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Thread: Voltage regulator or Alternator?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Weymouth, Mass
    Posts
    73

    Default Voltage regulator or Alternator?

    didnt have the alt belt tight enough

    Thanks,
    Zack
    Last edited by Zackb911; 11-25-2006 at 02:10 PM.
    Weymouth, Mass
    -1989 Dinan 535i Intercooled Turbo
    -1997 Mercedes Benz E300 Diesel (Daily)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Honolulu
    Posts
    3,105

    Default How's the electrical

    with all the accessories and lights running?

    Flickering?

    Dimming?


    Vee ave vays of dealing vid your kind...........

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Weymouth, Mass
    Posts
    73

    Default

    It's running around ~13v now but if I turn on the lights on it drops to ~12.2 and stays there, when I turn them off it goes back up to ~13v. So it seems like the alternator is doing something but now enough to keep up. I am going off an aftermarket VDO gauge in my center cluster so I am estimating the 1/10's of a volt but it is defintely not near 14 at all.... Would this be the VR? I will pull it out tomorrow to see how the brushes look.

    Zack
    Weymouth, Mass
    -1989 Dinan 535i Intercooled Turbo
    -1997 Mercedes Benz E300 Diesel (Daily)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Great Britain
    Posts
    446

    Default

    Try using a proper multimeter to measure the voltage - my OBC fluctuated all over the place but my multimeter (which I trust more) indicated not only a steady voltage, but a higher voltage than the OBC.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Weymouth, Mass
    Posts
    73

    Default

    I wasn't using the OBC its a VDO analog gauge... I can try my digital multi though although I'm pretty sure it will be the same. I just wanted to know if the VR fits my symptoms.

    Zack
    Weymouth, Mass
    -1989 Dinan 535i Intercooled Turbo
    -1997 Mercedes Benz E300 Diesel (Daily)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    296

    Default

    You probably need a new alternator anyway, or at least the brushes are worn if it is the original one.

    Many auto parts store will test it for you free of charge, just take it out and bring it in for a look.
    DanH
    1989 535iA 254k Miles
    1992 535iM 330k Miles

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