Hey guys i recently just bought a new alternator for my 2004 c32 in november... eeverything was fine till jan and it failed after one month of use i got another one through Advanced Auto Parts and it failed again after 3 days.....Im thinking that the rebuilds on these are bad and im not sure what to do and just put a brand new battery in ...my brother is telling me it might be the core or part of the alternator like a $50 part....instead of ordering another one and it failing again...Any thoughts TEAM?! THANKS ALOT

 

VOLTAGE REGULATOR*** might be the issue...does anyone know if these are normally replaced?

 

Depending on your alternator, the answer is a resounding YES.
Here is a link that tells you how to change the regulator on a CLK. Lastly, on my CLK the voltage regulator is a normal wear part that lasts about 75K miles or so.

Absolute lastly, I avoid buying rebuilt alternators and starters. Those auto parts chain stores farm the work to the lowest bidder. The lowest bidder can't rebuild alternators and/or starters and stay in business, so they "fix what's wrong with it, put on a coat of the cheapest paint available, and put it in a box stamped rebuilt". I learned decades ago to take my alternator or starter to a rebuilder and have them rebuild "my part" (one glance at Porsche alternator prices and you'll understand why I started going this route). When done on an individual basis, the rebuilder installs "all the parts from the rebuild kit", rather than just replacing the individual part that broke. The last alternator I had rebuilt cost $75 and the part was ready in an hour. Rebuilders are in the yellow pages.

 

yes. despite what most threads say, you CAN change the voltage regulator in your alternator, regardless of which model alternator you have. just make sure you order the voltage regulator for YOUR model alternator

 

where can i order a voltage regulator from for cheap? And thank you so much!!!

 

Sounds like you bought a bum C32.
Next time buy a AMG from a honest reliable seller, not some cheapskate canadian

 

Bumping an old thread sorry, but could use some help... i had my valeo alternator 112-154-02-02 go out at 115k miles on a 03 C32. I've read through lots of posts and cannot tell if anyone has replaced the VALEO voltage regulator or NOT.... I found the Valeo voltage regulator part (0031541706 ) for under $100 bucks, so assuming this CAN be replaced??

Valeo Voltage Regulator Part
http://www.genuinemercedesparts.com/...GE%20REGULATOR

http://www.americanenginesco.com/val...1-04-sg12b060/


Seems the VR can be replaced (easily) on the C55 and E55 but I've not seen anything about how to replace the (Valeo) voltage regulator on a C32???

Voltage Regulator Replace on C55 and E55
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c...aced-easy.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...lternator.html

Any help would be greatly appreciated as the crap reman/alternator i unfortnately had installed from a pep boys (car died near a pep boys so had them fix since i was in a bind) is fluctuating voltage from 11.5 to 13.5 and clearly is not the right one to have in our C32s. i have the old Valeo unit and since the VR is cheap I may just buy the part and see if I can replace it and get it tested if it works and put the Valeo back in the C32... thx in advance

 

lots of high mileage c32s that will probably have a alternator quit as my valeo alternator did go out at 115k miles on my 2003 C32 and hope you guys dont waste big bucks buying a new valeo to replace your dead unit.

i researched several posts on our alternators and most posts report you cannot replace the voltage regulator on the valeo alternators which usually is what goes out on these alternators as the brushes in the VR wear down and dont make contact on the slip-ring.

the cost for a new Valeo from the MB dealer is around $1000 and reman units are around $500. there are other very cheap reman units of other brands that are crap and dont hold charge which i learned the hard way installing one from a pep-boys for 300 bucks and couldnt run my AC and the headlights flickered like crazy.

I wanted to report that you CAN replace the valeo voltage regulator part #0041543806 (cost $100) which fits the OEM valeo alternator #112-154-02-02 and is a 5 minute drop in fix and your alternator is good as new.

you have to get the alternaor out which is not easy (i had a shop do that) but once I had the alternator out, to replace the VR you just unscrew a couple screws on the back plastic cover (see attached pictures) and can then see the voltage regulator. which is held in place with 5-6 other hex screws that you easily take out. when i took the old VR out you could see the brushes worn down to the nub and not making contact on the slip ring.

got the new valeo VR and screwed it in and then to ensure it worked and the bearings and everything was in working order i took the alternator to MG Auto Electric which is an alternator rebuild shop in Arlington Hights, IL and had the owner Larry (great guy) test it and he said it was good as new. had it put back in my C32 and its working great and can run all electronics with no issues (AC front and rear, headlights, heated seats, radio, defrost, etc)

some pics attached of the alterntor, Voltage regulator etc.

 

BIG thanks to JVAKOS for this. Seems my C32 doesn't want to start on its own any more since jump starting my 05 4runner yesterday. I'll confirm its the alt with a voltmeter once I get the alt in the 4runner replaced and get that think running. Hopefully the 2nd autozone alt will be the charm....

 

C3duce - hey how are ya? I had tried to use a new alternator From Pep Boys and it never could reach the 13-14v that the car requires to operate the electronics properly.

that’s why I had kept my original OEM alternator replaced the voltage regulator and brushes which was like a new alternator then and had 14+ volts.

Good luck, pulling the alternator out is definitely a ***** and require some wrestling with it but you can do it!