B5.5 Passat "Alternator workshop" warning

[Simon Finnigan]

Hi all,
driving early this morning, after about 20 miles of driving I was on a flat
road, at 40mph when the "Alternator workshop" warning came on the display,
and the battery light came on. Cars a 2002 model, just under 170k miles on
the clock. I`ve checked for error codes and can`t find any to clear, and
was wondering what other options there may be for this warning? The car
still starts fine and runs perfectly well, but it`s a few days until I can
get it to a garage.

Anyone got any suggestions for a simple home repair/check before taking a
day off work to get it to a garage?

Thanks in advance!

[Stephen]

"Simon Finnigan" <simonf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7q77eh...@mid.individual.net...

Sounds odd no fault code is registering with vag com presumably ?

Might sounds daft Simon but could the battery be worth checking with a
multi-meter ?

Or perhaps a damaged engine earth strap ? Not sure if this would ping a
light though but worth a look.

[Chris Bartram]

Stephen wrote:

> Might sounds daft Simon but could the battery be worth checking with a
> multi-meter ?

Is the thing to do. Check the charging voltage.

[Simon Finnigan]

"Stephen" <no...@none.com> wrote in message
news:hhlv9c$qbg$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

>
> "Simon Finnigan" <simonf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7q77eh...@mid.individual.net...
>> Hi all,
>> driving early this morning, after about 20 miles of driving I was on a
>> flat road, at 40mph when the "Alternator workshop" warning came on the
>> display, and the battery light came on. Cars a 2002 model, just under
>> 170k miles on the clock. I`ve checked for error codes and can`t find any
>> to clear, and was wondering what other options there may be for this
>> warning? The car still starts fine and runs perfectly well, but it`s a
>> few days until I can get it to a garage.
>>
>> Anyone got any suggestions for a simple home repair/check before taking a
>> day off work to get it to a garage?
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>
> Sounds odd no fault code is registering with vag com presumably ?

I`ve not registered it, so had to go through all the modules manually. The
only error codes I get are an intermittent open circuit to the front
speakers, and a flap positioning fault in the air-con. Neither of which
seems at all relevant :-)

> Might sounds daft Simon but could the battery be worth checking with a
> multi-meter ?

Luckily my mechanic is in work for a few hours this morning, so I`m taking
it to him now to see. I`m not good with electrics at all, I can build a PC
but apart from that it`s a bad idea letting me near anything :-)

> Or perhaps a damaged engine earth strap ? Not sure if this would ping a
> light though but worth a look.

I`ll come back when I`ve got an answer. I`m hoping it`s the battery which
is the original one from the car - 7 years and 170,000 miles seems a lot for
a battery, and that being faulty I can imagine would throw up the same kind
of faults.

Fingers crossed!