ok, the other day on my way home from tafe my car died. when i left tafe the battery light was on and i didnt think anything of it cos its been doing this for ages. Anyway, just as i am about to get home my radio turns off, then seconds later gauges went dead, no speedo, tacho, fuel, nothing.

just as i am getting to my house the car starts to die, then as i am out the front it all goes, i am stuck in the middle of a bloody main road, trying to push my car into drive way while trucks are barreling down the road, with people standing around watching me try and push a bloody verada with no power:doubt: .

I rang the RAA and the guy says its the alternator brushes are dead, i need a new one.

anyway a reco is $400 installed, second hand with 3 month warranty $210 installed.:cry:
But a mate at work recons that if it is just the brushes, it can be fixed for about $10, simply buying new brushes and soldering them in and turfing the old ones.

Now, what i want to know is, has anyone done this before?? if so how easy is it?? or am i just better off gettin another one?

any replies would be helpful, and sorry for the long post.

just buy the regulater the brushes come with it

really cheap
DIY easy fit undo battery / wire to regulator to remove / two screws on regulater/ alternator bolts to undo to slacken bolt /

dont buy a new alternator unless the bearings are shot

pic it typical of a external regulator

i recon 400 for a recon aint right.. i recon you could get a new bosch on for 350-400..:confused:

holy hell that was quick,

$400 for a recon is a worst case scenario including fitting.

Is a regulator part of the alternator?? i'm not really good with electrical stuff, as far as parts go anyway.

Edit: didnt see the pic of the regulator, just had a look and it is on the back of the alternator at the top correct??

ok, i got a new regulator and would like to know if there is any way of telling if the alternator is working properly.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?p=671776#poststop

if no muti meter to read across the battery terminals
or charge indicator in the dash

see how much lights are when you rev the car they should brighten noticably

Got a *spare* alternator from a supercharging project that probably wont materialise, owes me $80 if you need one. Newcastle.

cheers mate, don't think i will need it, as i seem to have fixed the problem.
but thanks for the offer anyway.

cheers mate, don't think i will need it, as i seem to have fixed the problem.
but thanks for the offer anyway.

where did you get the regulator and how much did you pay for it? i have the exact same problem