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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: dabill on 14 December 2007, 09:50
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in a nut shell, battery wont charge, or wont hold its charge!
left the lights on during the day yesterday, and had to get the jump leads out to get her going.
had to do it a further 3 times, even after a 15 min drive, and leaving her to stand for 10 mins running...
recently had a second hand altenator on as the old ones bearings had died and didnt seem to be charging the car, but now im thinking it might be the battery...
left it standing this morning in the works car park(after having to jump it off my dads to get here) and after about half an hour came back to it, idleing like a pig. it started up, but sounded like it was struggling.
its a new starter motor so its not that.
suggestions? think im gonna get a new battery either way, but might get the altenator checked on my way home, providing the car starts...
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take it to an auto spares shop, they will test battery for free.
that way you will know for sure.
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in a nut shell, battery wont charge, or wont hold its charge!suggestions? think im gonna get a new battery either way, but might get the altenator checked on my way home, providing the car starts...
Hi
Put the battery on a slow charge for 30 hours
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just come back from kwik fit, the guy there (who co-incidently i knew from school) reckons battery is fine, its the altenator...which is a bummer!
so off to see my Dan at ECP to get it tested by them witha propper peice of kit to make sure, then if it is, gonna just shell out and get a spanking new one.
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test it with proper kit? multilmetre, not running 10-12v dependant on charge, running typically 13-14v ... it thats ok id turn the car off remove the earth cable from the battery and make the link using multimetre in amps . looking for no more than .02 of an amp id guess...
i had a battery drain on mine, was the radio as someone had removed the ignition feed to it and gone straight from the permanent live.
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If you have a multimeter handy you can stick it on the voltage range and measure the voltage with the car running. You should be getting around 13 to 14 volts. If the voltage continues to drop after starting, especially with lights on, then there is a problem with the charging, although it may just be the brushes or something cheaper than a new alternator.
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Sorry Dolly, we must have been writing at the same time. Glad we're in agreement though :smiley:
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maybe the alternator is faulty?
I had a new battery the other week then it went flat.
I thought the alternator was faulty but then I realised I'd actually left the interior light on (tinted windows + external lighting at home makes this quite easy to do in my defense!) and felt like a right plonker... :rolleyes:
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on the multi-meter at kwik fit it was saying just over 12v when running, which dropped to about 12v with lights on i think...
what amp altenator will my 1.8 digi have, tis the H-reg...
cheers
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Ok a charging problem. Next step is to remove the brush/diode pack and check the brush length. Just two screw to remove it and considerably cheaper than a new alternator if thats all it turns out to be.
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I apologise for jumping on your thread, but can you get brushes anywhere as i think mine may have gone south too, battery shows 13.8v when running but typically after 2 weeks needs recharging. Also can you buy diode packs or is it a new alternator job?
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The brush/diode pack is one lump that is screwed to the back of the alternator. GSF and Eurocarparts do them. Last set I bought were about £7 but that was some time ago now.
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it it the black thing on teh back of the altenator?
if so i'll have a gander...
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it it the black thing on teh back of the altenator?
if so i'll have a gander...
Yes, should be two screws holding it in. The Haynes manual gives you a minimum length for the brushes.
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wow, learn something new everyday, thanks! i'll have a gander...
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take car down to chapmans on shalesmoor and they will test it for you and give you a price to recondition it they are really good and i have used them for years
the last time i was down there he said that a lot of stuff newer stuff is coming from china and some of it is not up to much
so i would rather recon an old unit rather than buy new and he only charges about £30 or £40
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avoid Chinese or Italian alternators. I had one on my mk2 for a total of three days before it got ripped off and launched.
:undecided:
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mate down at ecp on thingytone rad sorted me lucas altenator brand new for 50 notes, cant complain, car starts alot better and lights are brighter for some reason...might just be me...