It wont start!!!

[Justins145bhpMK1]

Last night I drove my MK1 at night for the first time as its a second car, had the lights and blower on, did a short stop start run ofabout 20 mins.

Was going to take it into work this morning to have some pictures taken and the battery is flat. Had the battery tested a week ago as part of a free RAC report I got from work and ts fine so I suspect the alternator is at fault. I have noticed sometimes on idle the battery light comes on.

Just want to check with you lot to see how you find MK1's in terms of charging system, are they crap?? My beetel was dreadful but then it only had a dynamo!!!!

Cheers.

[richandhazel]

Not had any problems myself. Could be your brushes/diode pack is worn or broken.
Cheap to replace, less than a tenner last time I looked.

[Justins145bhpMK1]

Cheers rich, how do I go about that??

[richandhazel]

Depends which alternator you have. Do you have a Haynes manual?
Its usually just a couple of screws to remove the regulator. I've got the old brown Haynes manual (726) and on page 194 it gives the minimum length for your brushes for the Bosch unit. If I remember correctly, with the Motorola unit, you can see whether the brushes are making good contact.
I'll put money on it that your brushes are worn.

[Justins145bhpMK1]

Cheers bud I have the brown manual as well, ill have a look, where would I buy replacemenments though??

[richandhazel]

5mm is the minimum length and it mentions desoldering the brushes and soldering new ones in. I've never done that, I usually just replace the whole regulator.

Eurocarparts:-

414440021 VOLTAGE REGULATOR-MOTOROLA GO/JE.PA/SA/A80 1.5/1.6
Motorola  ?15.54  

414550030 VOLTAGE REGULATOR 12v MOST VW/AUDI SEE CAT
Bosch ?9.00

GSF (Although I'm reuctant to use them now):-

VOLT.REGULATOR-BOSCH ALT.  G1 8/81 >  ?9.50  

[Justins145bhpMK1]

Thanks rich, ill have a look on Monday when I have recovered from this Stag do, hope VW Action goes well, weather looks a bit iffy?

[richandhazel]

Have a good one..........one day I'll see your car in the flesh
I'm a bit concerned about the weather........but we'll have the gazebo and hopefully a telly so we should be able to make the best of it.

[Justins145bhpMK1]

Yeah hopefully Ill be able to meet you all soon, had a guy round last night to buy a bonnet off me. He has had a few MK1's and reckons mine could fetch 3k (id just waxed it so it looked its best) quite a result considering in total its cost me ?900.

Got another question for you. Do you know which senders I need to buy to use the oi pressure and water temp vdo gauges, thinking il but the senders and get an auto electrician to wire them in.

[richandhazel]

This may help:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alanb2/golf/mods/vdo.htm

and there is a very rough wiring diagram here (click on the link at the bottom of the page):-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richandhazel1/Al/VDO%20Gauges.htm

I think that the water temp one you mention is actually an oil temp. Is on mine anyway.