Alternator/Battery Help Needed...

[tony gti]

I've got a R reg 8v mk3 GTi,and for the 8 months I've owned the car the battery light hasn't worked.Now the battery has gone flat but I'm not sure if it's the battery or the alternator at fault.
Is there a way of connecting a temporary battery light to the alternator?
I don't really fancy changing the dash bulb if I don't have to.

thanks in advance

tony

[saul79]

bulbs are easy to change -
battery /alt check

get the car running again.

put a multi meter over the battery should read ie 12.5v ,
when running it should read ie 14.5 v turn the lights on voltage should drop then go back up to 14.5v.
this checks the regulator is working ,if its more than 14.5 v then the regulator is fecked.

hope this helps

[tony gti]

UPDATE: today I jumped started the car,once I disconnected the jump leads the voltage at the battery dropped quite quickly.If I turned on the headlights the car would stall.I'm thinking the alternater has had it.

I also tried to change the battery light bulb,but as mine is a late car it has led warning light bulbs.
Can these be changed?I'm hoping that if the alternater is at fault,a new one will also sort the battery warning light.

tony

[Pete Taylor]

You just need to put in one of the SMD LEDS, i've got shedloads kicking around at home, pull the old one out with tweezers and superglue the new one in instead of soldering, it's far too small a gap to solder in

[tony gti]

You just need to put in one of the SMD LEDS, i've got shedloads kicking around at home, pull the old one out with tweezers and superglue the new one in instead of soldering, it's far too small a gap to solder in

thanks for the tip mate,however I have read that if the alternater isn't working properly the light may not work,so I'll try a new alternater first.

tony

[tony gti]

**UPDATE**

I have charged the battery up,and fitted a new alternater.When I turned the key to start the car,the battery light worked and went out as it should.I checked the battery voltage and all seems to be correct.The problem was the alternater.

thanks for your help

tony

[saul79]

good lad