Vauxhall Meriva Alternator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the Meriva, removing the auxiliary belt briefly is a genuinely reliable way to confirm whether a whine or grinding noise is really the alternator.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: 8400157 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket alternators Bosch 0 986 048 771 / Denso DAN584
| Alternators (aftermarket) | Bosch 0 986 048 771 (90 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 54 mm, remanufactured exchange, excludes vacuum pump, 197 mm length, core charge £100.47); Denso DAN584 (105 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 54 mm, new, OE quality, core charge £6.91); Denso DAN585 (120 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 54 mm, new, OE quality); Hella 8EL 011 713-071 (140 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, new, core charge £6.91); Hella 8EL 012 426-121 (100 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, new); Lucas LRA03714 (140 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, remanufactured, plug 0248 L-DFM, core charge £25.12); Lucas LRA03418 (100 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, remanufactured, plug 0248, core charge £25.12); AS-PL A1020 (100 A, freewheel pulley, 6 ribs, 60 mm, new, plug PL_2001). |
|---|---|
| Outputs & variants | Two pulley families are listed. The 54 mm six-rib family covers 70 A, 90 A, 105 A, 120 A and 130 A (Ridex, Bosch, Denso DAN584/DAN585, BV PSH); the 60 mm six-rib family covers 100 A and 140 A (Hella, Lucas, AS-PL A1020, Rotovis, Mapco). The AS-PL A3488S is a 130 A five-rib unit. All are freewheel apart from the Denso DAN1331 rigid 140 A. |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | AS-PL A1020 for OE 8400157; AS-PL A3488S for OE FG12S048. |
| Fitment notes | Ridex and Bosch units are sold without the vacuum pump, which matters on the CDTi diesels. The Bosch exchange unit has a large £100.47 core charge and Lucas units £25.12, refunded on return of the old alternator. |
A Genuine Diagnostic Technique Worth Trying First — Vauxhall Meriva Alternator
If you're hearing a whine or grinding noise that changes with engine speed, it's genuinely worth confirming the alternator is actually the source before paying for a replacement. Removing the auxiliary (serpentine) belt and briefly starting the engine is a well-corroborated diagnostic technique — if the noise disappears with the belt off, it's coming from one of the belt-driven components (alternator, water pump, power steering pump, or tensioner pulley) rather than something internal to the engine. Spinning each pulley by hand afterward, checking for roughness or play, usually reveals which specific component has failed bearings.
Vauxhall Meriva Alternator: Often Blamed on the Battery Instead
On the Vauxhall Meriva, dim lights, slow starts, a battery that won't hold charge — these symptoms point equally to a weak battery or a failing alternator, and that overlap is why so many replacements target the wrong part first, with the real problem only surfacing weeks later.
Vauxhall Meriva Alternator: Watch: Replacing It
Meriva B had the 1.7 CDTI but generation not stated; alternative UNVwf80m5jo also gen unstated
Vauxhall Meriva Alternator: What It Does
Electricity generation while the Vauxhall Meriva's engine is running is the alternator's job, charging the battery and directly powering the electrical systems. When it's working properly, the battery mostly just handles engine starting and short demand spikes, not day-to-day electrical load.
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Vauxhall Meriva Alternator: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Alternator Guide for symptoms to watch for (plus a genuinely useful two-minute test to confirm it's not the battery instead), confirming the right amperage and fitment against your VIN, and which brands are worth trusting.
More Vauxhall Alternator
The same part, covered across other Vauxhall models.