E36 Voltage Regulator at fault?

mercedeslimos Part of things Posts: 597	E36 Voltage Regulator at fault?mercedeslimos @mercedeslimos
	Jul 17, 2018 15:41:27 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Trying to put my ‘99 (last month of production) E36 Cabrio back on the road after a 3- year uninsureable hiatus. It’s the 318i with the M43 engine. Standard Bosch alternator. Not charging, voltage at alternator and battery both 12v battery voltage and drops until car cuts out. Had the alternation apart, cleaned brushes and commutator etc. Still no go, sounds like voltage regulator fried? I know they have a transistor inside. Never had an alternator go bad on me before. Sam


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ChasR RR Helper motivation Posts: 10,194 Club RR Member Number: 170	E36 Voltage Regulator at fault?ChasR @chasr Club Retro Rides Member 170
	Jul 18, 2018 7:08:26 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	It does indeed sound like the regulator. Do you have the charging light on at any time? So does it come on with the ignition or when the car is running? If this never comes even in the no. 2 position and the engine not running the system will never charge. Fixing the light may well cure the non charging fault. New alternators aren't mega money and there are some outfits who can even refurbish units for you. At that age things like bearings etc. may not be in their first flush of youth anyway. I know on my M3 that when the regulator went the bearings weren't the best in that.
	Last Edit: Jul 18, 2018 7:12:37 GMT by ChasR ~~'72 Mercedes W108 280SE 4.5~~ '79 Honda NC-50 '03 BMW M3 Coupe '08 BMW E91 325d M-Sport Touring Pre-LCI '16 Yamaha XSR700 My car history and exploits: leylandlegends.com

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