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neil_uk
By: neil_uk
Posts: 146
Joined: 17/05/09

Is my alternator dicky?

Posted: Mar 25 2010 Views: 30
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For a while I've noticed a few niggles with my electrics, e.g. my headlights dim heavily when I use the electric windows, and also a very (intermittent) unstable tickover.

This morning on the way to work things got worse.  I started the car and notice the battery warnign light stayed lit.  I switched off the engine for a few seconds and started the car again, this time the light went out, so iI headed off to work.  after a few miles I noticed the light was back on, and when i used the wipers - they were painfully slow.  i switched off everything and drove home.  I've just tried the car again and the light goes out as normal......  but now I don't trust it lol!

I've checked all the belts are tight and not slipping.  Is my alternator on the way out?  or could it be something else?

it's a 1999 MKII 1.8

Cheers

Neil

Replies

  1. /My-Page/?userId=8417

    RE: Is my alternator dicky?

    Hi Neil,

    You could check earth connections from the battery to the cars bodywork. I had a similar problem, although not as acute, and I remade the connections, tightened everything up and it was a lot better.

    Cheers.

    Tone

     


    Stormy Blue Sport Tech with added bling.

     

    All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.

     
    Posted: Mar 25 2010 By: TonyH   Posts: 1488
  2. /My-Page/?userId=3170

    RE: Is my alternator dicky?

    pop to a garage that sells batteries and they will check the output voltage, it may be on the way out and as the previous poster said it could be a loose connection somewhere although a lose connection would not normally have things getting worse over time unless it was a corosion issue on the terminals. do you find your battery is always fully charged? if so its not likely to be the alternator

    Posted: Mar 25 2010 By: hairless   Posts: 291
  3. /My-Page/?userId=5827

    RE: Is my alternator dicky?

    Thanks for the responses guys...

    I nipped into my local shop and they put a tester on the battery with the engine running. The reading was around three quarters of what it should be.  I revved the engine and the reading stayed the same. 

    of course thanks to 'sods law' the battery light was off as normal at the time of testing.

    It's looking like alternator though.... but I'm worried that after I spend on an alternator I'll find out it is earth related.... especially after the battery light problem only started after very heavy rain, and hasn't resurfaced today since the sun came out.

    Posted: Mar 25 2010 By: neil_uk   Posts: 146
  4. /My-Page/?userId=253

    RE: Is my alternator dicky?

    My alternator is called alty never thought of giving an alternator a first name nice one Dicky AltDrunk ernator esq

    Alan

    Content is edited
    Posted: Mar 26 2010 By: alan   Posts: 1146
  5. /My-Page/?userId=5827

    RE: Is my alternator dicky?

    LOL

    Well, it's definitely the alternator - it completely died today. I phoned the local autoparts place and they can do a recon exchange for around £120, does that sound about right?

    Also....  He asked if it's 70amp, or 80amp, erm... which do I need?

    Posted: Mar 26 2010 By: neil_uk   Posts: 146