[Vwdiesel] Possible Alt. issue on my A4 Jetta starting to rear its ugly head

[brian gochnauer]

Without know the system voltage, can't be of much help.
But 8 years on a battery; are you waiting for it to strand you somewhere?
But maybe first I'd try replacing the clutched alternator pulley; I've heard
they go bad and start to slip; lowering output of the alternator.
Don't know if there is a diagnostic test for a slipping pulley; they'd
probably generate some heat if it is slipping though.
I own two A4s but have never had a pulley failure.

BrianG



On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 9:11 AM, <vwdiesel-request at vwfans.com> wrote:

> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:52:51 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> To: vwdiesels <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Possible Alt. issue on my A4 Jetta starting to
>        rear its        ugly head
> Message-ID:
>        <1316008371.80530.YahooMailNeo at web112401.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> So, today, a VERY humid and wet morning, I am starting out for work.
> AC is on, lights, wipers to clear the due and fog.
> Then I notice my wipers even though on intermittent, are moving slower as
> if running on the battery juice, not Alt.
> I see no alt light.
> then, a block later I see the alt. light blinking on the dash.
> Crap.
> I shut down some stuff and the light goes out.
> pull over, pop the hood, all looks ok, no belt broken, all sounds good,
> running well???
> ?
> So, on these NEW fancy Alternators, 120amp, it seems there is NO
> replacement parts for the guys like us, only a rebuild for $350 bucks.
> Yes, No?
> ?
> I am guessing I will be seein this issue again.? 138K on the motor and I am
> still on my original battery, almost 8 years later.? not un-heard of but
> nice.
>
> Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :<)
> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel, 5sp -- running :<)
> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :<)
> 70 Type 1 stock Elm Green Beetle -- Under Restoration :-)
>
> ------------------------------