: [s-cars] Charging right along

[Steve Eiche]

Peter,
Well, I was able to do the regulator just on a 180k mile 5ktq WI car on 
the side of the road ten years ago.  Last I heard, that car had close to 
300k miles, still with that original alternator and regulator, just new 
brushes.  I have never had a problem getting the regulator out (three 
regulators in various cars), or with bad Bosch replacement regulators.  
I have had problems with "rebuilt" alternators, so I prefer to fix what 
is wrong with my own alternators, especially if it is just brushes.

I guess sometimes you just get lucky.  Or  unlucky...

Steve

Peter Schulz wrote:

> At 11:48 AM 2/11/2005, Steve Eiche wrote:
>
>> Bob,
>> It sounds like a classic case of worn brushes.  You can either get 
>> just the brushes for about $5 and solder them in to the voltage 
>> regulator, or just put in a new voltage regulator complete with new 
>> brushes for <$50.  I'm not sure how easy it is to remove the 
>> regulator in situ on an AAN, but it is a fairly easy job on other 
>> Audis.  The regulator attaches to the rear of the alternator with two 
>> screws.
>>
>> Steve
>
>
>
> Steve/Bob:
>
> The last time that I had to do this, the two screws holding in the 
> brush pack wouldn't budge, soaking with penetrating fluid or not.
> Tried cutting a slot with a rotary tools and using a BAS (Big @rse 
> Screwdriver), resulted in one removed screw and another broken one 
> against the alternator body - tried to use an extractor, ending up 
> having to drill out the screw and re tap the hole. When I finally got 
> to installing the replacement regulator, I made sure to put a little 
> antiseize on the replacement screws..
>
> So much for an "easy" job.
>
> BTW, the alternator was rebuilt two years ago, and had the original 
> Bosch regulator replaced with a generic one - this is the second car 
> that I got less than two years out of a generic brush pack  - I bit 
> the bullet and replaced with Bosch ones...ok so far, but much to early 
> to tell what life they will have in comparison.
>
> -Peter
>
>
> 1991 200 20v Q Avant Titan Grey
> 1991 200 20v Q Avant Indigo Mica
> 1991 90 20v Q Red
> 1990 CQ silver (awaiting S2 engine transplant)
>
> Chelmsford Ma, USA
>