V50 Electrics : Why? Power system service - urgent!

[ItIsOnlyMe]

Will look to get it changed tomorrow. Thanks for all your help, and the heads up re the 120>150 upgrade. Will check what they are looking to supply.

[kebab10]

Probably already has a 150 amp in it. My 2005 model V50 did. Hours labour is all it took mine.

[Clan]

These alternators are now failing left right and centre as the s40/V50 etc get older , fords policy of short lifetime Denso no doubt ! where have all the Bosch alternators gone? No wonder Bosch closed down their Miskin alternator plant , they are too good and not failing enough!
Sometimes they fail with an internal short , so the alternator gets so hot it smokes , sometimes they discharge the battery when parked up , again , getting too hot to touch .
Any sign of the "Power system service required" message , get the alternator repaired or replaced ,
Volvo have recognised the problem by bringing the cost of the alternator down from £380 to £300 to £200 now ..
Starter motors are not so good on these ford engines either .

[ItIsOnlyMe]

Originally Posted by kebab10

Probably already has a 150 amp in it. My 2005 model V50 did. Hours labour is all it took mine.

It did indeed have a 150 amp in it already, but that didn't stop them from almost putting a 120amp in it as a replacement!! Good job I had mentioned it when I dropped the car off as they were then aware and noticed.

Now fixed. Which brings me to my next question........

Why does the car feel faster/more responsive now with just the alternator changed?

I am wondering if the alternator was sucking extra horsepower to create the current as it was beginning to fail. Certainly also quieter as the odd whiring/whining has gone.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by ItIsOnlyMe

It did indeed have a 150 amp in it already, but that didn't stop them from almost putting a 120amp in it as a replacement!! Good job I had mentioned it when I dropped the car off as they were then aware and noticed.

Now fixed. Which brings me to my next question........

Why does the car feel faster/more responsive now with just the alternator changed?

I am wondering if the alternator was sucking extra horsepower to create the current as it was beginning to fail. Certainly also quieter as the odd whiring/whining has gone.

The reason the alternator whines when faulty is that it has a short circuit inside and gets VERY hot as it generates it's maximum output all the time , this can indeed sap power from the engine 150A at 15v = 2250 watts which is 3 hp .. probably 10% of the power when you are cruising along .

[ItIsOnlyMe]

Originally Posted by Clan

The reason the alternator whines when faulty is that it has a short circuit inside and gets VERY hot as it generates it's maximum output all the time , this can indeed sap power from the engine 150A at 15v = 2250 watts which is 3 hp .. probably 10% of the power when you are cruising along .

As the saying goes, you learn something new every day. Though this may be me re-learning something I learned some while ago.

Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy can not be created or destroyed; it can only be redistributed or changed from one form to another.

So if the alternator is creating electricity for the car and additional heat it is getting that energy from somewhere= the engine power.

[Welton]

Originally Posted by ItIsOnlyMe

energy can not be created or destroyed; it can only be redistributed or changed from one form to another

Petrol can be destroyed, just ask my T5!

Guess which message I'm now getting up 'momentarily' when I start my car (70K miles).......

[ItIsOnlyMe]

Originally Posted by Welton

Petrol can be destroyed, just ask my T5..

:-) diesel too.