Need help with this guys, 2001 clk320 w 214,000 miles. Warning light pop up this past weekend, called the dealer and couple of indy shops and all want to replace the alternator.
I have read that it could possible be the voltage regulator, does it make sense to just replace the regulator given the amount of mileage in the car?

Any feedback much appreciated.

Thank you!

The voltage regulator is a normal wear part. Once you seen a worn one next to a new one, you'll understand why they wear. My voltage regulator has been replaced twice; once by the dealer (free under warranty) and once by me. Autohaus AZ carries voltage regulators. Here's a link to a DIY.

Thanks Marcus, I'll give it a shot and replace the regulator and see how it goes. Your website is a great resource btw.

Thanks again!

What's the easiest way to determine the alternator brand (i.e. Bosch/Valeo)? Does anybody know?

Thank you!

Thanks for the complements. I think Bosch is stamped on the rear cover of mine.

You were right Marcus, I just confirmed with the dealer that it is a Bosch alternator. What's weird yesterday I started the car and the message is gone and she's running fine. I'm going to the replace the regulator regardless.

Wow that's some mileage you have there; I am at half of that.

Yeah i know, your car is a baby.

Hi, I have a C32 AMG with 130,000miles. The light came up to go to the dealer because the Battery/Alternator.
The dealership quoted me: 1700.
A family friends said they could do it for 900.

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

The dealer quoted you $1700, but you didn't say what they intended to do. The same applies to your friend, what do they intend to do for $900? It could be a $25 voltage regulator, or a remanufactured alternator ($411 retail, they are available for less than $200 at Autohaus, and cost less than $100 to have it rebuilt yourself), or did the alternator take out some other part, or ????

A lot more details are required.

those quotes were to replace the alternator.

If someone has pulled the alternator and confirmed that the voltage regulator is not the problem, then those prices may be in line with their costs+labor+profit, but you can pull the alternator yourself, you can have it rebuilt for under $100.

An alternator rebuild kit usually has brushes, bearings, and a diode pack. The rebuilder replaces those parts, paints the shell, and hands it back to you. That's why "rebuilt" alternators typically have a core charge - because they need another core to install the $20 rebuild kit in.

If no one has tested the regulator, then the prices sound like a "worst case scenario", because the regulator is typically what wears out. The regulator is a normal wear part.

Pulling the alternator from the bottom of the car is easy and you can have it tested. Learn how to do it yourself, save 1100 and feel damn good about the savings. Even if you don't have tools then buy them with the money saved. You won't regret..well maybe right after if you scraped a couple knuckles but hell they will heal easier than an 1200 hit to the budget.

Greg

I agree its an easy part to get too and is easy and to fix if its just the voltage regulator which is the most likely thing to go rather then the whole alternator !.

The voltage regulator I fixed on my car for free ! If I recall there are a couple of screws holding it on and the brushes you'll see making contact with the stator spindle. Once you remove the voltage regulator have a look at the brushes and you will will probably find that they have reached the end of their length, no longer making contact with the stator and therefore no longer charging the car !

Now to fix this you can just find some old brushes from a drill / lawnmower anything that has them. Dont worry if they are too big / wide as they are easily filed down being only made of carbon. (Try ebay too or any hardware store that does spare brushes for drills and match a brush up ) .
To install you can either de-solder where the old brush lead goes into the voltge regulator of just cut the lead and quickly solder onto it with your new brushes, done. !

Give it ago its not that hard !

PS I did the same trick with the inside blower motor under the passenger footwell as those brushes also wore down.