Alternator faillure....

[kilian tuning]

...So im back from the weekend with family and drove 400 miles, but:

Everything did work fine on the journy towards the hotel. Then we started the beast to have a lunch 20 km from hotel, the red battery light came on and volt gauge dropt to just over 12volts...
After lets say 10 km the yellow battery came up in the centre display, but we could reach our lunch destination. after i shut it down, tried to restart, nothing happened just all the symbols blinking fast like the battery is dead...went for the lunch, 1,5 hours later, started the engine, everything was fine, no lights, just perfect.
Had some other stops along the way to the hotel, everything worked fine.
Next day, battery dead, voltgauge just above 8 volts...<beep> hell, why now....
Managed to get some jumpcables to get it started, everything was fine, except i heard some strange buzzing sound coming from under the car, just occasionally, not permanent. On top of that, there was a bulp warning light coming up to, my <beep> left headlight was broken, tried numerous gasstations, none available...kept the car running cos it wouldnt restart...
From that point i couldnt get the car started without jumpcables (we were with 2 cars...)while voltgauge was still at normal value while driving.
When 20 km from home, car started to hesitate, engine warning light came up occasionally omg....
I could get it back in my garage where it still is...

Think its the alternator isnt it..?
Now i hope i can get it to a garage to have it sorted...

[mik15]

if the voltmeter was showing over 14V while driving i don't think it's the alternator but the battery, if the alternator was the problem then you wouldn't have been able to drive it anymore...i would say to change the battery, have a look at it and see what's the production date!

[kilian tuning]

could it just be the alternator is just slowly dying...and wheres thats buzzing coming from? i thought thats the alternator...never heard that before, like an extra fan is spinning...

[mik15]

get an electrician at your house and he will check with a voltmeter if the alternator its still charging or not....

[Jimmy]

Been there last summer...the alt just started to quit...no reason.

Seems to be common although I have the same alt in my 86' VW believe it or not....and it's still going strong. It's not the orginal but it's got to be at least 15 years old.

[kilian tuning]

weird thing is, while driving the voltgauge is normal, but after a 2 hour standstill it shows barely 8 volts...and cant start...

[Aronis]

I had an alternator die about two years ago.

If the alternator is working, then the "In Car" Volt meter will read 14 v regardless of the state of the battery. With the engine off and the car switched on, that volt meter will show the level of charge in the battery.

The system will NOT work without a battery in the circuit (modern cars are like that, in the old days you could jump a dead car and it would run without a battery even in the car).

If the volt meter reads less than 14 volts (car running) then the alternator is dying. As you said the thing starts and runs, it's not yet Dead, just "Mostly Dead."

It can be replaced from underneath, but Audi shows "service position."

Some here have had the alternator's diodes changed (rectifier circuit, turns A/C into D/C etc,).

Mike

[kilian tuning]

VCDS Version: Beta 912.0
Data version: 20091201
Wednesday,20,June,2012,10:45:50:60804
Chassis Type: 4B - Audi A6 C5
Scan: 01 02 03 06 08 15 16 17 18 34 35 36 37 45 55 56 57 65 67 75
76 77


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine Labels: 077-907-558-BCY.lbl
Part No: 4D1 907 558
Component: 4.2l V8/5VT G01 0002
Coding: 0010752
Shop #: WSC 02195 785 00200
8 Faults Found:
16716 - Knock Sensor 2 (G66): Signal too Low
P0332 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16946 - System Voltage: Too Low
P0562 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16396 - Bank 1: Camshaft A (Intake): Advance Setpoint not Reached (Over-Retarded)
P0012 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16687 - Cylinder 3: Misfire Detected
P0303 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16686 - Cylinder 2: Misfire Detected
P0302 - 001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
16685 - Cylinder 1: Misfire Detected
P0301 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
18010 - Power Supply Terminal 30: Voltage too Low
P1602 - 002 - Lower Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
Readiness: 0000 0000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01L-927-156.lbl
Part No: 4B0 927 156 FB
Component: AG5 01L 4.2l5VT VT1 1315
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 00000
No fault code found.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments Labels:

End ---------------------------------------------------------------------

[kilian tuning]

...new battery installed, everything is fine, except that buzzing noise is still there sometimes when hot...

[kilian tuning]

battery light came up again...
just realised when my battery light came up last time, i started the engine, i released my key to early before the engine started...could this bring up the battery light and cause the alternator to malfunction?

[dab]

I just replaced the alternator with the same symptoms, old battery started after it sat overnight. As I started to drive battery light came on A/C stopped, windows hardly functioned. 1200 dollars later thanks for only available from audi.

[kismetcapitan]

mine was just redone, for a LOT cheaper than $1200. To rebuild the regulator and labor, it was around $300....

[mballard73]

My Alternator just died (65K), I was on the expressway and barely go pulled off an exit before the car completely quit. 1350.00 at the local Audi dealer! I feel violated, they told me they have to remove the front bumper to replace the Alternator. Anyone heard of this?? Not very happy as I'm no longer under warranty.

[Brav]

My Alternator just died (65K), I was on the expressway and barely go pulled off an exit before the car completely quit. 1350.00 at the local Audi dealer! I feel violated, they told me they have to remove the front bumper to replace the Alternator. Anyone heard of this?? Not very happy as I'm no longer under warranty.

Service position probably.. but its actually a pretty easy job. You did get hosed a bit. First mistake was taking it to the dealer..

[Bigglezworth]

Sorry to say, but you got bilked. That's an OBSCENE bill for the work and parts involved. OBSCENE!!! b In fact it's so disgusting, I would report them to the BBB. They guaranteed billed the max amount for the part makaing 200+ mark-up in the process and then billed book time for efforts that they easily performed in half the time. I'm offended and it's not even my bill. Egad. Obscene.

[bobski]

I paid the same amount here in Frankfurt. I even learned the same in German, Leichtmachine. New battery, then new alternator, then new battery because the first new one failed. All good now for 8 months.

[mik15]

that's really expensive, the stealer is the stealer...
Bobski, what did you do with the gearbox ?

[1 bad 03 rs6]

Check out this post I had a few months ago. - http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/24167-Okay-dumb-question-serpentine-belt-removal-for-alternator-R-amp-R?highlight=

I just replaced the battery as well. battery (Duralast Gold from Autozone $165, not as long as the original, but the side bracket holds it down fine) and alternator $180 - $345 Total

[4.2Crew]

Yep. You just got F'd!.... Don't mean to sound like a dick. But the dealer bent you over. I, like others on this board, have removed and reinstalled the alternator without going to the service position and had the original alternator rebuilt for as little as $100... Time for a DIY'r to remove and reinstall alternator without going to the service position: About 2hrs MAX!

Sometimes dealer stereotypes exist for good reason...

In my opinion, the $1300+ charge is just disingenuousness. No f'ing way does any tech, at any Audi dealer, go to the service position for this procedure. No way. Period.