Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys. Noticed my battery light stays on after starting and goes out after about 20 seconds or so of driving, only done this a few times. Yesterday got on the motorway and by battery light started flickering, came off at next junction and it stopped. Is my alternater on its way out as i noticed a bit of a screaming noise whilst stopped in traffic coming from the back which went as i drove. If it is this what alternater do i need as i have a 1600 diesel jk engine from a caddy.

Mine needs a bit of a rev to get it to go out, from what I've read on here and worked out for myself using a meter it's probably a fault with the voltage regulator on the alternator, what I don't know is if you can replace just the regulator or if you have to replace the whole alternator? I'd be more worried about yours as it did it while you're driving along, probably means it's well on it's way to a state of deadness!

Yeah i thought so. Gonna try see if i can get it re cond.

stevo1980 wrote:Hi guys. Noticed my battery light stays on after starting and goes out after about 20 seconds or so of driving, only done this a few times. Yesterday got on the motorway and by battery light started flickering, came off at next junction and it stopped. Is my alternater on its way out as i noticed a bit of a screaming noise whilst stopped in traffic coming from the back which went as i drove. If it is this what alternater do i need as i have a 1600 diesel jk engine from a caddy.

Try tightening up the alternator belt and if it still happens then replace the alternator bushes. Should only cost you about 15-20 quid.

And don't rule out lawnmower shops. I've bought no end of brushes from those places for a fraction of the cost from the motor trade. I've found ones that were a fraction too big and only needed a little wet and dry to hone them down to fit.

Thats a useful tip to find brushes, especially if you want them for anything unusual.
Dont know if light staying on is a particular VW issue but as has been said could be wearing or even sticking brushes. The regulator pack on most alternators is replacable seperately.
I dont know they may be available service exchange, you exchange your one for a recon and pay a fee. If you havent got your old unit off they charge a surcharge that is refunded when you take the old unit in.
But do tighten the drive belt first lol

Alarm bells.........ring..ring..ring..ring!
Fancy replacing your overheated engine after the belt snaps?
It amazes me how owners will just blindly keep driving on and on...ignoring the signs of impending failure.
Get your ass into gear and pop that cover, stop pissing around and get it looked at now.
It maybe something simple like a loose belt or a sign that your regulator/bush pack needs changing...either way don't keep pushing your luck.
Martin

My alternator has a new regulator and brushes and it the red light stays on until I give it an initial rev on start up

I'm with Red Westie on this.

Stop faffing and get looking/fixing

Well its off and been sent with my mate to get it looked at. Should find out this afternoon what the problem was.

It was f@&ked brushes were gone and wasnt sending any charge out. £60 notes and it will be like brand new Pick up tomo.

stevo1980 wrote:It was f@&ked brushes were gone and wasnt sending any charge out. £60 notes and it will be like brand new Pick up tomo.

How much???? You should not have paid that much just for new brushes!! Its a screw out the old and screw in the new. Very easy job.

well i`ll see the reciept tomo on what they did to it, My mate was explaining that it was a bit more than just bushes. So if he is shaftin me i`ll cut his break cables to his R1 super bike, watch him slamo.