[s-cars] alternator wohs

[Matt Russell]

Patient is a 92 s4, with (I believe) above failure.  Battery is new 
(October) and charged beautifully last night.  The only plus side of 
this situation is how nicely Autochek warns you when the volts are low! 
  All cars should have this feature! (this is the first one i've owned 
with it...)

Anyway, does anyone have a way to determine if the voltage regulator is 
the culprit, vs the whole hoot, nanny, shebang alternator?  I checked 
Bentley, where much space is dedicated to battery, and not too much to 
GEN.  Once I get to work I can get a voltage reading at the battery 
with car running, but i'm guessing that will be battery voltage.

2nd, is it possible to clean this thing with brake cleaner (with engine 
off) or will this cause a massive (if not already) failure?  Reason is, 
I have a weepy rack hose which appears to have inserted spare hydraulic 
fluid on the back of the alternator, including the V.regulator and 
brush area.  It appears my procrastination of one repair (new hoses on 
the shelf) may have created another (just as expensive) one.  I was 
thinking maybe this one would begin to produce some voltage once 
cleaned and get me through until new part arrival.  Or i may still be 
in la-la-land.

3rd - any feelings on remanned Bosch units? SJM lists one for around 
229, as does Blau.  Oh, and do i need as special tool (listed in 
Bentley) to remove the pulley assy?

thanks for any input.

-Matt, CO
92 s4, getting dimmer, and dimmer, and dimmer, and...