Alternator woes continue even with replacement & new Battery
10-30-2008, 08:20 AM
#1
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Alternator woes continue even with replacement & new Battery
Several weeks ago dash voltmeter started dropping to 12V 5mins after starting & driving the car. Battery light would come on too. Test at Auto store said both Battery & alternator were fine... Wrong! Replaced the battery, no improvement, so last night replaced the Valeo alternator. After the install, I let the engine idle for over 30mins and meter was solid at 14V. 5 mins into a test drive the meter drops to 12V and battery light comes on. Crap! Come straight back home and leave it idling and after a few mins the voltmeter goes back up to 14V. I could actually hear the engine noise change as the Alternator started kicking out the amps.
What the heck is going on here! It is so darn repeatable.
Thanks,
Tony
What the heck is going on here! It is so darn repeatable.
Thanks,
Tony
10-30-2008, 08:31 AM
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Check for a loose ground, and make sure all the wires a snug for grounds/power and on the alternator
If the wire is loose while driving it couold be losing contact due to more vibrations.
10-30-2008, 09:51 AM
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Great question. Because the car came to a grinding halt on I-75...
That's the night I got the new battery... replaced it at the side of the Interstate. Voltmeter was still on 12V on the drive home. So went for Alternator next.
The way the test is done at the store didn't exactly give me a warm & fuzzy feeling.
Tony
The way the test is done at the store didn't exactly give me a warm & fuzzy feeling.
Tony
10-30-2008, 11:02 AM
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I just did my alt but only because it was in rough shape, heavy bearing grone, but I didn't have
a problem with Voltage at all even though my alternator was very corroded on the inside and the bearings were shot. Just tossing out info that "may" help.
12-27-2008, 07:59 AM
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3rd Alternator [Valeo], this one works, but Whines!!! Same problem A6 2.7t.
What is the deal with rebuilds? These are coming from CarQuest in NJ. The first ones had the voltage all over the place, the 2nd didn't work, the 3rd works but sounds like a whistling bottle rocket.
I'm going to buy a new one from AutohausAZ, hope it is better...
I'm going to buy a new one from AutohausAZ, hope it is better...
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A6George
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