pwest
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2000
- Location
- Atlanta, ga, USA
Hi:
I've got a 2001 Jetta TDI with 90k miles. Earlier in the week I was driving home and my battery light came on. When I got home I verified that the battery voltage was low and that the the charger didn't appear to be working (voltage staying at about 11.3 at any RPM). Since then, I've been driving about 20 miles a day with the headlight fuses removed and recharging the battery at night. Now, I want to fix the problem.
I have verified that I've got battery voltage at the B+ (big) alternator terminal, and on both the contacts inside the little connector on the alternator.
BUT: My dashboard battery light does NOT come on when I turn the key to the 'run' position (i.e. with the car off, I turn the key to 'run' and all the other dashboard indicators come on, but there is no battery symbol). The Bently manual indicates that this suggests a wiring problem that should be fixed first, but aside from verifying battery voltage at the 3 points on the alternator, it's unclear what could be wrong or what should be done.
So, my first question is, would a bad alternator/regulator keep the light from coming on? I really don't want to go the the alternator R&R procedure if I've got some other problem.
Thanks for any diagnostic suggestion,
Phil
PS: I did take it to Autozone for a diagnostic and they confirmed that the alternator wasn't working, but could offer no other guidance.
I've got a 2001 Jetta TDI with 90k miles. Earlier in the week I was driving home and my battery light came on. When I got home I verified that the battery voltage was low and that the the charger didn't appear to be working (voltage staying at about 11.3 at any RPM). Since then, I've been driving about 20 miles a day with the headlight fuses removed and recharging the battery at night. Now, I want to fix the problem.
I have verified that I've got battery voltage at the B+ (big) alternator terminal, and on both the contacts inside the little connector on the alternator.
BUT: My dashboard battery light does NOT come on when I turn the key to the 'run' position (i.e. with the car off, I turn the key to 'run' and all the other dashboard indicators come on, but there is no battery symbol). The Bently manual indicates that this suggests a wiring problem that should be fixed first, but aside from verifying battery voltage at the 3 points on the alternator, it's unclear what could be wrong or what should be done.
So, my first question is, would a bad alternator/regulator keep the light from coming on? I really don't want to go the the alternator R&R procedure if I've got some other problem.
Thanks for any diagnostic suggestion,
Phil
PS: I did take it to Autozone for a diagnostic and they confirmed that the alternator wasn't working, but could offer no other guidance.