nickcarguy

2000 Avant with 122,000 miles, about to take a 2,000 mile trip down the I-95 corridor. Car is rock solid mechanically.
Just curious what the life expectation of the alternator is . I know it's impossible to predict with certainty.. But we must have an idea how many miles these will go on average.
Any value in proactively replacing brushes and regulator?
Any input welcome.
Thanks

01 2.7t

I had 193k on mine before I sold the car with the orignal alternator still in it.

johnkk

I'm at 165k on my 01. I should have replaced the regulator and brushes when I did the timing belt, but no problems yet. Based on my experience with Saab's, my guess is that I'll need to do the regulator and brushes at about 200k.

I would not worry at 122k.

d6lc

Changed mine at 162k, ran fine but the bearing was getting noisy, I could hear it when the car was idling

4.2Crew

My 2001 A6 4.2L sport had 240k+ on the original when it sold...

Rebuilt the 2003 RS6 alternater at 37k miles due to a bad regulator!

Good luck!

SloopJohnB@mac.com

I change V/R and/or brushes on alternators at 140K miles.

I changed the V/R and brush assembly on my 2K4.2A6 at approximately 140K miles...brush length was about 5-6mm, service replacement length is 5mm IIRC.

The alternator was operating perfectly well; I just had the alternator out while I was working on an oil cooler leak and knowing that it takes about 4-7 hours to R&R an alternator, including dumping and refilling coolant I just decided to replace them. Our car averages less than 20mph in normal day to day driving around the Bethesda-Silver Spring area so the alternator gets a LOT of hours on it for the number of miles.

If you do mostly highway driving and on a 2000 mile trip with only 122,000 miles on the car I'd say you're good to go. You might want to load test your BATTERY, however. And ensure the electrolyte is at the correct level...amazing how many batteries just dry up in 5-7 years...those caps are on Audi batteries for a purpose.

Maintenance-free batteries aren't.

nickcarguy

Thanks everyone for the input.
Sounds like there should be no concerns at "only" 122K.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Probably not. YMMV. Audi certainly has no concerns and neither does ANY automotive OEM...I know of no preventive maintenance or scheduled replacement scenario for alternators. They're simply replace upon failure.

My personal VR/brush replacement strategy was picked up from a private shop in Rockville, MD that dealt with a lot of Saab and Volvo Bosch alternators, finding that 140K miles was a good time to at least look at alternator brushes.

It's understandable why the OEMs don't want to touch the hot potatoe of long-term maintenance: It begs the question of why ever buy a new car when you can keep your car for 20 years and 500K miles with good maintenance.

But I'm still on board with leaving my radiator and heater hoses alone until they go or I otherwise determine they're so deteriorated that they need to be replaced. Even though I replace the plastic tubing from the expansion tank to the upper heater hose on the 2K4.2A6 after 7-8 years because it gets brittle. The new one has stayed pliable for 5-6 years so far.

The policy has already led to one heater hose failure...hmm, maybe time to replace them all after 13 years and 165K miles.....Hmmmm.