Tits and ****. Electrical woe
Discussion
Coming back from timber yard on Sat, go round roundabout - 'Bing bong'...
Exclamation warning light, battery warning light. Managed to get home, phew. Wouldn't start yesterday, started this morning for some reason. No electrical power, no indicators, no lights, no windows etc. Wouldn't change out of first either (auto)
Arse.
Recovery man turned up, managed to start it with a fresh battery, attempted to load it onto the recovery jig hanging out the back of the transit van. This of course doesn't work as its too low.
Fresh battery drained within about 20 mins, smell of burning under the bonnet. b
ks.
Reckon the alternator has died and is shorting out. Currently waiting for a low loader to arrive to take the car to the garage. Ace.
Exclamation warning light, battery warning light. Managed to get home, phew. Wouldn't start yesterday, started this morning for some reason. No electrical power, no indicators, no lights, no windows etc. Wouldn't change out of first either (auto)
Arse.
Recovery man turned up, managed to start it with a fresh battery, attempted to load it onto the recovery jig hanging out the back of the transit van. This of course doesn't work as its too low.
Fresh battery drained within about 20 mins, smell of burning under the bonnet. b
ks.Reckon the alternator has died and is shorting out. Currently waiting for a low loader to arrive to take the car to the garage. Ace.
Assuming it is the 95 Aero in your profile, the 95s apparently do have a habit of alternators, although I am yet to experience it with mine thankfully.
Little bit of a pig to get to by all accounts, which is why a lot of people change it (preventative maintenance) when they lower the subframe to change out all the subframe bushes.
Little bit of a pig to get to by all accounts, which is why a lot of people change it (preventative maintenance) when they lower the subframe to change out all the subframe bushes.
if it turns out to be your alternator be prepared to pay for it in a garage to be fixed which won't be cheap or if your good with tools be prepared for a pig of a job, seriously.
Ive just changed mine on a 2002 9 5 Aero. First off 2002 9 5 (or Aeros not sure which) had the 140 amp alternator instead of the earlier 130 amp.
I paid £35 for a 2nd hand one from Neo Bros.
I'll give a quick run down but be warned its not something I would attempt again.
Engine top bracket needs removing.
Undo down pipe from turbo.
undo rear engine mount -lower middle bulk head - 16mm nut
piece of wood on jack and raise engine
this will enable you to remove pulleys/belt to get to bolts for alternator /bracket
remove master cylinder ( if yours is manual use molegrips to clamp pipe from reservoir to clutch slave cylinder and remove or you will break off the nipple)
Remove the master cylinder as this is in the way on a rhd car obviously and the easiest way on a rhd car is to remove alternator from the top
That is a very simplified version and here is a link - http://www.twinsaabs.com/9-5_repair/alternator/int...
Remember that link is for a lhd car hence no need to remove master cylinder.
Dont bother trying to remove from below - on mine the driveshaft was in the way.
If you decide to do it - you're mad!
Ive just changed mine on a 2002 9 5 Aero. First off 2002 9 5 (or Aeros not sure which) had the 140 amp alternator instead of the earlier 130 amp.
I paid £35 for a 2nd hand one from Neo Bros.
I'll give a quick run down but be warned its not something I would attempt again.
Engine top bracket needs removing.
Undo down pipe from turbo.
undo rear engine mount -lower middle bulk head - 16mm nut
piece of wood on jack and raise engine
this will enable you to remove pulleys/belt to get to bolts for alternator /bracket
remove master cylinder ( if yours is manual use molegrips to clamp pipe from reservoir to clutch slave cylinder and remove or you will break off the nipple)
Remove the master cylinder as this is in the way on a rhd car obviously and the easiest way on a rhd car is to remove alternator from the top
That is a very simplified version and here is a link - http://www.twinsaabs.com/9-5_repair/alternator/int...
Remember that link is for a lhd car hence no need to remove master cylinder.
Dont bother trying to remove from below - on mine the driveshaft was in the way.
If you decide to do it - you're mad!
BernB said:
It could just be a faulty voltage regulator, which can be replaced with the alternator still on the car.
Price was about £35.00, and took me a couple of hours to fit.
Did you manage to change out the regulator with the alt on the car, on a 95? The only reason I ask is that apparently that is nigh on impossible due to poor design/layout.Price was about £35.00, and took me a couple of hours to fit.
The more I hear about it, the more I think I will change mine as a preventative measure!
Wing Commander said:
BernB said:
It could just be a faulty voltage regulator, which can be replaced with the alternator still on the car.
Price was about £35.00, and took me a couple of hours to fit.
Did you manage to change out the regulator with the alt on the car, on a 95? The only reason I ask is that apparently that is nigh on impossible due to poor design/layout.Price was about £35.00, and took me a couple of hours to fit.
The more I hear about it, the more I think I will change mine as a preventative measure!
I used one of these mini-ratchets to undo some the screws / nuts on the alternator cover where space was a bit tight :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-207017160-Screwdrivi...
The hardest part was removing and refitting the black plastic cover on the back of the alternator, as it's very close the downpipe. Poor design/layout, as you say!
I think in the end I just left it wedged out of the way between the alternator and downpipe, while I undid the two screws holding the regulator in place, and put the new one in.
pewe said:
Depending on where you are ask DCA in Upper Bucklebury for a price tel: 01635 860086.
Given it sounds like a complete PIA job I'd be wary about fitting a second-hand one -
Eurocarparts are currently showing a new Bosch one for £116 + VAT.
HTH & keep us posted.
Cheers, Pewe.
Bit of a trek for me, car has gone to its usual place, Cromwell Saab in SE London. Although the Orpington Saab place might now be a bit closer.Given it sounds like a complete PIA job I'd be wary about fitting a second-hand one -
Eurocarparts are currently showing a new Bosch one for £116 + VAT.
HTH & keep us posted.
Cheers, Pewe.
Spoke to one of the guys at Cromwell today, asked if there was anything else worth doing while this was being done (such as bushes as mentioned by Wing Co). He didn't seem to think so, and that the alternator job would not be too much pain and it may get a new drive belt if needed.
We'll see...
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