Just a question, how many C5 owners have to had their Alternator Replaced?

[tidus888]

I am enjoying my time with the RS6.... but.... finally.. the "battery" indicator came out and driving voltage is around 11.5V which i know for sure is no good... so just wanna see who else had to replace alternator.. good thing it didnt happen in the cold winter... and car is still drivable...

[hcaudikeed]

I replaced my alternator last July. Turned out it was a bad rebuild and that one failed by this past march.

[V8weight]

I am enjoying my time with the RS6.... but.... finally.. the "battery" indicator came out and driving voltage is around 11.5V which i know for sure is no good... so just wanna see who else had to replace alternator.. good thing it didnt happen in the cold winter... and car is still drivable...

I had mine fail at about 84k miles. It's pretty common for alternators to fail on RS6's in the 70-80k mile range, in fact the week mine checked out, about 5 other members cars had them fail on RS6.com.

[EinSchnellAudi]

Mine failed at 140k, in the dead of winter no less. this past february to be exact.

[tidus888]

I had mine fail at about 84k miles. It's pretty common for alternators to fail on RS6's in the 70-80k mile range, in fact the week mine checked out, about 5 other members cars had them fail on RS6.com.

Ouch! In the winter? Hope you were near some public places or had some warm clothes with you!

[Audiudo]

Had mine replaced at around 90k. Battery light came on while I was in traffic in the dead of winter! Had no where to pull over since it snowed the day before!

[Mantis]

Did mine recently, not too bad to do on a 2.7t, not sure on a 4.2t

[Scotty@Advanced]

Did mine on my 4.2 @ 45,000 miles about a year ago. Went through some high water and that killed it. When I took it apart there was some gravel, and a cigarette butt in the brushes.

[Scotty@Advanced]

Did mine recently, not too bad to do on a 2.7t, not sure on a 4.2t

Not as bad as a 30V alt on a B5, but a pain doing it on your back.

[vidalkiss5]

mine went out at about 80-something k.

[FrankA6]

The one on my 04 2.7T was replaced at 65K and the one on my sisters 01 2.7T was replaced at 90K , i think they all have this problem.

[brewmastr]

you will find this common with bosch and valeo alternators throughout german vehicles, seems the brushes on the voltage regulator wear out, a little trick that not many know that will save major $$$ is that if there is no bearing noise from the alternator, replace just the internal regulator and get another 100k out of it. its the regulator that fails.

[MLFHNTR]

you will find this common with bosch and valeo alternators throughout german vehicles, seems the brushes on the voltage regulator wear out, a little trick that not many know that will save major $$$ is that if there is no bearing noise from the alternator, replace just the internal regulator and get another 100k out of it. its the regulator that fails.

Good to know (writing in little black book)

[kashanova]

Hmm, is it common for the voltage meter to be about 13 volts? this just happen to my car today, it was extremely hot if that matters...

[Scotty@Advanced]

Hmm, is it common for the voltage meter to be about 13 volts? this just happen to my car today, it was extremely hot if that matters...

If your running alot of electrical accessories yes you can see 13 volts. What does it read will all accessories off?

[MYDWAGON]

Doing mine at 210k.Liquid cooled 190amp = lots of money

[A62TURBO]

Doing mine at 210k.Liquid cooled 190amp = lots of money

Yours is liquid cooled?

[MYDWAGON]

Yours is liquid cooled?

Yes.

[A6Avant]

I have 170K (Thats miles I know Im from canada but the car is from USofA) on my original now...

[OGBULLYLOCDAWG]

*raises hand*

Around 90k

[kashanova]

If your running alot of electrical accessories yes you can see 13 volts. What does it read will all accessories off?

I'll have to check, first time I saw it that low. Usually see it much higher.. Car has 135k

[8520]

I've had my car 30-40k now with no alternator issues yet.

Did have to replace my battery around 100k though.

[EErie B6]

I'm begining to wonder about mine. Actually prior to me reading this thread. I have noticed my volt meter hovering around 13v, Then tonight sitting at the DQ drive through it was about 1 needle width above 12v. A/c was on high and when I rolled down the windows the radiator fans were hauling ass... But even when pulling away it only went back to about 13v.

[Vinchenzo51]

I'm begining to wonder about mine. Actually prior to me reading this thread. I have noticed my volt meter hovering around 13v, Then tonight sitting at the DQ drive through it was about 1 needle width above 12v. A/c was on high and when I rolled down the windows the radiator fans were hauling ass... But even when pulling away it only went back to about 13v.

HAHA me too. This thread has me paranoid now. Mine is definitely above 12v but I don't remember what "normal" looks like... Sigh, I'm considering changing it anyway just to have piece of mind. I need to take my front clip off anyway to play around with some things... Are they expensive?

[8520]

Mine runs at 14 volts even with my stereo cranked. Thanks stinger battery.

[EErie B6]

Mine runs at 14 volts even with my stereo cranked. Thanks stinger battery.

but, but, I has new battery.

I thought mine ran at 14v normally too. damn, now I'm really worried.

[davidh23]

215368 miles and alternator has decided to call it a day

[gaumisa]

last summer @ 110k

[doobiesdaddy]

Still on the original alternator at 125,000

[gbjoshe]

Still on the original alternator at 125,000

Same here.. 155,000

[OGBULLYLOCDAWG]

*raises hand*

Around 90k

Looks like I'll be changing the mother****** again @ a little over 97k!

[prady]

yep... it died last winter, i changed it with some cheap brand and the new alternator didn't charge battery properly was no good. Got a replacement from same cheap a$$ brand and has been running fine since then. Worst of all since i didn't do it by myself it cost me double labor.... that was the last time i acted stingy on parts lol..

[redneck truck]

Replace the battery. I've never once replaced an alternator in 12 years, 12 vehicles, and probably 800,000 miles. Unless a bearing is seized and it's shredding the belt, always rule out battery and wiring issues before replacing a perfectly good alternator. The drop to 11.5V could be an electrical draw, including a shorted battery.

[beemercer]

Replaced mine a few weeks ago, 156k miles. Had been whining for a year now and the bearings finally siezed

[Stoliguy]

Battery and Alt at 104k Then alt again 11 miles later because of a crap reman... lesson learned.

[Johann2.7t]

mine went south at 160k

[iowan]

The regulator voltage is temperature dependent. A fully charged battery, no load at 23C should be 12.7-12.8 Volts. you need a good digital meter, the dash gauge is not accurate enough. Alternator voltage has to be higher to force charge into the battery. Alternator voltage in normal conditions at the alternator terminals should be ~14.5 Volts. In cold weather the voltage can be well over 15 Volts. Loose or corroded connections can easily lose a Volt or more. The important point is the voltage measured at the battery, directly on the battery posts. If you don't have more than 13.5 Volts measured across the battery posts (not on the connectors) at full load and operating temperature you are headed for a dead battery.

[audifirst]

twice in 13 years replaced alternator, and one voltage regulator