eliedrt

I was having an idle issue at cold start with my c230K the symptoms was you can see the dash lights dimming out. So I pulled out the alternator and inspect the brushes. found that the brushes is worn out badly. There is a noticeable grove on the spindle(I believe thats what its called) where the brushes seats but not to a point you can see insulations. Long story short replace the regulator and mount it back Idle issue solved but wont charge at idle. The voltage readout from dash display is 12.3 if you dont touch the accelerator pedal. Once you rev it at 3000rpm it will pick up and then get to 14.1 V and will stay there. Sometimes it doesnt.

Anyway any tips would do.

eliedrt

Update: When you turn on the ignition it will be about 12.6V and will dip to 11.5V. It will then give me a red light error "Battery and Alternator Problem(Something like that)" It will then idle at 12.5V and start draining. In 15 mins time maybe would go to 12.3V. All I need is to rev it pass 3000RPM and it will go to 14.1V and will stay there and start charging. I installed a new regulator and I did roughly check the pulley and it spins one direction.

Serpentine belt was removed and replaced.
The battery contacts was corroded when I remove it at the negative side and I cleaned them thoroughly.

All Alternator connection are secured.

ItalianJoe1

Bad regulator. I've seen multiple new ones do just that, they don't start charging until they see enough RPM. Replace it again.

eliedrt

Geeze Back to drawing board. Ship back to autohaus for warranty Maybe I'll just repair the old regulator with new brushes desolder the brushes from the new one and transfer it to the old regulator that work. hmmmm

eliedrt

Bite the bullet and just want to make my holiday productive. I went to autozone and buy their duralast reman alternator. Its a bosch style and fit perfectly.
I'm becoming an expert removing and installing an alternator its my 3rd time now for this problem.
The issue with the autozone alternator is that the charging voltage was too low. 13.5 at idle it will be 12.8. I have an intermittent
"alternator battery visit workshop" error. I never seen the voltage go to 14.0V

I want to get a reliable reman alternator. Any suggestion at where you guys get your parts.

Also, Do you guys suggest a Valeo or Bosch alternator for the 2005 C230 Kompressor.

Thanks

ET

C230 Sport Coup

Take old brush module to auto electrics shop and get new brushes. 25 bucks or less and done.

tjts1

Why? A new Bosch voltage regulator is $38.

C230 Sport Coup

You got a link for a Valeo at that price for an 02 Komp?

tjts1

The OP has an 05.

eliedrt

I'm looking around almost all alternator that reasonably affordable are reman.
I already went and get one spent $200 at autozone I pulled it out and returned it.

I'm back with my old alternator. There are 2 places I'm thinking of getting the part.
1. Reman Bosch from Autohaus Bosch (OE Reman) Alternator; 120A $236 plus 95 core
​​​​​​2. Parts Geek is selling a brand new valeo for $277 alternator list

Parts Geek Warranty and return policy may not be clear.


All I want is that if I would spent more than $200 dollar and spent 2 hours mounting it I dont have to pull it out again. I want to get this all done in two weeks time considering the shipping process and I have to go to work as well.

tjts1

It seems like a waste to replace the whole alternator when the problem is a bad voltage regulator.

C230 Sport Coup

Same question...where are you finding VR's at the price?
I'd like to price a Valeo one for my car..

tjts1

I have idea about Valeo but if you need a Bosch VR, here ya go.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F150677352036

RedGray

Imho, if people are going to by just the regulator, then buy it from a company that they can trust. Imho, all that cr*p on ebay from those non nationally known sellers is very questionable at best. If the cr*p last more than 10 days, they'd get a good feedback. If the cr*p doesn't work, they refund the money of the seller complains. So, the feedback in cases like that is worthless.

Fake auto parts are a massive market.


Imho, for basically the same price (they charge shipping), buy from the company that I leg-hump a lot:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...-154-97-06-M14
Voltage Regulator
Part #: 003-154-97-06-M14
For cars with BOSCH Alternator.
In Stock
Ships Tomorrow!
$38.25

Just my two cents.

tjts1

Pellican is owned by ECS as of a year ago. It's a terrible company both to it's customers and it's employees. Don't give them your money.
https://jalopnik.com/spying-on-emplo...g-a-1827474482

The eBay seller I linked is not selling "crap of unknown origin". Its manufactured in Spain by Bosch and it has the bosch hologram with serial number you can look up on their web site to trace it's origin. I have a year and 14k miles on that voltage regulator. You don't get to 74 sales of the same item and 98.9% positive reviews on 665,000 transactions by selling crap. I'd like to see ECS match that record.

Cheers

eliedrt

I actually bought from AutohausAZ and the regulator was not good. It doesnt charge at low RPM.
I'm thinking of getting a new one for 3 reason.
1. I need a regulator.
2. The slip ring could be worn out and the new regulator may have not settled good in it.
3. The pulley may be due. Its locking one direction and turning on the other but its not as smooth as a new one

Regulator and pulley would be worth almost $150 dollar. I just get a new one to hope not to get some issue.

I may go and take a stub on a brand new Valeo at 277. I'll just work a couple of hours overtime to offset my woes.

eliedrt

By the way.. ECS Tuning price is REALLY OVER PRICED for a Reman Alternator. $579
Anyway at that price I'll just go to the dealer.

RedGray

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That sucks!
:-P

C230 Sport Coup

Local rebuilder $200 with exchange.
Did that last time. Probably didn't need to, at around 140K? Have a thread somewhere from
like 10 years ago.
Diodes went out quickly, pulled it again, and repaired under warranty.

The actual regulator in the brush module from the original alternator (actually mine IS the original,
just rebuilt) I have on hand, and took to a electric shop
and had new brushes put in $25. Likely less most places.
I'm at 245K now and likely will need those new brushes soon.
Be doing engine mounts sometime in the near future, and I've read it might be necessary to
pull the alternator, so I'll replace it at that time.
So why repair the original Regulator?Just as you say, better than the foreign crap online.
It never actually failed, just wore out the brushes.

eliedrt

Took your advise and replace the brushes from the original regulator got it from amazon for $5.00. Put it in and it work fine. The rough idle at cold start also went away.
Lesson learned I should have just returned the regulator at autohausAz because they ship me a bad one. I need the plastic cover for the brushes the old one was brittle.
Put it back and turned on at 12.6v and then it went to 13.7 volts. It then went to 13.8V when the battery is charged. Reving the engine bring it to 14.4 V.

So I was unlucky on this repair.
1. Bad Regulator ordered. Low voltage and wont charge at idle.
​​​​​​2. Bad alternater from Autozone. 13.5V at idle and 13.8 V reved.

It cost me about 50 dollars to fix it and pull out the alternator 4 times.

mtnman82

eliedrt - please post a link to the brushes from Amazon. I'm at 110k+ miles and know I'm going to have to do something about the alternator soon. Thank you!

C230 Sport Coup

Yeah, I'm curious too, Was going to do that once on a starter, but the solder is high temp, and
couldn't get it to dissolve.

eliedrt

It was 3.99 when I bought it. I used a lot of solder and flux the get it out. Cut it off.

I used this youtube link as reference:


brushes

​​​​​​ALTERNATOR BRUSH SET FOR 2011-2014 MERCEDES CL63 AMG, S63AMG WITH VALEO UNIT # FG23S039

C230 Sport Coup

Wow, I love the way the holes magically appear! And man, check out that soldering iron!
Well, I paid $25 which is still way cheaper than a new module.
Get one of these things if you do this
https://www.harborfreight.com/helping-hands-60501.html

eliedrt

Those holes does come out if you cut the post. I was surprise as well. Looks like the original brushes was crimped on the post and soldered.
I used black silicone as insulation for both.