Battery/Alternator problem

[MICAH]

Hey guys,

Today my battery light came on, then my car stalled while idling. The battery is now completely flat.
The battery is a few years old but im guessing it is the alternator.

Ill check the battery terminals and earth tomorrow in the daylight but is there anything else it could be?

Also, where is the best place to find a replacement alternator? i have posted in the 'parts wanted' section but are these common from wreckers?

Thanks in advance

-Micah

[sports racer]

Easiest way to test your alternator is to start the car, disconnect one of the battery leads and turn on the headlights. If the car stalls at any time the alternator is not charging.

Give Matt a call at Camden GTI for an alternator. His prices are usually pretty good.

Cheers

Paul

[Golf Loon]

Check the alternator by measuring the voltage at the battery when the car is running with a multimeter.
Should be 14.3v on a good alternator.

Check the alternator belt is tight.

Get the part number off the alternator, I have secondhand units available and fast shipping if that proves to be the problem.

[MICAH]

Hey matt.
i checked the battery while it was running and it was showing 11.2v.
i then removed one of the battery terminals and it stalled.
Here is the info from the alt. If you have one can you please pm me.
thanks.
http://a.imageshack.us/img830/4124/img0155o.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img0155o.jpg/)

[h100vw]

Not trying to do Matt out of a sale but if you can change the alternator yourself, you should look at the regulator. It is likely that the brushes are worn out. It might just need a new reg and live to fight another day.

Gavin

[ryana89]

Crikey!
Grab a wire brush, some rags and some metal polish and get the alternator looking good again
(Even though it don't work!)

[MICAH]

Haha. It's actually not as bad as it looks in the picture.
I thought the exact same thing when I looked at the photo.

[MICAH]

All sorted now. Thanks

[MICAH]

Just replaced the alternator and it's running like a dream.

I also disconnected the battery while it was running and it didn't stall and the lights stayed on.
100% shotty alternator.

Thanks for all your help guys.

-Micah

[ryana89]

Lucky me, I beleive the same thing just happened to me today.
Heard a "crakling" sound under my dash, then my tacho, temp gauge and fuel gaauge all went to 0.
Came home checked the voltage at my battery when car is running (12.2 Volts).
If I disconnent the battery whilst the car is running, it cuts out.

Bugger

[willv]

Hey guys,
JUst wanted to get some advice here as well.
I also have the same problem when I bought the machine first back in May 2008 - seemed like the car wouldn't start and took it to get the battery changed but the guy tested it and wasn't the battery - took it back to where we bought it and they fixed it but stupidly didn't ask what it was ...
Since then, nothing but issues and finally figured it was the throttle which we replaced ($$$) ... now the car needs to be jump started and has been playing up with the "Alternator Workshop' beeping every second 30 minutes into a drive - even acting up like it did when we needed the throttle replaced (engine running at 1-2 revs by itself when in idle) ... we now need an alternator replaced for my Volkswagen Passat V5 2003. Anyone have any ideas where and how much one of these bad boys will cost us?!

Thanks guys. - Happy for you Micah that you got yours fixed!

[ryana89]

You want to get a Alternator fixed for a 2003 Passat? You may want to go to the Passat thread.:rolleyes:
I got my 18 year old alternator rebuilt for $160, go to an auto electrician and ask for a quote on an alternator rebuild for that model car.