[Sissawantbettergti]

O.k, so I figured out there is a pattern to the repairs i do on my car, every 3 weeks something goes wrong, last time it was the clutch, before that the starter, before that exhaust leak, before that alignment and new tie rod, and before that the darn wheel bearing problem...
ANYWAY, i was driving to taco bell a few hours ago and my car started acting really funny, the cd player started to die down, and my windshield wipers were going very slow. I pulled into taco bell, got some tacos and nachos, mmmmmmmm.... I went back out to my car and it wouldnt start, all i hear is this clicking noise, so i get mad and start punching things. I had a friend of mine come and jump it, and now it seems to be working fine. Do i need a new alternator? and if so how much would it cost?
Yea and another thing, everytime it rains my battery light comes on, ive gotten it tested and it is fine... what the heck is the deal with that????????

[Modified by Sissawantbettergti, 4:25 AM 12-1-2001]

 

[JNXtheband]

if you have an autozone or pep-boys around you they do a free alternator check where they hook up and industrial voltmeter to your electrial system and will tell you if the car is undercharging or overcharging. if the car is undercharging it could just be your voltage regulator which is only like $20 and comes out with 2 screws.
about the battery light, does it go off when you rev the car high? that had happened to me once when I went through a huge puddle, water must have gotten in the alternator or something, it went away for me after a while.
good luck.

 

[alexjungle]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw.

voltage regulator maybe...happened to mine too..a couple of times

 

[Moosar]

(Sissawantbettergti)

Do you have a splash guard? I've heard about this problem alot, with water splashing up around in the v-belts and making them slip. Also when the water gets up into the powersteering area (if your car has it) it can make it work pewpy.

 

[G60syncro]

What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw...

If your car refused to start, as if there is NO juice in the battery, but then starts up real easy when you put the jumper cables on it, check the exiter wire on your alternator. It's the small blue wire... When that is broken, it causes the car to have no juice at all... even with the battery fully charged!! Problem is the wire sometimes breaks inside but the insulation stays good... so you got an invisible broken wire... Real fun when you try to find the trouble!!!
Before you spend big dough on an alternator or battery, check it... it might cost you only 2$ of wire to fix it!!
BTW, been there... My POS Jetta diesel used to break on a weekly basis... I never showed up at any of my friend's partys 'cause of it... It became sort of a running gag!!! It was sad really!!!

[Modified by G60syncro, 1:23 AM 12-1-2001]

 

[Numbersix]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw.

Heheh...that's a VW for ya, Sissa.

My quick thought: was it raining when you were driving to Taco Bell? Could it be your alternator belt is loose and slipping?
My next thought would be voltage regulator/alternator, but check the v-belts first. I think a lot of people learn the hard way their belts are trashed/loose when it starts raining (esp. if they're like me and don't have a splashguard

)

 

[Vdubs]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Sissawantbettergti)

Well I recon everyone else has covered the probable fault but I would like to add that IT IS NOT THE CARS FAULT IF THINGS KEEP GOING WRONG, it's because it hasn't been maintained properly, all the things that go wrong are comon faults that should be taken care of at the service before they break, we service and maintain Golfs for loads of customers, they come for a service once a year and they never have any trouble (the occasional battery dies) VW list all the things for you to check in the service schedule every year (it not a trade secret) and it's not optional, if this isn't done properly you can be absolutly sure that things will go wrong one after the other, it's guarranteed. Everything wears out and nothing gets better if you leave it, it doesn't heal itself. Cars cost money.



[Modified by Vdubs, 2:13 PM 12-1-2001]

 

[3WheelGTi]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Vdubs)

hey what about a lousy ground on the negative terminal of the battery? if that has too much resistance, current will not flow properly and it's possible the car could die like that. that can present an intermident problem, so it is possible. this is a very cheap fix too.

 

[Sissawantbettergti]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Vdubs)

thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Red Sled 138]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Sissawantbettergti)

Vdubs knows his stuff. When you buy a dub, you have to check for certain things. VW's are the best running cars on the road if well maintained. On the back of the alternator there is a voltage regulator. Get a new battery for winter's sake and change the voltage regulator. Two very minor repairs and make sure the alt. belt is the tightness. May the force be with you.

 

[REDJETTAMK2]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Red Sled 138)

I got to ask this, is it the 65A or the 90A alternator everyone is talking about. Cause I'm having some stupid problems with my 65A. When headlights are turned on, radio to with an amp and sub, once in a while the lights will go to very bright then normal, and when I cold start the car, there is a whinning sound almost like a bell pitch coming from it. The belts? voltage regulater?

 

[Numbersix]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (REDJETTAMK2)

quote:[HR][/HR]I got to ask this, is it the 65A or the 90A alternator everyone is talking about. Cause I'm having some stupid problems with my 65A. When headlights are turned on, radio to with an amp and sub, once in a while the lights will go to very bright then normal,[HR][/HR]​

Sounds like Voltage regulator to me...depending on how big of a system you have you may be asking a lot of your alternator at full load (headlights, wipers, heater fan, r.defrost, and big stereo that VW didn't budget for when designing the electrical system). If it's marginal it could be having a hard time. They're cheap and easy (2 screws) to replace.

quote:[HR][/HR]and when I cold start the car, there is a whinning sound almost like a bell pitch coming from it. The belts? voltage regulater?[HR][/HR]​

V-belts. Fall/winter is when most people learn that they need to tighten/replace 'em. Unless you have the spash guard they wear out fairly quickly.

 

[REDJETTAMK2]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (SeattleGLI)

Hey thanks, I think I'm going to switch to a 90A anyway. Just for that little more security.
I kind a figured it would be the belt. Sucky how those things go isn't it?

 

[de motorwerks]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (REDJETTAMK2)

is there any ay to turn up the voltage on the reg or are they noadjustable ...mine bare pushes 13 i need 13.6 to 14.6 atleast ....or should i just switch reg out of another one of my alts ...any thoughts would be cool

 

[Numbersix]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (vw problems)

I don't think the stock Bosch units are adjustable, but I've seen ones that have been modded to be adjustable. IPD (Volvo specialty tuning firm) sells an adjustable voltage regulator for older cars. No idea what other alternators this might fit, though. Looks like the same basic design.
http://www.ipdusa.com/DisplayItems.cfm?CategoryID=#'\S- &SubDepartmentID="&<Z: &DepartmentID=!'D2:
The 90amp upgrade is a good idea. I never worry about lack of power after doing it on my car. Only odd thing to note is that on startup, I get the alt/oil press. lights on steady until I hit about ~2200 rpm, every time. This used to be just an occasional thing with my 60amp. Anyone else experience this?

 

[Sissawantbettergti]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (SeattleGLI)

I dont have a splash guard

but the belt is nice and tight, should i replace the belt and the alternator? or is it just probably the voltage regulator? my car makes a loud annoying squealing noise too when the heat is on....

 

[Moosar]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Sissawantbettergti)

Mine does the same when the heater is on, i believe it is the belt loose.

 

[JNXtheband]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (Sissawantbettergti)

quote:[HR][/HR]I dont have a splash guard

but the belt is nice and tight, should i replace the belt and the alternator? or is it just probably the voltage regulator? my car makes a loud annoying squealing noise too when the heat is on....[HR][/HR]​

sounds like you have the a/c belt loose, which drives the alternator belt, so the alternator belt can be really tight but the a/c can be loose and may not be turning the alternator fast enough.
even if you have the temp slider to hot, if the top slider is over one of the snowflake icons than the A/C is on.
check your a/c belt, its the longest of the 3...

 

[kwchoi]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (SeattleGLI)

quote:[HR][/HR]The 90amp upgrade is a good idea. I never worry about lack of power after doing it on my car. Only odd thing to note is that on startup, I get the alt/oil press. lights on steady until I hit about ~2200 rpm, every time. This used to be just an occasional thing with my 60amp. Anyone else experience this?
[HR][/HR]​

Mine does it too(90A),all the light would become dime and fans not willing to blow,only if the car nicely warmed up than that would be no red light.

 

[satchmo]

Re: What a surprise... another frickin problem with my vw. (kwchoi)

When the brushes get a little worn the battery light will intermittenly go on. Remove the voltage regulator,(two screws) and observe the brushes for wear. The dealership sells both brushes for $3.00. They can be soldered in. Cheap fix.