2009 B180CDi alternator issue?

[gcon45]

Hi guys.

My wife was driving home today and the battery warning light came on a few times. Afterwards a message appeared to say the car would shut down within 3 minutes.

She pulled over and I came out with a new battery and fitted it.

The car started ok but the battery warning light still comes on.

I brought the car into our garage and tested the alternator with the engine running and it shows 11.73 Volts, this would normally be around 14.

It looks like we need a new alternator. What do you reckon?

I thought the alternator belt might have broke but as it drives the power steering (and the power steering still works) I assume it must be ok.

Any advice / opinions?

 

[brucemillar]

Not sure with your model? You may be able to replace just the regulator/brushes. Try a Google on this. That will be cheap and quick.

Alt should push out up to 14.8 at 2.5k RPM.

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[gcon45]

Thanks for the reply!

Replacing the regulator / brushes would be a lot cheaper and are usually the cause of the problem.

A Bosch remanufactured alternator is around £300 + VAT then there's a good few hour's labour on top of that.

I'm just wondering if the B180CDi has an over running alternator pulley (clutch pulley)?
If this was faulty (ie - spinning freely without driving the alternator) then there would be no charge getting back to the battery.

Perhaps the pulley is solid on these though. I'm just surmising.