80q alternator woes...

[john at westcoastgarage.net]

 TooManyAudis at aol.com wrote:


>> "I'm having yet another problem with an audi
>> alternator -- seems as though I  
>> went through 5 or 6 in my 4000 and 4000q days, and
>> at least the second time 
>> with  my 80q -- got it rebuilt about a year ago."
>
.......................................................snip......................................................

The exciter wire gets its voltage from the charging ("pilot") light in 
the cluster.  One easy test is to remove the blue wire from the 
alternator end, ground it.  If the charging light in the cluster stays 
lit when you turn on the key with the wire grounded, the circuit is OK.  
Next step is to remove the regulator and check the length of the 
brushes.  I have had so many bad experiences with local rebuilders, one 
after another, both in West Los Angeles and here in Santa Maria (3 hrs 
north of LA), that I simply won't use them.  Ditto for FLAPS "lifetime 
warranty" alternators and starters.  I use, and sell, nothing but Bosch 
reman units, and have had only occasional problems.  I do 1-2 units 
(starters, alternators, and generators) a month, out of a customer base 
of 600 or so.  I suspect the brushes are gone, and that, to me, is an 
unacceptable life span.  If they're worn out, the slip rings ate 'em, 
and the unit is junk.  BTW, as an exception, I have had an Ultranator in 
my 90 20v for about 4 years, no complaints.

HTH, John