"alternator Workshop"

[roly1977]

hiya all another problem now :P last night i was driving along all of a sudden bleeping started lights flashing alternator workshop and the batery light was flashing and i think a clicking could be heard pulled over it stopped while ticking over the rev it and the noise and lights started again turned off engine restarted it was ok till i drove half mile home went out this morning started reved it no noise no flashing lights but now the belts squeeking and the power steering is juddering its had a new belt and tensioner 3 months ago any ideas please im taking it to garage tomorrow is it the alternator at fault :P

[NikpV]

just a thought - wouldn't be something like air con compressor starting to sieze (or any other pullies) but only happenning when engine is hot - making belt slip/squeak and forcing the alternator to run slow ?????

[roly1977]

erm good thought my aircon aint working at the moment getting it done in the next couple of weeks but my climate control was turned off so not sure dont the air con pumps have clutches then

[NikpV]

erm good thought my aircon aint working at the moment getting it done in the next couple of weeks but my climate control was turned off so not sure dont the air con pumps have clutches then

 

 

yes - shouldn't be putting any load on the system then :P - oh well just a thought

[sepulchrave]

roly, what car do you have? And can you please use some punctuation, as I experienced severe apnoea whilst reading your breathless cry for help! :P

[roly1977]

sorry, ive got a 51 galaxy 1.9tdi ghia 115

[johnb80]

The 'Alternator Workshop' message appears when the engine is running and the alternator isn't charging, does the rev counter read correctly when this message is on?

 

Regards - JB

[roly1977]

hi john , yes rev counter is fine the message dont come on on tick over just when i reved it.Today it hasnt come on at all just the belts sqeaking and a stearing judder belts moving fine

[johnb80]

IIRC the tachometer on the diesel is driven from the alternator, armed with this info it means that if the message is on and the revs look right for the gear / speed that you're doing it means that mechanically the alternator is being driven correctly but there must be a problem on the electrical side of things. I have seen this problem before on my mates Gal, that was caused by a u/s fandbelt, it had been back to the dealer several times and always came back no fault found.

 

Regards - JB

[roly1977]

it aint long had a new belt and tensioner, had it in garage today the fault aint come back pulleys all seem ok slight wobble on aircon pump, but the belt is making a noise when turning the wheel :10:

[NikpV]

IIRC the tachometer on the diesel is driven from the alternator, armed with this info it means that if the message is on and the revs look right for the gear / speed that you're doing it means that mechanically the alternator is being driven correctly but there must be a problem on the electrical side of things.

Regards - JB

 

in that case what 'processing' does the output of the alternator get - presumably full wave rectificatiion, regulation and at some point voltage sensing/comparison with some reference which will set off the indicator lamp on the dash board. How much is built in to the alternator, can the regulator be changed independently? ummm

[NikpV]

Checking TIS just gives the following

 

 

The charging system warning indicator flickers or is intermittent

 

Possible Source(s): Circuit(s).

Action(s) to take:

CLEAN and TIGHTEN all generator, battery and power distribution connections. TEST the system for normal operation. If the concern persists, INSTALL a new generator.

Possible Source(s): Generator.

 

Action(s) to take:

CARRY OUT the Generator On-Vehicle Tests, REFER to WDS.