Mk 4 Golf Alternator warning display

Angus

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Oct 19, 2013, 4:37:19 PM10/19/13

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Hi guys,
I was on my way to work last week, in my Golf Mk 4 tdi and was startled
when I got the display, "ALTERNATOR WORKSHOP!" the battery symbol
illuminated and a loud beeping began. I stopped to call work with the
intention of taking it straight to a garage, but the warning disappeared
and hasn't come back - yet.

I spoke to the local VW dealer who I get on with pretty well, and was
surprised to hear the figure 350 pounds mentioned.
My battery is quite new, so I assume its new alternator, the car which
is '01 has done 182,000.

Somebody else said they could do it for 150-200 pounds depending on
which alternator was fitted.

So basically, does 200 quid sound like a good deal, might it be
something else, should I leave it if it doesn't come back. is a love
song more effective in a minor key? :)

Any general thoughts?

Chris Whelan

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Oct 19, 2013, 5:03:39 PM10/19/13

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On Sat, 19 Oct 2013 21:37:19 +0100, Angus wrote:

[...]

> Somebody else said they could do it for 150-200 pounds depending on
> which alternator was fitted.
>
> So basically, does 200 quid sound like a good deal, might it be
> something else, should I leave it if it doesn't come back. is a love
> song more effective in a minor key? :)
>
>
> Any general thoughts?

GSF

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

have alternators for your car in the range of UKP180-240, with UKP48-120
back upon return of your old unit.

If it was mine, I would pull apart and clean any electrical connectors in
the vicinity of the alternator, and check the condition of the drive
belt. I would then leave it a week to see if it happened again.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Mrcheerful

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Oct 19, 2013, 6:13:25 PM10/19/13

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Oddly enough a couple of years ago a customer asked me to change the
alternator on a golf, the AA or Rac had diagnosed it as faulty, the
customer supplied the alternator from GSF and it was the wrong one,
eventually the right one was supplied and I fitted it, same problem, no
charge and no charge warning light. I checked out the charging light
circuit and found there was no connection from alternator to dash light,
found the problem of a broken wire, somewhere near the battery IIRC and
repaired it. That whole escapade cost the customer about 200 quid more
than it needed to have done.

Chris Bartram

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Oct 20, 2013, 5:19:21 AM10/20/13

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Common on the Polo/Fabia/Ibiza- the warning lamp wire breaks at a
connection point attached to the gearbox.

Angus

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Oct 20, 2013, 4:33:47 PM10/20/13

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In article <cuD8u.18639$eW3....@fx14.am4>, g.odon...@yahoo.co.uk
says...

>

>
> Oddly enough a couple of years ago a customer asked me to change the
> alternator on a golf, the AA or Rac had diagnosed it as faulty, the
> customer supplied the alternator from GSF and it was the wrong one,
> eventually the right one was supplied and I fitted it, same problem, no
> charge and no charge warning light. I checked out the charging light
> circuit and found there was no connection from alternator to dash light,
> found the problem of a broken wire, somewhere near the battery IIRC and
> repaired it. That whole escapade cost the customer about 200 quid more
> than it needed to have done.

Thanks guys for the helpful advice. Its still behaving well, so based on
what has been said I'll hold off on a replacement alternator for now.

Angus

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Nov 2, 2013, 2:10:09 PM11/2/13

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For the record guys, the fault came back.

I took it to my garage and they have replaced the alternator freewheel
pulley and auxiliary belt.

Hopefully, that's sorted it. Thanks again.