Brett_jjj
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2009
- Messages
- 6,805
- Reaction score
- 108
- Points
- 48
- Location
- Tamworth NSW
- Members Ride
- vs commodore
Was driving along yesterday and the alternator light came on and the tacho and speedo all stopped working, I also got an ABS dashlight come on. Drove the car home, still seemed to run ok. The dash etc would come back to life with the engine idling, but it would all go off again once the engine was revved, although the battery light stayed on constantly.
I checked the battery voltage on the dash, and it was showing 15 volts at idle, and went up to 19 volts with the engine revving.. I double checked the battery voltage with the tech 2 and it showed the same voltage readings. I let the car sit overnight, deadlocked, and I couldnt open it today, dead flat battery, so I opened the rear door with the key, (wagon), and climbed through to open the bonnet. I connected a battery charger to the battery and I replaced the alternator with a spare VS one I had lying around. After 2 hours on the battery charger, the battery was charged enough to get the doors unlocked and the car started..
It now seems like everythings ok again. I though it might have fried the battery, which is only a few months old, but its charged up again now and is starting the car no problem. I also thought that VS to VY ecotec alternators were the same, but no, the VS and VY alternators are slightly different and the lower mount is slightly wider on the VY units, but a VS unit still bolts up to a VY in an emergency. Ive now bought a brand new alternator from ebay for $150 with 3 years warranty, its 110 amp rated , Im not too sure what the original ones are rated at.
I checked the battery voltage on the dash, and it was showing 15 volts at idle, and went up to 19 volts with the engine revving.. I double checked the battery voltage with the tech 2 and it showed the same voltage readings. I let the car sit overnight, deadlocked, and I couldnt open it today, dead flat battery, so I opened the rear door with the key, (wagon), and climbed through to open the bonnet. I connected a battery charger to the battery and I replaced the alternator with a spare VS one I had lying around. After 2 hours on the battery charger, the battery was charged enough to get the doors unlocked and the car started..
It now seems like everythings ok again. I though it might have fried the battery, which is only a few months old, but its charged up again now and is starting the car no problem. I also thought that VS to VY ecotec alternators were the same, but no, the VS and VY alternators are slightly different and the lower mount is slightly wider on the VY units, but a VS unit still bolts up to a VY in an emergency. Ive now bought a brand new alternator from ebay for $150 with 3 years warranty, its 110 amp rated , Im not too sure what the original ones are rated at.