While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Seems legit but do you know of anyone who has used the kit?

Just on the interwebz but for the most part motorgeekers are legit gear heads... So it's tempting!!

from that angle the brushes don't look that bad, there is still material left. You can check the regulator by looking at the voltage with the car running. If it is not around 14.3, replace the whole regulator.
About the adjustable regulator, I wouldn't touch it. There is no need to mess with the voltage. All you are doing is adding in an adjustable pot that is going to make the output voltage change with temperature as those pots do change resistance with changes in temperature.

So the reason I'm interested in the adjustable unit is it's an easy way to ensure that the voltage is consistently where it needs to be. From what I understand the OEM Bosch units run somewhat low which would cause dim headlights and slow cooling fan speeds, for instance.

On the other hand, something adjustable is something that can break more easily.

I've procured a replacement from a friend off his spare Coupé GT alternator. See how this works first.

The headers on the earlier page are fucking pornographic!

Thanks!! I was staring at them and thought about how it'd be a while before I went turbo so leaving such beautiful pipes bare would be criminal.

[JPO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

The headers on the earlier page are fucking pornographic!

[Stonewall]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

from that angle the brushes don't look that bad, there is still material left. You can check the regulator by looking at the voltage with the car running. If it is not around 14.3, replace the whole regulator.
About the adjustable regulator, I wouldn't touch it. There is no need to mess with the voltage. All you are doing is adding in an adjustable pot that is going to make the output voltage change with temperature as those pots do change resistance with changes in temperature.

[All_Euro]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Seems legit but do you know of anyone who has used the kit?

[BaggedGLI]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Natty? where are you?

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Did some searching on Motorgeek that lead me to pull the voltage regulator for a look at the brushes.





Went to Southgate for a chat with mullet man Dan the parts guy and he confirmed that there's nothing left on the brushes. Best cost he could come up with was about a hundred bucks, and I am finding them for around $15 plus shipping.

Anyone have a local source before I pay a foreign source?

Also, found this adjustable voltage regulator, seems pretty nifty. Any thoughts?
www.davebarton.com/AdjustableVoltage.html

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Okay, fun continues!

Was running some errands and driving nicely, when out of nowhere the idiot lights come up on the dash.



Figured that it'd go away after a restart, but no luck.

Then I noticed that they would disappear with revs over 4,600 rpm, but not with the clutch depressed. Hmm.

Was on my way to the airport and started losing power, with occasional misfires. Battery light comes on in the dash, with the voltage rapidly dropping on the interior gauge.

I figured I'd be okay as long as I took things easy and didn't shut off the ignition... NOPE! Was able to pull the car off the road, in between a merge lane and the right lane, on the Anthony Henday... just before rush hour.

Called Mike (mikekrus) when I found the battery had 10.5v via my multimeter, and he suggested to follow the wiring harness backwards from the alternator.

Found this:


I must have tensioned the belt too much when I adjusted it a few days prior.

Some random guy was nice enough to stop and check on me, even offer a ride to get parts! But I had a friend on the way so I thanked him and he went on with his day.

Southrape had no belt, and the supplier they referred me to was closing in about 15 minutes. Balls!

Went home to grab my old one from the rebuild and drove back to fit... found it was the old PS pump belt. Blast!

Luckily, the local Canadian Tire had one in stock.

Once the replacement was fitted she fired right up with a boost. Checked the Bentley and found my intuition was backwards, proper sequence is:

Good battery positive
Bad battery positive
Good battery negative
Bad battery negative

And reverse order to remove.

Went to get my day underway this morning and wouldn't you know it... the battery light rears her ugly head again and the interior gauge shows rapidly dropping voltage. Luckily I was only three blocks from home so I turned around and barely made it into the driveway. Check for belt... still there, and tension seems fine (2mm deflection, as per Bentley spec).

What gives?

Worn alternator brushes perhaps? Time for a replacement?

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

LOL!

I wasn't going to rehash my thread from Motorgeek but thought I'd include the highlights up to date.

Build thread is here: clicky

If there's anything you'd like more information/photos I'd be happy to oblige.

[R_Ethug]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

this is too much tease.. therefore this thread will be retitled to 'slut'!

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

[PRY4SNO]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

This thread disappoints, MOAR PHOTOS

Geez... tough audience!

won't read any of that till there's a picture to go with it.

Inbound!

pretty awesome build!

Thanks!

Just wait, Simon is still around? We haven't heard from him in ages!

Me neither but he was a good chap when we met and thought I'd give him props.

He is still around, and still rocking euro's (BMW & Land Rover) just busy with his family and such.

I had some fun times in this car previously, glad to see it getting a new lease on life and it will be better than ever!

Sounds like some freeway and/or parking lot shenanigans... do tell!


I'm nearly done the drivetrain refurb and then it'll be onto hoarding parts for the motor & turbo phase.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Just wait, Simon is still around? We haven't heard from him in ages!

He is still around, and still rocking euro's (BMW & Land Rover) just busy with his family and such.

I had some fun times in this car previously, glad to see it getting a new lease on life and it will be better than ever!

[Stonewall]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

Just wait, Simon is still around? We haven't heard from him in ages!

[jaysleeves]

Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb

pretty awesome build!