replace alternator with used or replace voltage regulator? Topic is solved

coded9 · Post by **coded9** » 01 May 2017, 20:20

So i had a bit of a rough day. halfway through my errands I got the "battery voltage low" error so I stopped at the nearest auto parts store, long story short got a new battery since it was 6 years old and only held 41% charge, worked fine with the new battery in. But I found out later that that wasn't so much the issue as it was the alternator because i got that issue again a while later after running the ac and the whole 9 yards. So it's looking like an alternator issue. I know I can get one from a pick-n-pull for about 20$ + 6 to get a year warranty. I could spend the 45 + shipping on fcp and put in a new voltage regulator. Which of these options would be the better way to go?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 01 May 2017, 20:26

A year warranty and no waiting is golden. Do that...see how she goes before springing for a voltage regulator. I hardly ever hear of those going bad.

Post by **oragex** » 02 May 2017, 05:08

play it safe. get a used one and check by hand the pulley turns/locks as it should. then swap your regulator on it and also check how much wear is on the brushes. regulator amps have changed from year to year/model to model. but before doing this remove the serpentine belt and check all pulleys on it by hand. the a/c pulley is likely to seize around +150k miles. also check power cables for cracks/corrosion

coded9 · Post by **coded9** » 02 May 2017, 05:49

oragex wrote: ↑02 May 2017, 05:08 play it safe. get a used one and check by hand the pulley turns/locks as it should. then swap your regulator on it and also check how much wear is on the brushes. regulator amps have changed from year to year/model to model. but before doing this remove the serpentine belt and check all pulleys on it by hand. the a/c pulley is likely to seize around +150k miles. also check power cables for cracks/corrosion

If that's the case it would make sense since I'm in the 152K range. I'll check that out once I get the serpentine belt tensioner tool (so happens to be near pick n pull). Anything I should look out for as far as amperage, and interchangeability. They have an 02 there, but need a backup in case that one doesn't have the alternator. They seem to have a few 01/02 v70/s80's according to their website.

Post by **oragex** » 02 May 2017, 07:11

just a thing, to remove the alt, there is a side bolt plus the two upper bolts from the a/c compressor bracket need be loosen a bit. if the a/c compressor pulley is shot, only the bearing needs replaced, not a bad job

db130 · Post by **db130** » 02 May 2017, 17:00

My vote is to replace the voltage regulator with a new one unless you can check to see how worn the brushes are on the voltage regulator on the junkyard alternator.

Here's what the brushes looked like on the original voltage regulator after 235k (new Bosch unit on top, old one on the bottom):

It's been 12 months and 15k miles since the regulator was replaced.

Post by **abscate** » 03 May 2017, 02:49

That's got at least 5 k miles left on it, Youre not throwing that away are you??

coded9 · Post by **coded9** » 03 May 2017, 08:49

I tried a two alternators at my nearby pick n pull. Neither worked when i took them to autozone to test them. I finally took mine out this morning to see if it actually is dead. Answer? Yes there was no output when I had that tested also. My brushes looked a bit sunken in like your old one does here's what it looks like

coded9 · Post by **coded9** » 03 May 2017, 08:50

Also how can i rule out a pulley issue? When I asked the guy at advance auto he commented that it works but it moves a bit more freely than it should.

Post by **cmblackburn** » 03 May 2017, 09:06

Replace the voltage regulator or alternator with a low mile used OEM one;
I made the mistake of putting a Duralast alternator in my car 4 years ago. I couldn't have any downtime and the cars in the yard had 300k+ on them. I've since used the lifetime warranty on it 4 times...
Junk.