Electrical Service Required ??????

woodways3 · Nov 3rd, 2018, 12:26

Jut had a recon Alternater fitted (the cause of my noises.Now ever time i start the car the above message appears very briefly .The company said they dont have a system to remove it.I tried my very basic code reader,but it did not show a fault.Any way tosort it wihout going to Volvo.?????

Brendan W · Nov 3rd, 2018, 12:49

Does the message appear before you crank the motor?
Do any other warning lamps stay lit?
Some faults, even when fixed, stay on for a few cycles until the car is sure it's gone away. Typically three cycles.
How many starts have you done since the fitting?
Some faults once triggered will not clear, SRS for example.
Apart from bringing it back, which seems not to be an option, I would say some incorrect procedural thing happened during the fitting and the car got confused.
It may be that disconnecting the battery and reconnecting ( see procedure to follow) may reset the fault condition.

woodways3 · Nov 3rd, 2018, 18:08

Hi the message appears very briefly just after the engine starts

oragex · Nov 3rd, 2018, 18:32

That is almost surely a regulator problem or compatibility issue but check first the small wire to the alternator sits snug in there.

The regulators were different from mid 2004 so it's important to match the years. A mid2004-2009 regulator will work on a 2001-mid2004 engine, but not the other way around.

Also possible the regulator is faulty - refurbished ones often times use cheaper Bosch regulators which don't have the same quality as the original Bosh ones.

woodways3 · Nov 4th, 2018, 16:22

Disconnected the battery. but still the same.Do you think a normal garage with a high tech lap top could clear it??????

cheshired5 · Nov 4th, 2018, 17:35

You don't need a special code reader, you just need a correct spec and functioning alternator fitting.
As said, pre and post facelift alternators look similar but aren't interchangeable and a simple thing like a loose or missing regulator nut will cause the problem you have.
The warning will disappear automatically as soon as the system is happy.

woodways3 · Nov 4th, 2018, 17:51

Im not sure i understand the bit about a nut missing? Are there not only two connections a thin wire spade ended and i presume a thick cable with the main supply.If missing the message would appear and stay on full time would it not ? Or is it a case of the wrong alternator ? If so im sure i will have a job to convince the recon suppler. As it is can the message be cleared? thanks.

VOLVOBOY · Nov 4th, 2018, 20:33

Hi.
You say it was a recon alternator fitted. Was that a full recon? Could it be that all they`ve done is change the rectifier pack leaving an underlying issue ? For example the slip rings are worn or there is a failing diode?
You said there was a noise. Was this an electrical suppression noise? The obvious candidate then would be to go for the rectifier or bad engine earth.
Bearing wear , causing accelerated slip ring and brush wear. Also the rotor may have rubbed the stator.
What`s the state of the battery?
What`s the state of alternator charge?
Is there a parasitic drain?
You need to know that the alternator is a good one and not just assume it.
If you have a digital multi-meter you can do some simple checks.

woodways3 · Nov 5th, 2018, 09:01

Mine was swopped because of bearing noise and the pulley had locked up! thats all!

Nick U · Jan 23rd, 2019, 19:22

Had a similar problem appearing intermittently on a D5/163 that I had to replace the alternator on.

Had to swap the reconditioned alternator twice before I could get one that worked 95% of the time. Other 5% it would give electrical system service urgent warning, which would disappear on the next restart. Checked alternators were the correct type (Lin Bus).

Checking the voltages, the car would start, and between 20sec and 90sec after starting would command the regulator to charge/go to 14V+. If the regulator was "lazy" to respond to the request, the warning would appear. if the voltage ramped up straight away on demand, then no warning. Stopping and restarting the car would usually clear the warning. Monitoring the same on a different D5/185, and the voltage would always hit 14.4v as soon as it was commanded, no laziness!

Eventually got fed up and ordered a separate Bosch voltage regulator for £30ish, fitted it to the grumpy alternator and the problem now seems to have disappeared.

Seems all voltage regulators aren't made equal!

So, if you're still having problems, then try a new voltage regulator. Can be changed out without removing the alternator from the car if needed.

Nov 3rd, 2018, 12:26	#1
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Electrical Service Required ?????? Jut had a recon Alternater fitted (the cause of my noises.Now ever time i start the car the above message appears very briefly .The company said they dont have a system to remove it.I tried my very basic code reader,but it did not show a fault.Any way tosort it wihout going to Volvo.?????

Nov 3rd, 2018, 18:32	#4
oragex Premier Member Last Online: Jul 26th, 2021 21:24 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Coldnada	That is almost surely a regulator problem or compatibility issue but check first the small wire to the alternator sits snug in there. The regulators were different from mid 2004 so it's important to match the years. A mid2004-2009 regulator will work on a 2001-mid2004 engine, but not the other way around. Also possible the regulator is faulty - refurbished ones often times use cheaper Bosch regulators which don't have the same quality as the original Bosh ones. __________________ Several Volvo Repair Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ECTts0FSVSOT_c

Nov 4th, 2018, 17:35	#6
cheshired5 Premier Member Last Online: Dec 26th, 2021 13:42 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Crewe	You don't need a special code reader, you just need a correct spec and functioning alternator fitting. As said, pre and post facelift alternators look similar but aren't interchangeable and a simple thing like a loose or missing regulator nut will cause the problem you have. The warning will disappear automatically as soon as the system is happy. __________________ 2002 S60 SE D5 Manual 209000 miles

Nov 3rd, 2018, 12:49	#2
Brendan W Premier Member Last Online: Apr 2nd, 2024 19:50 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wexford	Does the message appear before you crank the motor? Do any other warning lamps stay lit? Some faults, even when fixed, stay on for a few cycles until the car is sure it's gone away. Typically three cycles. How many starts have you done since the fitting? Some faults once triggered will not clear, SRS for example. Apart from bringing it back, which seems not to be an option, I would say some incorrect procedural thing happened during the fitting and the car got confused. It may be that disconnecting the battery and reconnecting ( see procedure to follow) may reset the fault condition.

Nov 3rd, 2018, 18:08	#3
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Hi the message appears very briefly just after the engine starts

Nov 4th, 2018, 16:22	#5
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Disconnected the battery. but still the same.Do you think a normal garage with a high tech lap top could clear it??????

Nov 4th, 2018, 17:51	#7
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Im not sure i understand the bit about a nut missing? Are there not only two connections a thin wire spade ended and i presume a thick cable with the main supply.If missing the message would appear and stay on full time would it not ? Or is it a case of the wrong alternator ? If so im sure i will have a job to convince the recon suppler. As it is can the message be cleared? thanks.

Nov 4th, 2018, 20:33	#8
VOLVOBOY Lazy Member Last Online: Today 10:24 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: HORLEY	Hi. You say it was a recon alternator fitted. Was that a full recon? Could it be that all they`ve done is change the rectifier pack leaving an underlying issue ? For example the slip rings are worn or there is a failing diode? You said there was a noise. Was this an electrical suppression noise? The obvious candidate then would be to go for the rectifier or bad engine earth. Bearing wear , causing accelerated slip ring and brush wear. Also the rotor may have rubbed the stator. What`s the state of the battery? What`s the state of alternator charge? Is there a parasitic drain? You need to know that the alternator is a good one and not just assume it. If you have a digital multi-meter you can do some simple checks.

Nov 5th, 2018, 09:01	#9
woodways3 Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 15:00 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London	Mine was swopped because of bearing noise and the pulley had locked up! thats all!

Jan 23rd, 2019, 19:22	#10
Nick U New Member Last Online: Jul 18th, 2022 16:09 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Durham	Had a similar problem appearing intermittently on a D5/163 that I had to replace the alternator on. Had to swap the reconditioned alternator twice before I could get one that worked 95% of the time. Other 5% it would give electrical system service urgent warning, which would disappear on the next restart. Checked alternators were the correct type (Lin Bus). Checking the voltages, the car would start, and between 20sec and 90sec after starting would command the regulator to charge/go to 14V+. If the regulator was "lazy" to respond to the request, the warning would appear. if the voltage ramped up straight away on demand, then no warning. Stopping and restarting the car would usually clear the warning. Monitoring the same on a different D5/185, and the voltage would always hit 14.4v as soon as it was commanded, no laziness! Eventually got fed up and ordered a separate Bosch voltage regulator for £30ish, fitted it to the grumpy alternator and the problem now seems to have disappeared. Seems all voltage regulators aren't made equal! So, if you're still having problems, then try a new voltage regulator. Can be changed out without removing the alternator from the car if needed.

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