I ordered the voltage regulator from eEuroparts.com and it should be here today. Here's what it looks like:

http://www.eeuroparts.com/main/partd...spx?id=8637851

I'm trying to troubleshoot a sporadic voltage problem. I started with the battery (which was 8 years old) and now I'm going for the Alt/regulator.

The lights flicker even when at a constant idle. When the ABS kicks in, the headlights tend to flicker as well. The battery is being charged properly, all ground connections are solid and from reading posts on here and some other sites, I'm betting the regulator is slowly dying.

It even looks like it's at the end of it's ropes. I have no codes being thrown or no problems with the battery prematurely draining or dying.

If this doesnt work, I'm going to just leave it as is until the Alternator/Generator (what Volvo calls it apparently (old school)) dies and needs to be replaced.

Otherwise the car runs great and no voltage problems at higher idle speeds.

From what I read the regulator seems to be a common problem with the V70s, if not Volvo's later models in general.

I'll post my results on Thursday once it's replaced.

 

Hi,

flickering lights are a clear indication of regulator's worn out brushes. In my 850-94 new one was 35$ (Bosch) and renewable with generator in place few years ago.
Definetely worth trying to renew before bad quality voltage destroys some expensive electronics around.

br Tapsa

 

I tried but realized I can't get to one screw that is blocked by the engine block. There is only maybe 1" clearance between a piece of the block and the screw head. I'm looking for a really thin profile philips head 90 degree wrench or something. The normal ones wont get back there once the screw is loose.

I would take out the entire Alt. but it's just too cold right now. Once I find a screwdriver head I can get into that tiny spot, I'll replace it and hopefully not have to remove the entire Alt/Gen.

Thanks for re-affirming that though. Tech told me the same thing.

 

Well, something that helped alot with this is spraying a ton of carb cleaner into the alternator and regulator. I used two cans of Valvoline carb and intake cleaner and it seems to have helped alot. Not only are the components actually clean, but the voltage irregulatarities seemed to have almost dissappeared.