2003 VW Jetta... Alternator Problem But Not The Alternator? - VW Vortex

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inlovewithavdubengine I My mom was driving her '03 Jetta and it lost power while she was driving. No luck with starting it up again; battery was suddenly dead. So I came and jumped it and the Jetta started right up. Charged it up for a minute or two. I started following her back to the house and it died again within less than a block. Textbook alternator problem, right? I replaced that alternator about 6 months ago and luckily it had a lifetime warranty; so I pulled it out, swapped it with a new replacement, hooked up the jumper cables and started it up again. Engine lot power the instant I removed the cables. Any ideas? Battery's pretty new too and the symptoms don't seem to point to the battery. Maybe they gave me another faulty one or the wrong alternator altogether or something? Apparently the Check Engine light has been on for a long time, too. :confused:

#1 · Aug 11, 2015 My mom was driving her '03 Jetta and it lost power while she was driving. No luck with starting it up again; battery was suddenly dead. So I came and jumped it and the Jetta started right up. Charged it up for a minute or two. I started following her back to the house and it died again within less than a block. Textbook alternator problem, right? I replaced that alternator about 6 months ago and luckily it had a lifetime warranty; so I pulled it out, swapped it with a new replacement, hooked up the jumper cables and started it up again. Engine lot power the instant I removed the cables. Any ideas? Battery's pretty new too and the symptoms don't seem to point to the battery. Maybe they gave me another faulty one or the wrong alternator altogether or something? Apparently the Check Engine light has been on for a long time, too. :confused:

Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Aug 11, 2015 Test battery. Depending on pass/fail, test alternator. Depending on results, look for wiring issues such as the ones from alt to battery, etc. Alternators, especially "rebuilt" units at most big chain stores are junk (cleaned up/repainted cores with new bearings maybe) regardless of the warranty. A quality reman from an independent shop or a Bosch reman unit won't be cheap, but it will last. #3 · Aug 11, 2015 check your fuses.... all fuses ... including the ones in the cabin one of them controls the charge circuit...... check for corrosion to the cables and the grounds.... Notorious VW PITA problems with wire corrosion and mysterious broken wire in the middle of the insulation. measure the voltage at the battery when car is not running should be 12.6v or about with 2.1v or 2.3 per cell x 6.... check your hook up to the Alternator.... you needed that exciter wire to have 12V in order for the alternator to produce any voltage... it's not exactly a permanent magnet generator. measure the voltage when the car is running it should be between 13.6V to 14.4V your battery when fully charge should keep the car running till it dies even if the alternator is dead.... you should check your relays.... think there was a relay for this.... but definitely a fuse at the cabin....other than the ones on the battery..... #4 · Aug 11, 2015 x2 on fuses. On top of your battery, the strip fuse on the left with the black cable coming out of it, see if it is blown or not. That would be my #1 bet #5 · Aug 11, 2015 (Edited) my bet would be he lost power to the exciter wire.... his "new" alternator have not been charging that battery for a while... probably dead also if it is below 10.5V. when your car is on the ON position.... the exciter wire (Not the large gauge alternator wire) should have 12V shown.... with or without the car running. Most people including my self shorted that wire or forgot to connect it when I remove the alternator for ......... actually to gain access to the thermostat in my case... and shorts out a fuse in the cabin... I forgot the fuse number.... but it is there... As far as quality wise... NOTHING IS MORE crapppppppppppy than factory unit.... you know why.... it's because it broke, that is why you had to replacing it.....or unless you are doing it for fun and throwing new parts at the old car to make it new... dunno.... #6 · Aug 12, 2015 Check that your battery terminal wires arent prevent power from going to/from battery Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk Insert Quotes Post Reply

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