GO FISHING, use SLABSAUCE Fishing Attractant
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Voltage regulator test.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default Voltage regulator test.

    Hey guys,

    do you know of a way to test the voltage regulator?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    3,395

    Default

    Stick a multimeter on it and see if you get a reading. Should be somewhere around 13.8v


    best, whit

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default

    Thanks for that.

    Theres no other way that they can break? (ie. causing voltage spikes, etc) ?

    The deal is the latest e34 is eating computers (if you remember that thread from before the server crash)

    Well - we took it to a local BMW only shop and talked to many others - and nobody has a single CLUE of what it could be except that they say it seems like a voltage issue. Apparently the injectors and coils are all good.

    We thought that maybe the voltage regulator could be spiking, or something like that - causing the ECUs to break. I think It's killed about 5 or 6 ecu's in total now.

    Thanks!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default

    Quick bump - don't want to kill yet ANOTHER ecu. lol

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    1,342

    Default I can not believe it is the regulator, your battery ...

    would act as a huge regulator, limiting significant overvoltages. Also, there are too many electronic devices in the car besides the ECU, has any one of them got fried??

    Have your shop been able to identify the ECU damage?

    In any case, you won't be able to test the regulator unless you start the engine. You can unplug the alternator and test without it, but guess you will fry the next ECU.

    Javier

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    dublin, ca
    Posts
    479

    Default

    The cd changer is broke but it could or could not have anything to do with it. When we drove it with my trusty 735i's boat batrie it ran on an ecu for a long time so it could be acting as a huge capacitor... just some ideas.

    EDIT:
    This is the link to what the problem is related to:
    http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=12087

    I also have an e32 w/ same exact voltage regulator should I switch the regulator from the 5 and into the 7 and then have it tested or should I switch the whole alternator? I don't mind if it fry's the 7's computer because that would say exactly what the problem is and its ecu's are only 30-40 bux as appose to 200 for the m50 computers
    Last edited by pyro; 07-20-2005 at 04:40 PM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default

    Being that the e32 runs on different electronics, what says that the ECU will die.. or is as sensitive?

    I have heard of several cases where a bad voltage regulator has caused death to the ECU, though. I guess its sort of rare but happens to a handful of people.

    Basically - at this point there is nothing that is not suspect.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Bethlehem, PA
    Posts
    661

    Default

    If you're not seeing significant flickering of the lights, I sort of doubt that the ECU problem is regulator-related. Besides, the ECU should be able to tolerate substantial and prolonged overvoltages. I don't know to what standard BMW specifies its utilization equipment, but if you use MIL-STD-704 as a model, the equipment in the car should be able to withstand sustained long term overvoltages of 50% indefinitely. (I may be slightly off on the exact percentage, it's been a while since I used 704). If the regulator were doing that, you'd definitely see unusual light brightness and you'd be roasting the battery.

    That said, you might be seeing repeated load dumps caused by an intermittent connection in the battery circuit, or in the battery itself. Load dumps can be very nasty affairs. Again, the ECU should be designed to tolerate these, but like many things, it depends.

    If I were you, I'd be looking first at the battery circuit very closely, then I'd be checking the injector and coil drive wiring for intermittent connections to ground or +12V.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default

    Well the deal with the regulator is the car hasnt ben running for more than a little bit without dying - so we cant tell if electronics are going or not. It's also been daylight out - so no headlights or anything.

    And: the battery has been dead for a while, so possibly due to the regulator? I have a suspicion that this whole deal is caused by the battery (oddly enough) - because we used the battery from the e32 to run the car when the loaner ECU didn't die. Every other time it has been the original battery and the ECUs keep dying.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Bethlehem, PA
    Posts
    661

    Default

    Holy crap. No wonder you're having problems. If that battery is open, and you're essentially running without a battery, you're abusing the crap out of everything! Before you do anything else, FIX THE DAMN BATTERY! And make sure the connections to it are in perfect condition from the alternator and starter back, and including the grounding.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. M60 alternator/voltage regulator replacement
    By shogun in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-24-2009, 02:54 PM
  2. Voltage regulator or Alternator?
    By Zackb911 in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 10-27-2006, 10:22 PM
  3. Voltage Regulator
    By jj7 in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-29-2005, 02:41 PM
  4. Voltage Regulator
    By freeparking in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-26-2005, 05:58 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •