Thread: Pending alternator problem/failure pre-warning info request

Originally Posted by BushDisco

ive resigned myself that the alternator is likely stuffed so called a local Melbourne Landry agent (not a dealer) who occasionally work on my car, $1200 for a new alternator, plus fitting. Gulp...

so finally my question, has anyone else experienced this (other than what’s been reported to Tim above who was very helpful on the phone), and is $1200 for the alternator alone reasonable? A quick web search yielded 150 amp OEM units for $450. I’m guessing the agent quoted a genuine one but the web ones available locally in Melbourne come with 5 year warranty.

thoughts?

If it comes to it, there were a couple of related threads a couple of months ago. My new alternator cost $660 in July ex Rovercraft in Perth and that seemed to be in the median of the range at that time. At the time the car was on just under 250K km

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi BushDsco, before you do anything, try discharging your batteries so they are at at least 12.2v or lower.

Then go for a drive and see if the voltage drops to to the point where the red LED flashes.

if both batteries are fully charged, the BMS may be deliberately running at lower voltages.

Thanks Tim, I’ll give that a go tomorrow, although batteries have been on charger overnight so I don’t drop voltage too low and damage them.

Originally Posted by BushDisco

Thanks Tim, I’ll give that a go tomorrow, although batteries have been on charger overnight so I don’t drop voltage too low and damage them.

You can safely discharge any battery down to 11.6v, and you will not only not damage them, but you will still be able to start your motor.

I suspect that because you are keeping your batteries fully charged, that BMS “think” they may be getting too charged while driving and is trying to correct the “problem”

This is an oversimplification of what might be happening but it may also indicate that nothing is wrong with your alternator, and this test should give some idea of the condition of your alternator, one way or the other.

So Tim may have nailed it. I left the disco off charge over the weekend and went for a couple of drives locally finishing Xmas shopping.

On both occasions the battery voltage was under 12.6 before cranking and didn’t improve after when running. I kept my cool even though I wanted to put it on charge and left till Monday morning and the drive to work hoping it would still start.

Not only did it start, the alternator kicked in at around 14.64v and started charging the batteries, after a 30 minute drive charge rate was 14.4v.

Driving home was a repeat performance, alternator kicked in, charge rate at 14.4v, dull green light all the way home.

Too early to call, will report back next week but might have saved me a new alternator.

Rovacraft sells genuine Denso alternator for around 650. I woyld not be paying 1200 plus fitting. Agree that batteries need discharging too, for the alt to actually do some work. Sounds like you've got it sorted.

The book says it is a 45min job to replace a alternator, so $1200 for the total supply and fit is a bit over the top.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

The book says it is a 45min job to replace a alternator, so $1200 for the total supply and fit is a bit over the top.

Agreed, especially when 1200 was part only..