Possible Alternator problem..
#1
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Possible Alternator problem..
Hope all is well with everyone. Couple of days a go I drove the C32 after it had been sitting for 7 days. The red Alternator/Battery warning came up after a hard acceleration. Thinking that perhaps the Battery is low and driving it would charge it up, I kept on driving the rest of the day. Well the classic symptoms starting happening and finally the car died and had to take tow it home.
I have read all the threads related to alternator failure both C32 related and others. From the looks of it I have a bad alternator, however there are also mentions of Voltage Regulator being bad. All the C32 related threads however ended up with changing the alternator and there was no mention of voltage regulator being change or bad. I think there was a E55 thread that ended up being just the regulator.
My question is: Is there any way to DDX between a voltage regulator failure and alternator failure? And how easy is it to change the regulator? I believe it is attached to the alternator at the back.
Thanks to FairfaxC32's thread I am going to attempt to change the alternator myself if it comes to it. I have found a new Valeo unit at alleuropeanautoparts.com for $285 shipped. (The stealership wants $985 w/core!!) However, it doesn't come with the Voltage Regulator which seems strange. The dealer has the regulator for $145.
I have read all the threads related to alternator failure both C32 related and others. From the looks of it I have a bad alternator, however there are also mentions of Voltage Regulator being bad. All the C32 related threads however ended up with changing the alternator and there was no mention of voltage regulator being change or bad. I think there was a E55 thread that ended up being just the regulator.
My question is: Is there any way to DDX between a voltage regulator failure and alternator failure? And how easy is it to change the regulator? I believe it is attached to the alternator at the back.
Thanks to FairfaxC32's thread I am going to attempt to change the alternator myself if it comes to it. I have found a new Valeo unit at alleuropeanautoparts.com for $285 shipped. (The stealership wants $985 w/core!!) However, it doesn't come with the Voltage Regulator which seems strange. The dealer has the regulator for $145.
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Some backround info about the car:
-the battery is less than a year old
-the seat modules have been replaced
-the car sat for 2-3 weeks couple of months back it had no problems starting up
Oh I haven't had the chance to check the Voltage reading using the climate control display yet.
-the battery is less than a year old
-the seat modules have been replaced
-the car sat for 2-3 weeks couple of months back it had no problems starting up
Oh I haven't had the chance to check the Voltage reading using the climate control display yet.
#3
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not sure about mercedes- but i do know that in some cars- the voltage reg. is part of the alternator and they are replaced together. is it possible that's the case here?
#5
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When my alternator went out a while back, the tech thought it might be the voltage reg too. Unfortunately, the alternator specific to the C32 does not have a replacable VR. It is integrated into the alternator. Either way, you will need to pony up for the entire unit.
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silver 2002 c32 amg
my alternator went bad about 18 months ago
after being told the price for a replacement from the dealer![EEK!](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
I took it to a trusted auto electrician instead,
he replaced it with a Bosch equivalent for about a 1/3 of the cost
after being told the price for a replacement from the dealer
![EEK!](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif)
I took it to a trusted auto electrician instead,
he replaced it with a Bosch equivalent for about a 1/3 of the cost
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Thanks guys. I am just bit confused since when I called the website above and asked if the voltage regulator is part of the alternator they said no and that I have to buy it seperatly. Then when I called the dealer they said they have a voltage regulator for the car seperatly at $145??? I am going to call around some more that website might have the wrong info. But, how come the dealer sales the voltage regulator seperatly..
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#8
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Thanks guys. I am just bit confused since when I called the website above and asked if the voltage regulator is part of the alternator they said no and that I have to buy it seperatly. Then when I called the dealer they said they have a voltage regulator for the car seperatly at $145??? I am going to call around some more that website might have the wrong info. But, how come the dealer sales the voltage regulator seperatly..
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Thanks Scott,
I did call a local parts place they said the same thing that the VR is part of the alternator. The guys at the dealer are absolutly clueless!! I am going to double check with that website again and just order the Valeo from them as they had the best price.
I did call a local parts place they said the same thing that the VR is part of the alternator. The guys at the dealer are absolutly clueless!! I am going to double check with that website again and just order the Valeo from them as they had the best price.
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
For those who have installed the alternator them selfs, how hard is it? I am going to just follow FairfaxC32's thread. Is there a good access from underneath the car?
#11
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![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
I had a quote of over $1600 from the dealer. My guy did the sha-bang for about $650. Oh yeah, that also included a new belt.
Last edited by ScottW911; 07-31-2008 at 05:39 PM.
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Just ordered a new Valeo one from alleuropeanautoparts.com for $284 shipped. And it does include the VR apparently the description was wrong. Hopefully, I am going to get it by Tue or Web next week. I am going to take out the old one this weekend.
#13
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And apparently Mercedes put different alternators on all the different models, so the C32 alternator is very specific and very hard to find a re-manufactured one.
You may be able to find someone local who can remanufacture it for you, but you will also have a longer down time.
Mine went out and I think failed prematurely as I had a bad seat module that kept draining my battery and thus overtaxing my alternator.
You may be able to find someone local who can remanufacture it for you, but you will also have a longer down time.
Mine went out and I think failed prematurely as I had a bad seat module that kept draining my battery and thus overtaxing my alternator.
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Guys, Just a little update on the alternator problem I am having. Well finally after over a month I got a chance to work on the car today. As I mentioned I did get a Valeo unit from the website I mentioned. Taking the old one was a b**th, just a lot on work and not much space. You do have to take a lot of stuff out to get the alternator out. FairfaxC32 DIY is accurate. Thanks.
Well, AFTER putting the new one in
I notice that the pully doesn't not have the 8 ribs, it has 6. So my question should I just put the pully from the old unit on the new one? Or is it just the wrong alternator. Comparing the two it looks exactly the same except the pully. I appreciate any help.
Well, AFTER putting the new one in
![smash](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smashfreak.gif)
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03 C32 gone, 06 CLS55, 16 Tesla X
Guys, Just a little update on the alternator problem I am having. Well finally after over a month I got a chance to work on the car today. As I mentioned I did get a Valeo unit from the website I mentioned. Taking the old one was a b**th, just a lot on work and not much space. You do have to take a lot of stuff out to get the alternator out. FairfaxC32 DIY is accurate. Thanks.
Well, AFTER putting the new one in
I notice that the pully doesn't not have the 8 ribs, it has 6. So my question should I just put the pully from the old unit on the new one? Or is it just the wrong alternator. Comparing the two it looks exactly the same except the pully. I appreciate any help.
Well, AFTER putting the new one in
![smash](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smashfreak.gif)
Good luck and please let us know the result
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
Well I just talked to alleuropeanautoparts.com, they did send me the wrong alternator
for a C320, eventhough I asked numerous times to make sure they know I have a C32. However the guy was very nice is overnighting another one for my car which I should have by tomorrow
. It is the same price, I guess the only difference is the pulley. I'll keep you guys up to date.
![action](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/action1.gif)
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
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02 C32, G60 Corrado
OK they just called me from the parts place again saying that the alternator I recieved is the only one listed for my car. They gave me the option to return it, I am going to do some more research, I might try swaping the pulleys since they look exactly alike.
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W211 E55 AMG Kompressor
Help!!!!
Hello everyone, can someone please provide some feedback on this tread, last night while idling my E55 in the garage I smelled a faint burning scent, popped the hood and could not find nor describe the source of this burning smell, however, after checking the forum on the matter it's come to my attention that the alternator/voltage regulator could be on it's way out, convienience message comes on and off now so i know there is low voltage (11.1v) sometimes a bit less, here's my question,,, if, it is the regulator thats bad, would I still get the burning smell???? Or is the burning smell a clear sign that the alternator itself is toasted internally....feedback please!!!!!!!
Hello everyone, can someone please provide some feedback on this tread, last night while idling my E55 in the garage I smelled a faint burning scent, popped the hood and could not find nor describe the source of this burning smell, however, after checking the forum on the matter it's come to my attention that the alternator/voltage regulator could be on it's way out, convienience message comes on and off now so i know there is low voltage (11.1v) sometimes a bit less, here's my question,,, if, it is the regulator thats bad, would I still get the burning smell???? Or is the burning smell a clear sign that the alternator itself is toasted internally....feedback please!!!!!!!