hello guys, here is the sich... i was driving to harrisburg in my 91 318is and i noticed my dash lights were lookin kinda dim. but i shrugged it off. then like 10 minutes later the engine starts to sputter and it dies out. i try to start it with no success. i call mi papa to give me a jump, he came and gave me a jump and i drove towards home. but then like 40 seconds later when i was at a light the same thing happened. i parked the car at a empty lot and my dad gave me a ride home. we came back with a battery from another one of the cars at my house. hooked it up and drove it back perfectly. i then returned the battery to the proper car and went to ghetto walmart to buy one. i hooked the newly bought battery and i was driving happily again. but then after like 2 hours the same thing happened. i can only assume that this problem is the alternator. but then again i dont really want to jump to things im not really knowledgeable in. i dont really have a job at the moment because i quit so i can join the military (USMC!!!!) so my funds are extremely limited. i dont want to buy a alternator then find out i dont need one (but im like 90% sure i do) and i will find a craigslist mechanic to put it in for cheap. so thats the deal. any thought o wise and powerful members of this great website???
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Hmmm.... It MIGHT be the alternator, but if the car is dying while driving down the road it's prob something else : \
Let's see what the other guys think....Last edited by Overlord475; 12-01-2010, 01:24 PM. -
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Exact same thing happen to me. 100% is sounds like the alternator.Comment
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PA!
And sounds like an alternator but I am no expert...Comment
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Do you have access to a Multimeter? If you can, test to see if your alternator is charging your battery.Comment
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This. First, check to make sure that ur alternator belt is actually still there. If its old, they'll wear away and then pop. If its there then test the alternator. A quick way is to start the car and disconnect a battery terminal. If the car shuts off then its ur alternator.
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also is it easy to replace the alternator yourself???Comment
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hmm
I don't know much about e30's but I imagine its not hard.
It takes no time to do it on a 2002.
What you can do possibly is go to a store like Kragens or CSK auto or maybe even pepp boys.
Where I live in california the Kragens down my street can check your alternator while its still in the car and tell u if its good or not.Comment
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Does the ABS light come on, guages act strange, etc a little bit before it dies?
Anyways, its your
But BEFORE you go buy a new alternator, take a look at the carbon brushes/voltage regulator in your current alternator.
Chances are the brushes have worn out, not the alternator diodes.
This happened to me earlier in the summer...first time I've been let down by an e30.
part #22 is what I am talking about. When mine failed, the longest "brush" was ~1cm tall. edit: actually looking at it now, its 0.5cm tall.
Last edited by Eecen; 12-01-2010, 08:42 PM.Comment
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check the ground cable that connnects the alt. to the engineblock before you replace anything. have had that problem a few times come up over the years.Comment
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your alternator quit alternating.Comment
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E30 noob
I agree with User *Eecen*, what you need is item no. #22 on *Eecen*'s diagram above, this has also happened to me recently....it's your "Voltage regulator", it's not allowing your alternator to recharge your battery while in motion, hence, when you put in the new battery...you ran for a while with the original charge on the new battery. The brushes on the voltage regulator is worn......it's an easy fix.:D
Your Voltage regulator is located on your Alternator, with two screws for the cover and two screws holding the actual regulator to the alternator. Voltage regulators are not that expensive....you could get one for about $20- $35 bucks on the internet.....ebay or Fap99...!!
You can remove the voltage regulator yourself when you remove the two screws holding it to the altrnator, and purchase a new one and replace it.....it's no big deal....!!
But make sure your alternator belt is fine and tightly fitted....!!Comment
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yep alternatorComment
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