charging problem, golf mk4 1.6?

[jellyhashman]

When I start the car I get 13.8-14v but soon after drops off to battery voltage and the battery just drains. Is it time for a new alternator?

[GreenV8S]

jellyhashman said:

Is it time for a new alternator?

Does seem like it. It's common to exchange/recondition them rather than buy new. Quite likely it only needs a new electronic module, but while they're repairing it they will probably want to fully recondition it.

[E-bmw]

jellyhashman said:

When I start the car I get 13.8-14v but soon after drops off to battery voltage and the battery just drains. Is it time for a new alternator?

Just to be sure you do mean that the alternator output to the battery drops while the engine is still running?

it is just that you don't actually say the engine is still running when the voltage drops.

[jellyhashman]

Yes still running when voltage drops

[E-bmw]

Alternator.

Assuming the belt is tight.

[jellyhashman]

Thanks everyone

[M32Guy]

There's a common issue on these with the wiring going to/from the alternator. Not sure exactly what it is or how to fix it but I'd get that checked out first before replacing the alternator. I'd expect the alternator to never charge the battery if it were indeed faulty but I could be wrong on the Volkswagens

[jellyhashman]

Changed the alternator already, seems to have sorted it though now the ignition cuts out randomly. Hoping it's just the cheap chinese obd reader that's been plugged in when it's happened but probably not.

[E-bmw]

Check around the alternator to make sure when it was changed everything was reconnected securely.

[jellyhashman]

I did, all was good. It's not happened again since not having the obd reader plugged in. Might be some bug in the software or dongle or it loses bluetooth connection re-connects and then cycles the relays and stuff on/off.

[Classy6]

Take out the alternator fuse across the top of the battery, it's a strip fuse. Just make sure it hasn't cracked or blown.