Re: 4000 Q alternator

[ang@indiana.edu]

On Fri, 1 Sep 1995, Gregory C Mayer, Hydrologist, GW Spec, Atlanta, GA  wrote:

> Hello All,
> Driving my '84 4000 quattro home last night my OX, Coolant, battery, and 
> brake lights all came on at once without any effect on driving/engine.  I 
> suspect alternator problems.  The belt is still on.  Very busy weekend 
> planned so I dropped it off at a new (to me) mechanic.  First thing he says 
> is Yes it's the alternator and they are expensive, costing about $350.  I 
> just called my parts place and they quote me a Bosch for $168!!
> 
> Now my real question.  How difficult is replacing the alternator on a '84 
> 4000 quattro.  I do most of our VW work (Rabbits, Jettas) but have not 
> obtained a manual for the quattro, or ever put a wrench to it.  We have only 
> owned it a few months.  Anything stange or particularly challenging to this 
> repair, or odd about the above pricing?
> 
> I appreciate all input and thanks for your time,
> Greg
> gcmayer@fs1dgadrv.er.usgs.gov
> 
> 
Hello Greg,

My 87 5kcst also had the alternator problem last month, my mechanic did 
the same way like yours, he quote me about $350 for a rebuild BOSCH!
I check the price every where and found that he most expensive one is only 
about $250, so I decided to do it by myself.

I don't have a 4000 so I couldn't tell you how difficult is to replace 
the alt, but I really want to let you know my experance about the BOSCH's 
rebuild alternator, so you don't have to walk the same road like me. I 
bought the BOSCH rebuild alt form my local dealer, after I installed it 
in my car I thought everything will be fine, but after few days my car 
battery sign lited up, after that I took my car to have the charge system 
checked and the result was my alt not putting enough charge to the 
battery. I checked the voltage when the car at idle and everythings off, it 
was barely 13.0v, if the everythings ON and in stop'n'go traffic it only 
about 10.7. After a week I took my car to my another mechanic to check 
the alt, they pulled out the alt and sent to a alt shop to test it, the 
result is the alt not putting out enough amp. At the same day I took 
that alt to change it form dealer. This time was my mechanic put it on, 
it coasted me $90 labour!, after installed it the output increase but 
still can not hold the battery charge, it about 12.0v-11.8v on loaded, when 
encounter the stop'n'go traffic. The only thing I can do is no stereo, no A/C 
or sometims even turn the hedalights off, because I don't want my battery goes 
down to 10-11v while I'm driving. Well, I'm now leave this problem alone 
because I really don't know how to deal with it. May be the $350 one is 
the real thing huh !

SO, plaease be careful if you really want to change the alternator, or 
may be you could try to replace the regulator first.


Thanks

Albert Ng
angindiana.edu