BtownVolvo Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Hey guys! Been having a rather intermittent issue lately, but don't want to take any chances driving it anymore. On occasion, the radio was cutting out and restarting. Didn't really think too much about it and was almost excited thinking I could finally use this as an excuse to replace the stock radio. Fast forward to tonight. Driving at night and the radio cuts out when I tap the brakes. Weird. Then I notice that the lights start dimming every time I tap the brakes and be ABS light flashes on quickly and turns off. Make it up to my driveway and the AC clutch kicks on and the car literally dies for a second, hiccups, then turns back on just fine. All the while I'm thinking alternator, so I grab my multimeter. 12.7 at the terminals. I leave the car for a couple hours while I go out for the evening, come back, and test it at the alternator terminal while on. 14 dead. So now I'm wondering if it's a loose ground wire or if there's some goofy issue with the alternator after all. Battery was replaced about a year ago with an OEM Volvo battery from the dealer. I'll probably get it tested to rule it out completely, but wanted to get some other ideas of places to look as well before I go tightening every bolt under the hood. Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 What was the voltage while running? And what do you mean by 14 dead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piston Slapper Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 And what do you mean by 14 dead? 14.000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 14.000? Either in confused or you guys are confused! Idono haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piston Slapper Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 14.000? Either in confused or you guys are confused! Idono haha Exactly 14, not 14.1 or 13.9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BtownVolvo Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 HA! Sorry. Yes...while running, the alternator read 14.00 volts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyXXL Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 What about the voltage regulator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayAway Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 loose terminal.....happened to me 3 weeks ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Exactly 14, not 14.1 or 13.9. Just poor formating. If your going to state a voltage, then state it correctly. 14v, or 14.1v, or even 14.1vdc. Not 14.000 like its a math problen gone wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BtownVolvo Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Yea sorry. It was late, and I had a few drinks while typing the post HAHA. I'll check the alternator terminals when I get home, but the fact that it died when the AC kicked on kinda makes me want to think it's the alternator? Still weird that it churns out 14 vdc if it's dying? Where are the resistors? I'll check those as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 The voltage regulator can start acting up in weird ways. As in it could stop when it gets hot and then start working again once it cools down. So you need to test voltage right when it's going dead. Having a constant reading in the vehicle is a good idea. BUT it could be a grounding issue as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BtownVolvo Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 The voltage regulator can start acting up in weird ways. As in it could stop when it gets hot and then start working again once it cools down. So you need to test voltage right when it's going dead. Having a constant reading in the vehicle is a good idea. BUT it could be a grounding issue as well. Wow. Not sure where I got resistor from voltage regulator. I need to go back to bed. But yea. Are our regulators internal or external? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikv11 Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 The regulator is right under the black plastic cap that says "Bosch 100A." Three screws, pull off the cap, two screws hold in the regulator. You can actually get it out with the alternator in the car, I've done it on an NA may be a bit of a hassle on a turbo car. Heard it is easier if you pull the shroud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piston Slapper Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 Just poor formating. If your going to state a voltage, then state it correctly. 14v, or 14.1v, or even 14.1vdc. Not 14.000 like its a math problen gone wrong I was just trying to explain what '14 dead' meant since you didn't understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p4eAaLcLe Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I had an issue where mines would die after a few hours of sitting, ran tests, tested it over night, checked ground etc. went on for several months. Took the alternator to three parts stores to run on their machines, it passed two of the three. The only thing I hadn't done was replace it. Replaced it, problem solved. It was a costly and time consuming risk, but it was obviously worth it. Goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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