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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| What are the odds?
two 1993 500GE's.
Both alternators locked up within a day of each other. Only one day advance warning with a whine noise in each one.
Looks like I have fun tomorrow night replacing both.
Lottery tickets anyone.
AGuess |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: What are the odds?
Maybe they're "synchronizing." Like two women who hang around one another too long. 
-Dave G. |
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MiN
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Alpujarras, Spain
Vehicle(s): No cars, at all.
Posts: 555
| Re: What are the odds?
Unless its vital to get the cars on the road ASAP, you might consider finding out if just replacing the bearings would be all that's needed. You might want to change the regulator at the same time. |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: What are the odds?
Replaced both of them last night. The first one was not a problem as there was plenty of room to turn it sideways and lift it out, the second one was a problem as it has a websco heater mounted to the fender and left no room to lift the alternator out. I ended up having to remove the entire bracket that bolts to the engine and holds the alternator.
Took 3.5 hours to do both and the cost of the alternator was $169.00 each. Not too bad. |
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thanito
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: Greece
Vehicle(s): MB G400CDI, MB 300E-24, Mini Cooper S
Posts: 253
| Re: What are the odds?
Lucky you, my alternator costs $1000 give or take. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: What are the odds?
Yes, G55 alternator went 2 years ago. That was $1200 USD. |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: What are the odds?
These were rebuilt alternator's. They have a two year replacement warranty. For the cost savings, i will just replace them again when they fail instead of buying new alternator's. |
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nikalex
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Vehicle(s): '93 350GD SOLD
Posts: 198
| RE: What are the odds?
I just replaced my alternator...Can$220 for a good rebuilt one (Bosch) + $45 for a new Continental serpentine belt. I had my old, original Bosch 80 amp alternator rebuilt for $140 and now have a good spare ready to go...tested at 90 amps output. I will carry that with me. I am going to do the Oregon coast with the family and some German guests first week of April... I consider myself lucky. Cheers, Roman |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: What are the odds?
RE: carrying an entire spare alternator. I'd just carry the regulator. Alternators are generally very reliable. When they fail, 80% of the time it is the regulator and/or regluator brushes that are at fault. Aside from the brushes wearing out due to age they can get chewed up if you wade through muddy water. The rest of the alternator is very reliable.
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thanito
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: Greece
Vehicle(s): MB G400CDI, MB 300E-24, Mini Cooper S
Posts: 253
| Re: What are the odds?
Alan, unfortunately my alternator is water-cooled, and is being sold in one piece-not repairable. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: What are the odds?
The regulator for the water cooled alternator seems readily available for ~$60. The replacement process might be a tough trail side repair since the water tight alternator needs to be opened up. BTW: There is an air cooled alternator A6281540102 that fits your engine. It uses a different pulley for some reason.
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: What are the odds?
Why is the alternator water cooled? |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: What are the odds?
BlueG - 3/21/2012 7:13 AM Why is the alternator water cooled? I recall this being a two-for-one type of deal that is mostly used on the CDI engines. Better cooling of the alternator at high load and a way to warm up the engine quicker. Apparently the CDIs are so efficient that they take forever to warm up at idle. Recapturing some waste heat from the charging process helps.
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: What are the odds?
AlanMcR - 3/21/2012 12:48 PM
Apparently the CDIs are so efficient that they take forever to warm up at idle. Recapturing some waste heat from the charging process helps.
Not only at idle, but also just doing low rpm local driving. This was true for my MB ML320CDI as well as the Audi Q7 3.0TDI. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: What are the odds?
Just finished replacing the alternator in the 500GE.
This is not an "easy" job...not much room to work in the engine bay!
Two persons recommended.
I removed the original alternator (it looked like it had never been changed before. Bosch part No: 120469945)
MB part number: 0081547602
Bosch Remanufactured Alternator Part Number: AL165X
You will need to remove the alternator bracket and the cruise control/tempomat to access all of the bolts and to remove the alternator.
Cause of failure: Bearing failure. It looked to be the original alternator! "Made in Germany" marked and all.
Best part is it seems that the vehicle has more horsepower and better throttle response.
There is an ecosystem of sorts electrically in the MB vehicles so if voltages are not correct systems will not perform at peak/optimum efficiency.
***MAKE SURE TO BUY A REMAN ALTERNATOR FROM A BOSCH AUTHORIZED REMAN FACILITY WITH BOSCH WARRANTY PROVIDED***
I am so tired of seeing junk remanufactured parts on the market and unscrupulous sellers offering same that they claim is an authorized reman. |
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King_GH
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2011
Location: London
Vehicle(s): 95 G300 RHD
Posts: 324
| RE: What are the odds?
Hi Alan
What's the cure for muddy water? What can be done if you need to go off road often. Is there a resilient one? |
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