Alternator fitting?

[scottishpedro]

Hi all.

I experienced two different problems with my 1990 8v MK2 golf GTI today.

Firstly, the car would not start after work today.  It has been a bit weak when starting the past month or so but today it turned over a few times without starting.  I had my jump leads and after my mate got me going the drive home was fine. 

About 2-3 months ago the car failed to start, and Mr AA diagnosed it as the alternator.  I replaced it with 2nd hand one, and things were fine for a day or two, then I had to renew the contact between the wire running from alternator to starter motor (at the starter motor end).  The wire was a bit corroded but everything has been fine since then until now.

I took some voltage readings tonight from the battery:

12.6v car off
10.8 volts while starting car
13.1v at idle
With car at idle:
Dropped to 12.3v with headlights on
Dropped to 11.9v with full beam, fogs, rear window heater and stereo on
Back up to 12.4v with everything off

Does this seem like a charging or battery issue?

2nd problem was just something I noticed after taking voltage readings.  I went out for a drive and when trying to pull away, the engine would not rev above 2k without struggling/almost cutting out but this seemed to settle after a minute or so. When back and bonnet open I heard a slight hissing noise coming from top of engine, noticed this slightly perished rubber end which was loose (what is this?).







Hiss could be from rocker cover gasket?  Checked oil yesterday and it was fine, checked tonight and I have lost oil, although it does not seem too bad around the rocker cover.


Any advice would be great

Cheers

Pete

[Gambit]

Alternator is scrap, voltage regulator should be holding steady volts with lights on etc

vacuum pipe has come off the small green tee piece you can see in 1st pic below black pipe

[scottishpedro]

Alternator is scrap, voltage regulator should be holding steady volts with lights on etc

vacuum pipe has come off the small green tee piece you can see in 1st pic below black pipe

I have been reading around and the suggestion is with car at idle there should be  around 14 volts accross the battery, so the 13.1v mine is reading confirms that my alternator is goosed?  I replaced my original alternator about 3 months ago with a 2nd hand one, any suggestions about where to get a reasonably priced new one?  I guess if I get another 2n hand one there's a change it has seen better days also?

Cheers

Pete

[Gambit]

Ring round local autosparks they might do refurbed items and take your old one in exchange as part of the cost

[Agreeable Slick]

Check the regulator on the alternator first otherwise you are just going to be throwing good money away. They are only a few quid from an autofactors, and usually solve the problem of charging as the bushes wear.

[scottishpedro]

Cool I'll check that too.  I cleaned up the earths last night.  Car started today to and from work, but was weak again.  When leaving this morning battery voltage was 12.0.  After 14 mile commute it was up to 12.5 then at home time it was down to 12.1.  Should the voltage drop like this or could there be a drain somewhere?

Thanks for the help

Pete

[danny_p]

alternator is weack

[scottishpedro]

alternator is weack

Yeah I'm looking into replacing it. They are readily available second hand and cheap, but I guess the risk is the replacement could be weak also.

[Gambit]

Buy a refurb unit

[scottishpedro]

Oh right, didn't realise they were available, thanks - I'll have a look