"Eating Alternators"

[97B4TDi]

Not sure if anyone else here can help without the car in front of you to diagnose but I thought I would give it a shot.

My 2013 JSW has 107,000 miles and is on its third alternator. It was just replaced back in April and on a recent 1000 mile trip I had another incident.

It started with the battery light coming on intermittently and then staying on. I turned anything power related except for the radio off to conserve power. Eventually error lights came on and power died 1/2 hour from home. Thankfully a friend was able to bring me a fresh battery; we swapped it out roadside and I made it home.

Do you think any of the mods in my signature could have any correlation? The one specifically I am thinking of is the HID Retrofit headlights drawing more power than the supply can handle but I may be over thinking it.

Its at a local indy shop right now; I'll update with what they find.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[oilhammer]

Parts store alternators are garbage, I'd only use an OEM (Bosch) in there.

You may also have an issue with the wire harness, too.

 

[pedroYUL]

Calling @Mozambiquer

 

[Mozambiquer]

Not sure if anyone else here can help without the car in front of you to diagnose but I thought I would give it a shot.

My 2013 JSW has 107,000 miles and is on its third alternator. It was just replaced back in April and on a recent 1000 mile trip I had another incident.

It started with the battery light coming on intermittently and then staying on. I turned anything power related except for the radio off to conserve power. Eventually error lights came on and power died 1/2 hour from home. Thankfully a friend was able to bring me a fresh battery; we swapped it out roadside and I made it home.

Do you think any of the mods in my signature could have any correlation? The one specifically I am thinking of is the HID Retrofit headlights drawing more power than the supply can handle but I may be over thinking it.

Its at a local indy shop right now; I'll update with what they find.

Thanks for any ideas.

Were the alternators installed OEM or parts store/aftermarket?
Those mods won't cause the alternator to fail. I just had a customer who had installed 6 parts store alternators in his CJAA Jetta, and they kept going out. I tried to talk him into doing it right, but once you get stuck on the "lifetime warranty garbage" it costs more to go back to a good one...
I stock OEM alternators for these for a lot better price than the dealer and even than the parts store, or have reman ones too which I do with all OEM parts.
www.anchormotorworks.com/shop

 

[97B4TDi]

The previous indy shop I was taking to was installing Valeo alternators. Took it to a new shop in hopes they have a different opinion.

 

[Ajlal24]

I had this problem and am on my third alternator. OEM alternator lasted 195K miles. Purchased a new Valeo and it only lasted 9K miles. Needed to get back on the road and bought an Autozone Duralast unit. I plan on rebuilding the Valeo units. There is a Bosch variant option for the MK6 TDIs, anyone know if they are interchangeable with original Valeo units?

 

[oilhammer]

I've only ever seen and used Bosch. I know VAG switches around some. My BHW came with a Valeo (which died... had a Bosch on it ever since, which has already outlived the Valeo, LOL).

 

[Mozambiquer]

I had this problem and am on my third alternator. OEM alternator lasted 195K miles. Purchased a new Valeo and it only lasted 9K miles. Needed to get back on the road and bought an Autozone Duralast unit. I plan on rebuilding the Valeo units. There is a Bosch variant option for the MK6 TDIs, anyone know if they are interchangeable with original Valeo units?

Yes, they are interchangeable. The only ones that aren't are the 2015 which were only Valeo.