Weird Electrics - GTX 8V

[Turbogirlie]

Something weird has happened to my car.

The voltmeter is indicating that there are more volts in the system than there should be - ranging up to 16v!

But the lights were dimming as if a drop in current. Never had a disco car before!

Also suffering from a lack of power when this happens.

My other half has pin pointed it down to the regulator - he put the multimeter on the car & got the same reading as the voltmeter.

So looking for a regulator tomorrow, as really need the car for Monday. Breakers here we come as no-one local has these. VW say still available but £20.26 + old unit as exchange item! Can get on the net for @ £8!

May just say stuff it and get a new alternator - mine's a 55amp - no reason why I can't get a Bosch 65 or 90amp is there?

[LEEP]

NOT AT ALL GET THE 90AMP THERE BETTER THATS WHAT I HAVE ON MINE PASSAT I THINK

[Turbogirlie]

Found a 90amp alternator at the scrappy today. Fitted but unsure if working correctly as unsure if charging battery correctly. Will keep an eye on it & overhaul the old 55amp alternator as a backup! Volts seem to be low - presume that I do not need a higher capacity battery? (Have checked battery, it's charging fine & holding volts - first thing we checked.)

Thanks Leep!

[Turbogirlie]

Update - 90amp alternator seems to be working ok today. Drove to work with voltmeter sitting nicely @ 13v. Slight dip when indicating which I would expect. Fil checked battery with the multimeter tonight - was @ 12.9v before switching engine on. If alternator wasn't working, then after 20 miles of driving, would have expected dip in the battery voltage.

Gotta do a night test drive before the nights close in..... (I like the light nights, hateful when the clocks go back, other than you get an extra hour in bed. )

[Junglist]

Shouldn't you get 14.2 volts when the engine's running?

You should get a light loom upgrade either way - massive difference. £12 on ebay for normal dipped headlight loom only. It's just a relay and some wires with fitting instructions.

[Nate]

Shouldn't you get 14.2 volts when the engine's running?

i think it's generally accepter that somewhere between 13v and 14.5v is acceptable. less than 13 and your battery won't recharge, over 14.5 and you start risking toasting stuff

[scalainj]

With everthing on you should get more than 13v. My 65 amp alt has worn bearings but a brand new regulator and with everthing on including 6 * 100w bulbs up front its pushing 13.04v - just enough. At idle its pushing 13.54v. Ideally it should be above 14v at idle. Just

[Turbogirlie]

My significant other half believes that the feed to the fusebox needs uprating, this is where the power loss is occurring. As he is an electronics engineer, I have faith in what he tells me. Plus the car's voltmeter has always read this, over the last 12 years, before the alti packed up.

Thanks for comments!