1996 850 GLT aftermarket voltage regulator

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 07 Nov 2014, 17:17

Just posting this because when searching I couldn't find anything similar to my end result:

After learning that I could remove the cover of my alternator while it's still installed to replace the voltage regulator:

I order this voltage regulator, $37
http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/5034/Vo ... r-4737151/

Only to find once I tried to replace mine that I needed a voltage regulator with an "L" tab, read here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=61610

And when I looked it up, I found that those ones were WAY more expensive. Often $150-240:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 1197311520

So I was pretty bummed, and considered salvaging the brushes from my $37 one to try to rebuild my "L" tab regulator (which would entailed a lot of solder and possibly not worked) but ended up contacting eeuroparts.com about returning it. I got a return email within hours with an RMA# and prepaid printable postage. Well done eeuroparts.com !

But my search continued and I found this one on Ebay for $35 shipped!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271240657386

Here's hoping this does it, because I'm rather loathe to drop a lot of money into my still non-functional brick hobby-car. I hope this helps anyone else who doesn't want to cough up $150+ for their regulator! I bet they are made "after-hours" in the same factory and sold out the back door, noting the identical look, but lack of printed labeling.

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 11 Nov 2014, 05:53

So I received the $35 self regulating (L tab) voltage regulator in the mail on Monday (after ordering on Friday afternoon) and it seemed nearly identical to the stock item. It was not packed very well, just in it's box, which was in a postal envelope, but it arrived intact.

The biggest thing worth noting is that the $35 replacement had what appeared to be Bosch proof marks on it. As in, their logo was printed on it. I say appeared because it may very well be a knock off, the logo may just be similar under close inspection.

What it did not have, was any printed logos or identification on the black plastic housing. So I still think this may be a factory "after-hours" type item, where it's the same product made from the same machines as a late night, back door type item.

I forgot to take a pic before I put it in, but it is as shown on the ad. I don't have a voltmeter, so I can't accurately measure it's performance yet. But I will say that my battery is completely dead, and even has a dry cell, and once I jumped the car it ran fine off of the alternator. I went through and turned on all the lights, etc. to test it out as I could and it seemed to do great. Now I need to get a new battery, or try to get mine working again and then I can get a voltmeter and see if this cheap voltage regulator is really working as well as it's $150 counterpart.

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Nov 2014, 08:00

Those cheap VRs work just fine out of the box, the only question is for how long. It may only last a couple years, but that may be enough for our old cars, too!

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 11 Nov 2014, 15:09

Yeah there's always that! I guess I should buy a spare sometime while they're available for so cheap still! Since it's not hard to switch out now that i've done it, I'm okay with a 3 year service life for 1/5 the price.

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Nov 2014, 16:37

I agree, it is a good compromise. I got 4 years out of my last one.

Post by **Atis** » 12 Nov 2014, 05:00

There is no such kind of thing as late night/after hour product. You can not just step to a line and produce silently some parts...
It could be that one of the workers get somehow some parts out, but it takes more effort to get the parts out before labelling... if the labelling is not already in the sub-part...

It even could be that it is a "copy" of the original Bosch product or some one just changed the brushes in that as usually those are the parts which are failing, not the electronics.

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 12 Nov 2014, 09:42

Maybe not in amerca, or Europe. But if you Google the hi-phone you may still find articles about the after hours iPhones that were made and sold for a fraction of the cost, made in the same factory, by the same people, available only in China. It was a big deal when the story broke, I read about it in the NYTimes. Guess it was about 5 years ago now though.
It definitely happens, but probably not here, and perhaps not often.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Nov 2014, 10:07

Even the NYT propagates urban myths sometimes. In this day and age of thin margins and inventory control, I doubt high tech product can be easily made off the books in appreciable qty,

Post by **erikv11** » 12 Nov 2014, 10:38

Atis wrote:... It even could be that it is a "copy" of the original Bosch product or some one just changed the brushes in that as usually those are the parts which are failing, not the electronics ...

For the record, I've had three voltage regulators go bad on me, two OEM Bosch and one aftermarket, every time it was something internal i.e. the electronics. The brushes were wearing short on the aging Bosh units but still had some years left in them. Brushes were still quite long after 4 years on the aftermarket unit.

Go Metric · Post by **Go Metric** » 12 Nov 2014, 12:23

Well I guess since I've never worked in a factory I should stop speculating, since I'm just going off of things I've read . Either way, I hope my cheap regulator lasts a couple years!