Flickering lights and slow to start

[shouldbworking]

Pretty much as the title says, car is slow to spin over when starting from cold (albeit when it does start it runs smoothly). The lights inside and out flicker slightly with engine rpm - this is less noticeable after its been run for a while.

Is this going to be the voltage regulator or alternator brushes? I guess in either case its a new alternator time. The belt tension is fine (did it a month or so ago after it was squealing a bit).

Lastly, do these gradually get worse and worse or will it go kaput all of a sudden?

Car is a mk2 golf.

[Podie]

Try starting it with the headlights on... if they dim when it starts, then I'd think about a new battery...