My alternator is putting out 16v when cruising. I have cooked my; VERY expensive to replace, battery. YIKESSSSSS. soooo. since I am working in a 617 powered Unimog with little room under the bonnet can I remove just the voltage regulator from the alternator or do I have to completely r/r the alternator.

Where on the alternator do I look to determine if the PO put the OEM alternator on this rig or if he did an upgrade of any sort. He may have.

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"If anyone knows other lessons I need to learn, please tell me. I'm tired of learning them the hard way".
by JerryBro

The Glow Plug Wait: This waiting period is a moment of silence to pay honor to Rudolph Diesel. The longer you own your diesel the more honor you will give him". by SD Blue

My normal daily life; either SNAFUed- Situation Normal... All Fouled Up, or FUBARed- Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

62 UNIMOG Camper w/617 Turbo, 85 300SD daily driver- both powered by blended UCO fuels

I feel your pain....I had a regulator fry my battery, Tachometer....stereo, and half the lights in my car last year.....I measured 17.9 volts shortly after my Tach belched smoke in the middle of nowhere.

No alternator will be putting this voltage out thats working correctly.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

The Voltage Regulator (VR) on the alternator mounted to my 617 is held into the back of the alternator with two small screws. I did not need to loosen or remove any other fasteners. Removing those screws allows the VR pack to be pulled out.

Replacing this assembly (at a cost of about $20 - $30) replaces the brushes, and all of the electronics in the alternator. Given your overvoltage symptoms, this and a new battery should get you back on the road. I sure hope nothing else was toasted.

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Alan the Radio Guy
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Amateur Radio Station N7CEU
1985 300CD 199,000 and still rolling

another arguement for those lifetime warranties on bats + alts...(and starters)

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Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

Unless you have a crazily adjusted adjustable regulator or a 18V regulator for some odd reason

Yes...new regulators are cheap enough that they are benifical to replace. Buy a reputable brand...otherwise you get what you pay for....

Just did this mod on mine...the flat blade screws can be sorta annoying if you have them but have fun heh.

Transpo makes the regulators for Bosch, and they offer an adjustable regulator for most MB alternators. See:
http://195.125.241.148/Catalog/Car_Fr.htm

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!