[Vwdiesel] Flashing alternator light and windshield washer

[Bill Truesdell]

Nate Wall wrote:

>For the alternator, remove the external voltage regulator (2 screws on the
>back) and look at the brushes. I bet they wore too short. For about $4, you
>can get a set and solder them in. Check the condition of the copper slip
>rings they ride against for smoothness. These brushes seem to go about every
>100,000 miles, or so.
>
>By "Wiper arm", I take it you mean the "stalk" on the steering column, not
>the arm the blade is attached to. There is a set of contacts that "contact"
>each other as the lever is pulled back. Take a close look as you pull on it.
>You nay have to remove the steering wheel (24 MM socket, I think). No puller
>is needed, the wheel just lifts off. Remember to do it w/ it straight, so
>you install it on the same splines. You then may have to remove the wiper
>switch. If its BEHIND the turn signal switch, that has to come out first.
>You may be able to repair it.
>
>There may be a relay to check if that does not fix it.
>
>--Nate
>
>Bill Truesdell wrote:
>
>
>
>>1991 jetta diesel (220kmiles) - German made
>>
>>Yesterday, temps well below freezing in the day, the alternator warning
>>light started flashing. The flashes were rapid and weak. They came on
>>suddenly and then faded, still flashing rapidly, and went out. Later in
>>the trip I turned on the windshield washer and it would not go off until
>>I shut off the ignition and moved the wiper arm around.
>>
>>
>>
Fixed the washer problem. There was an accumulation of dust which did
not allow the arm to seat properly. Took it all apart and reassembled
and now fine.

But when I tried to start it for a test run, the battery was near dead.
The bearings in the alternator are suspect so I have decided to replace
it (Bosch reworked). It has been on my list of things to do for a long
time so this just makes it no longer a round tuit.

Curious why the light did not go on and stay on, or am I
misunderstanding what the light actually means. I thought it was a
charging light, but it appears if the battery is fine it will stay off.

Bill T