V50 Alternator Replacement? | Volvo Owners Forum

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Mitch Pelletier M Hi guys, I've been having a whinning sound for the past few weeks, which is engine speed related. Today, while driving, I got the "Power Systems Failure" message and followed by the RED battery light. Tonight I checked a few things. The voltage at the battery terminals without the car running is 12.23V. The voltage at the battery terminals with the car running is 11.64V!!! Hmmm...looks like my alternator is toast!! Does anyone have the procedure or a link to replace the alternator as a DIY job??? I don't mind doing it, it's just that things looke pretty cramped in there!! Any thoughts? Thanks!! -Mitch #1 · Feb 22, 2011 Hi guys, I've been having a whinning sound for the past few weeks, which is engine speed related. Today, while driving, I got the "Power Systems Failure" message and followed by the RED battery light. Tonight I checked a few things. The voltage at the battery terminals without the car running is 12.23V. The voltage at the battery terminals with the car running is 11.64V!!! Hmmm...looks like my alternator is toast!! Does anyone have the procedure or a link to replace the alternator as a DIY job??? I don't mind doing it, it's just that things looke pretty cramped in there!! Any thoughts? Thanks!! -Mitch Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Feb 22, 2011 Alternator is only 2 bolts after you get the belt off. A voltage regulator is about $60 at your local alt/starter shop. If you let your local shop do the work, it'll be way less expensive than new. http://www.volvoxc.com/resources/how-to/index.php Ed #3 · Feb 22, 2011 QUOTE (ed7 @ Feb 21 2011, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Alternator is only 2 bolts after you get the belt off. A voltage regulator is about $60 at your local alt/starter shop. If you let your local shop do the work, it'll be way less expensive than new. http://www.volvoxc.com/resources/how-to/index.php Ed Thanks Ed. I think it's the bearing though as I have the whinning sound. My V50 is a 2005 T5 AWD automatic. I do have an 04 XC70 as well, so thanks for the link. Do you think it's basically the same procedure? Thanks! -Mitch #4 · Feb 22, 2011 (Edited by Moderator) Same engine and accessory set up. http://www.volvoxc.com/resources/how-to/pd...ng%20Method.pdf The bearing can be done by your local shop too as well as the regulator. Some of the alternators have a conventional pulley and some have a funky clutched pulley. The clutched pulley, if you have it, can fail and not transmit power to the alternator. If this is the case, you may not need the regulator. Be aware of the battery disconnect/reconnect protocol. http://howardsvolvos.webs.com/miscissues.htm It is possible to pull the alternator with out pulling the intake, but its tight. Here's a pic of one with a clutch. http://www.tomsforeign.com/p-47105-alterna...1-02-03-06.aspx Ed #5 · Feb 23, 2011 (Edited by Moderator) Oh oh...bad news!!! I started this job, but the layout doesn't look the same as the info shown above. I don't have my power steering pump on the top. Anyhow, started the job and it wasn't the end of the world getting to the alternator and getting it freed up BUT, I can't get the belt off!! I can't access the tensioner to release a bit of tension. Can't reach it from the top, can't reach it from the bottom. I've snapped a bunch of pics to show what's up. So now, I have the car in the garage, not driveable because of this crazy belt! Argh!!! Thoughts?? Thanks, -Mitch (05 V50 T5 AWD auto) This is the tensioner on the other belt, A/C??? Same tensioner. You can't even see the alternator tensioner cause it's SO hard to access. #6 · Feb 24, 2011 Things have changed a bit. IF that's the tensioner in the last pic, and it's got a hex in the center of it, then put a socket on it and crank clockwise to loosen the belt. It does look like you have a freewheeling pulley on that Alt. Ed #7 · Feb 24, 2011 So I was FINALLY able to get that alternator out of the car, what a job!!! Thanks ton Ron for some Vadis info, very helpful! So basically, you have to remove the right front wheel and the fender splah guard. That is when it exposes the lower tensioner properly. Once you loosen it and remove the belt, the tension springs back and finally exposes the alternator tensioner, which is the one you are looking for. It takes a #5 Torx to release both tensioners. Once the tensioner is loose and the belt removed, you are able to free up the alternator. 3 bolts, one of the bottom left of the alternator that you can't see at all. Still not sure how I'll put that one back in. With the althernator free, you are still not able to remove it as there is no room for it to come out. You need to remove the throttle body and try to move the air box to the furthest right that you can. Remove the ECC connections, the air flow line from the air box going to the back of the engine. Then you can finally end up with perhaps a 1/16 on each side where you can pull the alternator through the hole. I'm going to bring my alternator to a shop to get checked out, but the bearing feels good. Doesn't feel like it could be the cause of my whinning sound. Hmmm...I would hope it would be, cause I don't feel like trouble shooting anything else. I guess I probably have about 4hrs into it by now. It's not a fun job at all. More to follow... -Mitch Oh, make sure you wear mechanic's gloves...if not, your knuckles will take a beating for sure!! #8 · Feb 24, 2011 Shoot...had my alternator at the repair shop. He says that rectifier is shot and there are no parts available! The stealer doesn't have one (not that I would look forward to buying one from them) and all my other online sources seem to only offer generic ones. Any one have any ideas where I can find an alternator for my 05 V50 T5 automatic? Thanks!!! -Mitch Insert Quotes Post Reply

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