Re: Alternator?/the headaches continue (long)

["Ewan Hopkins" <ewanhopkins@hotmail.com>]

A bad 'regulator' would definitely cause cause other problems, like boiling 
the battery acid, from overcharging, but worn brushes would simply give poor 
charging current with varying symptoms, depending on load / battery charge, 
etc.  Something else worth checking is the state of the slip rings on the 
rotor that the brushes make contact with. If they are particularly dirty, 
charging current will drop, giving same effect as worn brushes. Clean them 
with alcohol based solvent & q-tips or a light rub with fine emery paper. A 
tip for temporarily extending the life of the brushes is to stretch the 
braided wire that attaches them to the regulator body. If you lightly grip 
the brush end with pliers & pull it or use a blunt screwdriver to pry out 
the brush slightly you can restore charging long enough to get yourself home 
or go get a new regulator.

HTH,

Ewan Hopkins...

'85 Storm 2.0
'86 GT 1.8
'87 GT 1.6



>From: "Mike VanAmburgh" <vwvr6r@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: e30@iland.net
>To: scirocco-L@scirocco.org
>Subject: Re: Alternator?/the headaches continue (long)
>Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2001 11:29:06 -0500
>
>Check the connections to the alternator and make sure they're not corroded
>or broken so that they are not making contact anymore.  I've had a similar
>experience and it turned out to just be a corroded connection at the
>alternator.  It could also be the voltage regulator on the alternator (the
>part with the 'brushes').  The brushes wear down with time and eventually
>don't make contact anymore.  A bad voltage regulator would normally cause
>the car to freak out electrically tho.
>
>Mike
>
>
>>From: Cathy Boyko <losinit@usa.net>
>>To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>>Subject: Alternator?/the headaches continue (long)
>>Date: 7 Aug 2001 11:33:20 EDT
>>
>>Okay, just needing a quick confirmation that I need an alternator. Here's
>>what
>>happened.
>>Took the car for a drive, noticed the Volt meter was reading a bit low,
>>12ish
>>instead of 14. As I drove, it continued to drop, so I pulled over to check
>>the
>>belt, all seemed fine, tight, turning the alternator okay, no squealing,
>>etc.
>>So I drove on, the the meter dropped to 10, then 8 (lowest reading), gas
>>guage
>>went to low, and the MFA went out (I'm thinking find a nice shoulder by
>>this
>>point) and then it sputtered and died. So I checked the Bentley (sitting 
>>on
>>the passenger seat on top of the new clutch box,) and got hubby to bring 
>>me
>>another battery. Car fired up, ran fine and home I went, then did the test
>>in
>>the Bentley and it points to the alternator. Any other possibilities? It
>>was
>>repaired ( not rebuilt) to the tune of $196 in Sept by the PO, I phoned 
>>the
>>garage and they said it has a 90 day warrantee (long past) if it was
>>repaired,
>>not rebuilt. What the heck did they do for $196 that is only good for 90
>>days
>>I wonder (they sublet it), for that money I was sure it would be a year
>>warrantee. Sounds like an alternator, no?
>>The car is finally doing "air time" for its second clutch, it will be good
>>to
>>get that fixed, but will the bills ever stop? I have never had a car 
>>before
>>that needs everything done/ found/ ordered two or three times before it is
>>right. Very depressing, since I did not win the lottery or marry into the
>>Gates family.
>>On the plus side, the car got appraised and it was very favorable, 
>>actually
>>right on my "highest" estimate which is nice, so when I drive it off that
>>cliff I'll get some of the money back that has been put into it...
>>Cathy
>>4 well behaved cars and one 1987 16V 2.0L Scirocco
>>"The Silver Headache", fast approaching "Silver Nightmare" status
>>(all will be well when I take it for a spin with the new clutch, no
>>worries)
>>
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>>
>
>
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