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S4 Alternator

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 6:24 pm
by wardy124
Evening all,

I was on my way to my lock up this evening and heard a noise like a flat tyre but without any loss of control of the car.
The battery light came on and I figured it must be the alternator belt flapping around, the lock up was 500m away so I made it there and got underneath.
I have no idea how this had happened but the pulley and shaft are flapping around a fair amount so it's new alternator time....

Can anyone recommend a place to get hold of a recon or decent second hand unit as the new part from Audi here is over 1k Euro and right now I just don't have the cash....

Any help would be amazing!
Thanks
Wardy

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 6:51 pm
by SuprSi
Hi Wards,

Hmm, bearings must have failed.

Maybe you could get a used part from a breakers? Check the part number and you'll probably find its the same alternator as an A4.

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:23 am
by wardy124
Hi SuprSi,

Thanks for the help,

Unfortunately the Delphi alternator on the S4 is water cooled... I have never seen anything like that before!!

I managed to find a second hand unit From germany with a years warranty on it for under 400€ delivered vs 1075€ + tax from Audi!
It's not quite such a shock now!

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:49 am
by marc1
S4 alternatators are water cooled due to the heat build up in the engine bay with the big 4.2 lump in there. I recall the Bosch item was superseded by a hitachi unit, but the cooling was routed differently and therefore you need additional pipe work, etc. It's a fairly pricey item if I recall.

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:53 am
by SuprSi
They must get bloody hot if it's beneficial to 'cool' them with 100C+ water!

I think the rs4 is water cooled too, probably where it's at the back of the engine. Mines at the front and only air cooled.

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 4:04 pm
by marc1
Maybe so Si. I don't recall seeing change from £2k on a previous S4 way back when. :audibash:

Re: S4 Alternator

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:11 am
by wardy124
Good news and bad news here....

I sourced an alternator from Germany, had it installed no problem, changed the belt and tensioners at the same time.
Following the battery being disconnected the drivers window would not one touch close, I followed the instructions in the manual, holding the button for 1 second in the up position, problem solved. Every time the car was locked the problem returned....
I did notice that sometimes the door open indication on the DIS would flicker on and off as the door opened and today, nothing from the drivers door at all!
No lock function, the interior light stays on when the door is closed, no window operation for the whole car?!!

Is there a cable that could have been disconnected or nipped during the alternator installation?
I noticed that they had the wheel well liners out when they were working on it?

Any help would be great!

Thanks
Wardy