electrical problem...?

[jlevie]

Monitor system voltage while the car is being driven. That will tell if the alternator is working and how well.

If you are using generic reman alternators, you may go through several before you get a good one. As a result of an experience with multiples being bad I no longer use anything but a factory reman. They are more pricey, but I've never had a bad one "out of the box" or one that fails shortly after installation.

[LuCifer]

The alternators have been bosch rebuilds. Ive read that the 140 amp alt. in a 7 series has a relay for it. The e30 does not, could that be the problem?

[jlevie]

Operation of the alternator in an all but very late production E30's requires that the alternator/battery warning light in the cluster be good. That light should come on when the ignition is on and go out when the engine fires. If the bulb is burned out, there is a problem in the cluster, or in the exciter circuit the alternator won't work properly.

[jeffnhiscars]

Operation of the alternator in an all but very late production E30's requires that the alternator/battery warning light in the cluster be good. That light should come on when the ignition is on and go out when the engine fires. If the bulb is burned out, there is a problem in the cluster, or in the exciter circuit the alternator won't work properly.

Hard to believe they put something as critical as the alternator at the mercy of a $2 bulb.

[LuCifer]

Operation of the alternator in an all but very late production E30's requires that the alternator/battery warning light in the cluster be good. That light should come on when the ignition is on and go out when the engine fires. If the bulb is burned out, there is a problem in the cluster, or in the exciter circuit the alternator won't work properly.

The light comes on with ignition and off when engine fires. That cluster bulb is not the problem.

[b*saint]

Maybe something is killing the alternators.

[LuCifer]

Maybe something is killing the alternators.

Possibly, but what? Lol

[jlevie]

The light comes on with ignition and off when engine fires. That cluster bulb is not the problem.

Okay, so the exciter seems to be good. The next things I'd check would be grounding of the alternator and the power out connections.

[nando]

Operation of the alternator in an all but very late production E30's requires that the alternator/battery warning light in the cluster be good. That light should come on when the ignition is on and go out when the engine fires. If the bulb is burned out, there is a problem in the cluster, or in the exciter circuit the alternator won't work properly.

Actually, there is a resistor from at least 1988 build dates as a failsafe if the bulb burns out. I havent looked at earlier builds to see when they added it but it wasn't just late cars.

[Nick_S]

Having identical issues...bumping this thread

My issues started immediately after jumping a friends car.