RE: alternator rebuild/repair/other?

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.com.pl>]

Rob wrote:

	>From the looks/sounds of it, my alternator is headed south.
	>Symptoms:
	>1) Start car, voltage gauge says @12 at idle (OK)

Not OK, IMO. You should get at least 13 volts at idle, unless you switch
on your headlights and rear defroster.

	>2) battery and brake lights faintly illuminated (not OK)
	>3) Rev car past 2k RPM, voltage goes up to normal (@14) (OK)
	>4) Start hearing a pretty substantial "bad bearings" noise (for
lack of a
	>better term), but only at idle (not OK)
	>
	>So, assuming it the alternator, what is the conventional wisdom
- rebuild?
	>What are the options as far as replacing with a new one? Is
this a Bosch
	>part or something else?

Yes, it's a Bosch part. Most US-spec 44 chassis cars have 90 amp
alternators, but your '91 may have 110 amp one. My alternator failed
with exactly same symptoms last year. I just removed the alternator,
took it to the nearest car electrician and said "please fix it". $50
(labour is cheap in this country) and few hours later it was working
like a new one again. 

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)