[s-cars] Alternator overcharging?

[James Murray (QA/EMC)]

Thanks Fred, for others interested... there are 3 versions of the
replacement "Voltage Regulator" on the market, I included the SJM link
below. Looking at the photo's, the Bosch one says 14V, the German one says
14V, and the generic one says 14.5V. They are priced highest to lowest in
that sequence... these are the Voltage Regulators available for part#
068-903-803-D. I can only assume they will all work for our alternators...
but which one is best I dunno.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/sjm/022805/quote.jsp?header=header.jsp&
footer=&product=068903803D&partner=sjm&baseurl=http://www.sjmauto.com/&clien
tid=sjm&cookieid=1N40Q93H21NL0ZE8QU

I like the fact the generic one says 14.5V, sounds better to get a little
extra voltage, but is it as reliable as the other two... only time will
tell....

/Jamu.

P.S. If anyone is interested in an "upgraded" alternator (more juice), then
take a look at http://ultranator.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Munro [mailto:munrof at sympatico.ca]
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 5:25 PM
To: James Murray (QA/EMC); s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: RE: [s-cars] Alternator overcharging?


Hi James;

You can replace the voltage regulator with the alternator in the car - I did
this on my S4 a few weeks ago. It is easier if you remove the alternator,
but the long alternator mounting bolt on my car is seized into the block, so
I had to do it the other way.
You have to remove the small field wire and the large power wire from the
back of the alternator. Loosen the mounting bolts and remove the serp belt
from the alt pulley so you can swing the alt out. There are 3 Phillips
screws in the back of the alt holding on the plastic dust cover - remove the
screws and the dust cover (this takes a bit of manipulation). You can now
get at the 2 screws holding the voltage regulator to the alternator. If you
grunt and strain and can't budge the screws, you are on the diode block
screws - the voltage regulator screws aren't all that tight.

Fred Munro
'94 S4


-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of James Murray
(QA/EMC)
Sent: November 6, 2005 2:15 PM
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Alternator overcharging?


Okay I've tracked down two numbers to fix the alternator or generator as
Bentley refers to it:

049 903 515 C brushes
068 903 803 D for the Voltage Regulator with brushes

Part 068-903-803-D seems to be the right one to go with as the brushes are
included, which I assume means I don't need part 049-903 -515-C.

Does anyone know if I can replace the Voltage Regulator on the spot withot
removing the alternator from the car?

Cheers, /Jamu.



-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 1:21 PM
To: s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: [s-cars] Alternator overcharging?


Has anyone experienced having the alternator overcharge the battery? I think
my voltage regulator is shot, anyone know how to check this to be sure?

I found my Battery was dead, when tested the battery voltage without the car
running I got 16.6V and with the car running it went as high as 18V !!!??? I
thought my meter was off but I tested it against my battery charger and it
gave me 12V as expected. So my only conclusion is the voltage regulator is
toast and the alternator is overcharging the battery thus boiling off the
acid... I checked the fluid level and sure enough it was low, I filled it up
charged the battery and the car is running again... but I don't know for how
long...

So is it easy to replace the voltage regulator and if so how do you go about
it? anyone got a part number for this?

/Jamu.
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