After realising the battery in my 8v Gti wasn't staying charged - needing charging every 2 weeks or so, I tested the alternator output and it is 11.78v - which explains why I have a slowly draining battery. The alternator warning light is on - but very very feint. Tightening the belt has not increased the output
My question is this - £50-£100 for a reconditioned or new alternator, vs trying to find and fit new bushes myself. Is the latter worth bothering with, or do I accept that a 20year old alternator has done its work?
In the meantime if anyone has a known good alternator for 8v Gti BX for less than £50, I have cash waiting!
I would have take it to Lucas, but still mourning that loss....
Thanks
Andy
Citroen D Super 5 LHD 1974
Citroen AZU 250 1974 - ex Belgian PO 4-seater van
You should be able to remove the brush box/regulator unit with the alternator insitu, and it will be fairly obvious of the bushes are done. This being the case, if you take the brush box to an auto electrics shop, you should be able to get a new complete brushbox/regulator assemble fairly cheaply.
I take it that you have checked all connections, and checked the output at the pole on the alternator rather than just over the battery?
"Boring damned people. All over the earth. Propagating more boring damned people. What a horror show. The earth swarmed with them." -Charles Bukowski
Thanks Jonathan, I have checked the alternator output, and also checked whether anything was draining the electrics when the ignition was off. I think I'll change the brushes and see how that fares, I can't afford £60+ for a new alternator this month!!!!
Citroen D Super 5 LHD 1974
Citroen AZU 250 1974 - ex Belgian PO 4-seater van
I've found if you simply search for the manufacturer then the brushes are available on the eBay for those models of alternator that support replacement. Older external fan types are easy to change, new (xantia style) internal fan types are a little trickier.
What a coincidence the Alternator light on my TZS started to glow tonight Typical though I have a spare taken from the 16RS I scrapped which is the same as in the TRS but differant to what is in the TZS.
Does this matter much? One big differance is the TZS has aircon.
Otherwise will have to look at the Bush replacement option as well.
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
what is the Amperage rating of the alternators, i suspect the TZS will be 70+ and the 16rs one will be 50 or less (probably 40), which means if you've got your AC on the battery will go flat a lot quicker than it would with the correct alternator. Personally i'd be getting the original re brushed
I will check with Phil Boxall (Kermit) as he has the bulk of the items left over. Although some are about to be eBayed, so be quick.
PM me your phone number and I'll ask PHil to call you if he still has it. Although I tried to keep a record of everything that was sold, inevitably (and given the chaos caused by the sometimes ferocious weather ) a few items got missed off the list.
yes Vanny it/they are called brush's, but even if you fit new brush's they might not seat corectly as the slip rings might have deep tram lines in, and the new brush's might just sit on the shoulders and not run flush, which will cause a bad conection,
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
Vanny wrote:what is the Amperage rating of the alternators, i suspect the TZS will be 70+ and the 16rs one will be 50 or less (probably 40), which means if you've got your AC on the battery will go flat a lot quicker than it would with the correct alternator. Personally i'd be getting the original re brushed
Looking at the Manual (Haynes) it states the BX16/19 as having 33,45 or 50 Ah fitted which both the alternator in the 16 that was removed and the 19TRS are the same (50 Ah)
It does state 50 or 60Ah for airconditioning fitted 16/19s
I suspect then I "could" get away with it? The concern is the make of alternator is differant. I might be missing something about compatibility?
Oh well guess have to give it a try see what happens! Flat battery not a problem.......sort of.
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
Firstly, it wasn't a dig about the bRush, i've seen it many times on many forums and while i've asked myself the question, never asked it out loud. I could kind of see an arguement for either or.
Secondly, as for as PSA are concerned an alternator is an alternator! Petrol ones will work on diesels, diesel on petrol, with or without a caged fan, i believe Lucas, Valeo, Mitsubishi, Bosch and probably many others all make alternators for PSA. You can fit one from a pug or another citroen as best i know right upto the 'C' range of cars (only because my knowledge runs flat) an alternator of any other citroen older than 1983 will fit.
If the Haynes recons AC needs 60 amp then a 50 amp should be okay, you'll notice problems (if at all) in the evenings with lights on, AC on and engine fans on (which should always come on with AC). In my BX the CD player starts to skip when the power goes low, a sure sign to find somewhere to stop, smartish! Or hope that the truck behind you realises, puts full beam on and guides you off the motorway (very nice man!)
Typical though I have a spare taken from the 16RS I scrapped which is the same as in the TRS but differant to what is in the TZS.
) a few items got missed off the list.
