Power System Service Urgent!!

[HEAVY747]

Hi All

I had a message 'Power System Service Urgent' with battery lamp symbol showing every so often on my 2004 S40 2.0 diesel. Whe engine was turned off and restarted the warning would go away. Regardless I measured voltage when engine was off and it measured 12.4V. With engine started it measured flat 14.2V. The regulator or diodes or winding at fault God only knows.

Exchange alternator unit 150AMP Lucas brand from Eurocarparts was £167 but you have to hand over your faulty one.

The car voltage with new unit is 14.45V and car feels lot crisper and faster - I don't need even press the accelarator and she flies. No warning sign on dashboard gulp yet!!

Volvo or other garages charging £800+ for this when you can do it for only your time (2hrs max).

Car feels lot faster now too!!!!

The warning was intermittant on the dashboard and I have noticed car felt underpowered recently. I have thus taken the plunge and replaced the alternator. If you want to do the replacement its very easy all you need is a Haynes manual and well in the capability of a home meachanic.

To replace alternator:

First disconnect the battery leads.
Raise driver side off ground and put on stand and chock wheels with handbrake up. I always use jack as secondary support to be on the safe side.
Next remove plastic lid off engine.
Next remove protective shield under car please be careful and make sure car is supported very well.
Next remove serpentine belt by using ring spanner on tensioner to release tension making note of how it is fitted.
Next remove metalwork around fuel filter casing.
Next unscrew fuel filter casing and pull up casing with hoses still attached. You can leave in position if you wish and work under it.
Next remove small black cap off alternator and unbolt red lead.
Next remove connector from alternation which has small leads.
Next unbolt alternator bolts (4 bolts) with 16mm ring spanner and 16mm socket. Careful not to chew off any heads. You will have to access lower bolt from underneath
Next loosen allen key bracket at bottom of alternator whilst supporting alternator.
Unbolt allen key spacer off old alternator before handing over for exchange.
Remove alternator and replace with new one in reverse process.

Do not overtighten any bolts specially on the alternator otherwise you will breakage and headache!!!! You have been warned..........easy tiger!!

I hope this article gives hope to the beginner as you do not need to be an expert!!

Cheers
HEAVY747

[ejog]

Very interesting.
My 05 V50 2.0D started whining yesterday on startup, and about half a mile down the road, the message and battery light came on. Stopped for fuel, re-started, no message but whining. Half a mile later, on comes the message etc. And so on all day. Some months ago, it was whining, but after half a mile, it stopped whining - no messages or lights.
Looking at other posts on this forum, the advice seems very much like yours - replace the alternator, but avoid your Volvo dealership and save yourself a few hundred quid!
Off to Central Garage in Topsham in the morning...

[ejog]

It's just got worse!

Went to start the car, it sounded odd and the CD player started trying to play a non-existent CD.
Re-started, all OK, moved off, message appeared warning about steering, then brakes. Then steering became very heavy, then everything stopped...
Left it, tried re-starting to move the car to a safe spot off the road, starter won't engage.
Horn works, alarm works, but no engine. Tried re-starting again, CD player does its little thing, but starter won't engage...

Too near home for the AA, so it's a tow job tomorrow, unless anyone here's got a great idea...

[ejog]

Yesterday I phoned our Volvo main dealer and a man came with a flatbed and took the car away. Later they phoned and confirmed it was the alternator and that they had one in stock. Then he said the bad news was that the cost would be £530. Because I didn't want to pay for two sets of towing charges and I'm hopeless at DIY with cars and they had one in stock, I grumbled about the price and told them to do the job.
Collected the car just now and paid the bill - £530 all in. No recovery charge, no diagnostic charge, just parts (£360) and 2 hours labour.
I was expecting about £800 so I'm relieved and would happily recommend them - Kastners in Exeter.

[wayside34]

Heavy747 - can I ask...did the new alternator come with the free-wheeling pulley attached?

V50 2004 2.0D

[Bigmunkynutz]

Would a failing alternator cause lower MPG?

Im getting the 'Power System Service Urgent' Error and also hear a whining noise when stationary or driving. I'm hoping this isnt going to be a huge cost...

Just to add to this I spoke to FRF Volvo who quoted me £482 inc VAT for a 150 amp alternator as their system told them thats what one I would need, plus this is an exchange so I would have to collect it and leave my old one...



So i called Eurocar Parts they quoted me £187.05 inc vat for a 150amp one.

Now i also priced up fuel/oil/pollen filters plus oil and a local Indy garage to fill all in all it came to a total £415 inc any VAT...

So im getting the part without the hassle of exchange plus a mini (part service) including labour for nearly £70 less.

Theres a moral to the story here somewhere...

I think I will be getting the one from Eurocar parts, but how would I know if I already had a 150amp alternator already fitted?

What will happen if a fit a 150amp when my old one was 120amp???

Do i need a software update? How much would volvo charge for a one off software update or even a full software update?

[Bigmunkynutz]

Just checked my voltage when engine was idling an it measured 13.2 :-S

[Metblackrat]

You do need a software update when fitting the bigger alternator. The car needs to know that there is more electrickery being magically made.

[Bigmunkynutz]

Originally Posted by Metblackrat

You do need a software update when fitting the bigger alternator. The car needs to know that there is more electrickery being magically made.

My old alternator jiggeripokeri is a 150 amp so its just a straight swap. I've ordered the part will collect in the morning along with some 'mini service' items. Busy dirty weekend ahead for me then.

[boardmatt1]

Does anyone know, if my alternator is the 120amp and I replace it with the 150amp version, will I be able to drive it to a Volvo garage to get the software update? or will the car not drive without the update?