dlundblad** » 11 Jan 2019, 03:09

Which one do you currently have?

The 160A should be about the same price as the 120A. Nothing wrong with moving up either.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 11 Jan 2019, 04:04

The biggest one is always safe if price differences aren't too big. The only reason there are options is to save money when making the cars.

Post by **oragex** » 11 Jan 2019, 05:00

Car being the 2002 ? I think you could put any of these. Perhaps if the car had the radio amp then maybe the alternator was upgraded, but I think early years got either 120 or 140. I wouldn't worry much, just look to get a real Bosch unit, even a used one with a good pulley clutch. What is really important is to stay with 2001-2003 or even better 2001-2002. Somewhere in 2004 the regulator was modified and while it does charge on a 2001-2003, the voltage may not go higher than 13.5V which is not enough and will chew the battery after a few months. You need to see something like 14.5V after starting the car, then drops to 13.5V once the battery is full.

The replacements has 160amp for all years, but seems it doesn't have clutch pulley ? https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0a#fitment
A 120A version with clutch pulley https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0a#fitment
A 140A with clutch pulley https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 0a#fitment

Jonboy74 · Post by **Jonboy74** » 11 Jan 2019, 22:35

Thanks guys!

Goodnight everybody.

Jonboy

Post by **jimmy57** » 11 Jan 2019, 23:20

The 160A one in FCP photo has a freewheel pulley also. I see the black painted and the cadmium plated ones with the smaller caps on Volvo OE replacement ones. The black and cadmium ones both will have INA on the pulley. I'm inclined to think the cad plated may be higher capacity pulley

Post by **oragex** » 12 Jan 2019, 02:33

Makes sense, I was thinking too all 2001-2009 should have the clutch pulley, thx!