[Vwdiesel] alternators

[Nate Wall]

Just be thankful that the alternator brushes on the VW
alternator are SO EASY to replace. The alternator, nor
its belt, does not even have to be removed! Good
opportunity to hone up on your soldering skills. Its a
20 minute, $5.00 job!

In general, before long trips, if its been a while, I
pull the regulator (2 screws, that's it) and check the
brushes.

My general experience is that the VW regulator brushes
last about 100,000 miles. With an alternator that has
rough/worn slip rings where the brushes ride, they
will wear out quicker.

You know what's a real B!*ch to replace brushes on?
Japanese alternators w/ internal voltage regulators. I
did a pair on an '86 Toyota Corolla once, took about 5
hours. The alternator has to be almost completely
disassembled, and its tedious as hell! And that, of
course, means removing it from the car.

The Ex's Maxima still has the original alternator on
it and it has about 150,000 miles on it. I guess
she'll have to take it to the shop now when it needs
replacing, oh well.

--Nate


--- LBaird119 at aol.com wrote:
> > Oddly enough, I've had a couple of Chrysler
> minivan altenators pass 200K
> >  miles without the brushes failing.  On my 91
> Jetta Diesel, I'm on my 5th
> >  set of brushes, at 200K.
>
>   That's fairly amazing considering most domestic
> and also a lot of newer
> cars in general, overdrive the alternators about 1:3
> or higher.  That's 15 to
> 20K rpm!
>   Be sure to check the connections.  I had charging
> problems and the
> only thing showing, other than marginal charging,
> was a dim glow, VERY
> dim glow from the alternator light.  It was only
> under certain rpms and
> only visible at night, without the lights on.  It
> was a poor connection from
> the + wire, from the alt, at the battery.
>      Loren
> _______________________________________________
> vwdiesel mailing list
> vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!
http://sbc.yahoo.com