Alternator was bad, replaced with used unit from a Passat for $55, love driving again
08-06-2006, 05:05 AM
#1
AudiWorld Expert
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Alternator was bad, replaced with used unit from a Passat for $55, love driving again
The car has been down a bit recently and it's great to be driving it again....
6/26-7/6 - down after stripped plug in driver's head, head replaced
7/7 - after putting the engine in hours earlier, took it to the drags and made a bunch of 11.9 passes, including my current best: 11.90
7/8-7/15 - washed the car and parked it in the garage, cleaning and waxing it the week leading up to Waterfest
7/16 - drove it to Waterfest
7/17-7/23 - maybe drove it a day or two in here
7/24 - took it out and ended up <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2421328.phtml">limping home with 8 volts on the battery gauge</a>
8/1 - planned on driving car to Autozone to have them test what was bad - car wasn't going to make it that far, so instead swapped in my Golf's battery. Same issue (~11V when car running), so decided alternator is culpret.
8/2 - bought a used alternator for $55 at a junkyard instead of the list of $600 for a new one. FYI remans were avail for $180.
8/5 - installed and car runs again - woohoo! 70F degree night was a blast to romp on the car a bit too
)
<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/s4/pics/pics06/dsc04090.jpg">
6/26-7/6 - down after stripped plug in driver's head, head replaced
7/7 - after putting the engine in hours earlier, took it to the drags and made a bunch of 11.9 passes, including my current best: 11.90
7/8-7/15 - washed the car and parked it in the garage, cleaning and waxing it the week leading up to Waterfest
7/16 - drove it to Waterfest
7/17-7/23 - maybe drove it a day or two in here
7/24 - took it out and ended up <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2421328.phtml">limping home with 8 volts on the battery gauge</a>
8/1 - planned on driving car to Autozone to have them test what was bad - car wasn't going to make it that far, so instead swapped in my Golf's battery. Same issue (~11V when car running), so decided alternator is culpret.
8/2 - bought a used alternator for $55 at a junkyard instead of the list of $600 for a new one. FYI remans were avail for $180.
8/5 - installed and car runs again - woohoo! 70F degree night was a blast to romp on the car a bit too
)<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/s4/pics/pics06/dsc04090.jpg">
08-06-2006, 07:15 AM
#5
how did you source the alternator?
when people have posted in the past about replacement, there seems to be alot on confusion regarding amp rating, manufacturer...etc.
also was this a local junkyard, or through car-part.com?
also was this a local junkyard, or through car-part.com?
08-06-2006, 07:59 AM
#7
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ETKA says the S4 uses a 120amp.
IIRC, Mark's original was a Bosch and the replacement was a Valeo but they seem to be interchangeable.
Found at a local (MA) junkyard through car-part.com.
-Dave Pramanik
Found at a local (MA) junkyard through car-part.com.
-Dave Pramanik