alternator charging problem

can anyone help i seem to have a problem with the
alternator not charging !

i can getit charging if i spark a wire from the postive
termail of the battery to where the thin blue wire
connects to the alternator ! what could be the
problem ?

also where does the other end of the thin blue wire
go to as the battery warning light doesn't work either !

can anyone help please i need my car over
christmas

cheers

 

Hi Paul,

Sorry for not replying sooner, but the system wouldn't let me post yesterday.

VW alternators are a bit cunning:

They use the current that flows though the dashboard light to create the fields that kickstart the alternator charging.

So it sounds like you need a new bulb.

Otherwise it's follow the wiring with Haynes time.

Simon.

 

What up with it, the battery keep going flat??

 

can you replace the dash light warning bulb then ??

yeah the alternator isn't charging until i spark the blue wire onto the postive termail on the battery !

so it either s broken wire or the blud i must admit the bulb isn't working so it could be can it be replaced ??

 

I would say its a broken wire over a broken bulb. I had this problem once on my old Orion. Turned out to be a broken wire...............

 

dam i can't even see where the wire goes to ! anyone have any idea where the other end attaches to ?

 

Yes, the bulb can be replaced. You have to take out a lot of your dashboard to get at the instrument cluster though.

Blue wire from alternator, goes to F/3 on the fuse box. Then out on U2/12 (blue) to instrument cluster. In on pin 16 (blue) into instrument cluster.

Simon.

 

cheers simon ! how can the bulb be replaced then ? i looked at a spare culster that i had in the garage admintaly it wasn't a 16v cluster but the bulbs didn't look replacable

 

The bulbs should just be a quarter turn twist to fit. You get at then from the back on the unit.

Most of the lights on the Mk2 cluster are red LEDs, and so last pretty much for ever. The blue one is different (since blue LEDs didn't exist then), it's a normal bulb in a blue plastic housing.

Simon.

 

but isn't the battery warning light red ?

 

yep, you still not got this sorted Paul???

 

no cause i am a lazy f*ck ! need a hand with yours this weekend or anytime this weekend ? what you upto tonight ?

 

YES!!!! Got to fit front suspension and all arches so would love a hand if you dont mind!!!!

Just sorting out the part numbers for another massive order from VW now

 

Err. Yes. Slight brain failure there. Sorry.

Simon.