No Charge

[Matt Maz]

Hi people,

After a great time at Vanfest & a few extra days camping at Doward Park in Hereford, on my return
journey the ven was running great then all of a sudden the red generator light on the dash lit up.

I stopped at a petrol station to check every thing was ok which it was, so went to start the van and it
was totally dead.......not a thing.

I managed to get the van bump started and got how with a bit of sputtering.

I think it is the alternator but just wanted to check with people that have a lot more experience and knowledge
of VW's.

If so can I get an exchange and also where is best to get a new one from??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Araon]

first thing people are gonna want to know, is it an alternator or dynamo, what engine is it on?

replacements are easily available are you sure its the alternator not producing a charging voltage?

belt tension ok and not slipping etc......

 

[Matt Maz]

The van has a 1600 engine and an alternator.

Checked the belt as soon as the light came on and it was not broken and not slipping.

Once I managed to get home, switched the engine off, tried to start and nothing again. I have had the
battery on charge and it will now start, however the red generator light is still showing on the dash?

 

[Clarkson46]

Is it internal or external regulator?

 

[Matt Maz]

I am not sure, is it easy to tell with the alternator still on the car??

 

[currylager]

Alternators with an internal regulator usually only have 2 wires coming from them, one for the main charging output and one for the ignition light, possibly a case earth too. The ones with external regulators have at least four wires coming from them, a main charging output (big wire) and 3 smaller wires which go to the regulator which incidentally is usually a small metallic box which is usually mounted at the back of the engine bay (bulkhead) or sometimes it is acually mounted externally on the casing of the alternator me thinks.