Hey I could use some help!

On my way home yesterday My battery light flickered on a couple times then went out so I thought nothing of it, A bit further down the road My Handbrake light started flashing and my ABS light came on, Also a loud beeping noise. I was almost home so I just carried on. A little while later a guy in front of me was turning into a lay by so I took my foot off the accelerator to slow down, as I did this the car juddered then lost all power, I put my foot down but nothing happened. Made a beeping noise again and the air bag light came on.

I managed to get it onto the side of the road but it wouldn't start, didn't even turn over once, when i tried the clocks vibrated and reset the time and miles each time.

Had to get my Dad and his T4 to come and get me, managed to get it going again with jump leads and got home.

I went up town and got a new battery and this seemed to fix the problem. Until the way home today, the same thing happened 4 times! as soon as I ease off the accelerator or apply the brakes! Loud beep and the ABS, Handbrake and Air bag light came on seconds before, had to jump start it again each time!

Battery just isn't holding any charge.

Really have no idea whats going on, completely wasted that money on a new battery! could it be the alternator maybe?

Its going to the garage tomorrow and hopefully my Dads mates will sort it out. Nothing too expensive I hope. Having a new clutch put in next week as the biting point is literally a cm or 2 away from not even touching the pedal! Stupidly high and slips now and then. Could it be related maybe?

Please help me guys, Thanks a lot, Dan

Yeah, i saw this earlier mate when you said you'd got a new battery, thought this might be the next question.

Sounds like the alternator has packed in. It's not hard to remove, the belt comes off and then it's 2 13mm bolts, and it taps out. Could be the regulator that's gone, or a bush has packed in.

It sounds like it's not charging though; a fresh battery just made it feel better.

It definitely sounds as if there is no charge reaching the battery and is probably, as suggested above, a failed alternator, but it is worth checking that the connections on the alternator are clean and tight.

If you have a voltmeter or multi-meter, set it to the 20 or 50 volt range and connect it to your battery terminals (observing correct polarity).

Without the engine running, it will probably read between 11.5 and 12.5 volts.

When the engine is running at about 1,500 - 2,500 RPM, the voltage should have gone up to about 14.0 to 14.5 volts.

If there is no increase in voltage, there is no charge going into the battery.

If you don't have a voltmeter/multi-meter, you MIGHT be able to get an idea of whether it is or isn't charging, by shining the headlights on a wall or door and comparing the brightness when the engine is running as above and when it isn't running.

Voltage regulator faults and worn brushes (both part of the alternator) are the most common fault, so if the rest of it is thought to be serviceable, replacing these may well prove cheaper than fitting a replacement alternator.

The reason of course, that it seemed OK when you fitted the new battery, was that the new battery was fully charged, but as it went 'flat', the original problem returned.

Regards.

i had this happen on a 6n2, bought new alternator and belt and it solved the problem

but i have noticed the 2 terminals on top the battery negative and positive, the smaller ones that sit onto the positive terminal in that little box, make sure no metal is snapped there, and no fuses are shot, my friends was not tightend up enough causing it to be dodgy connection.

but high chance its coilpack aswell....

rectifier pack on the side of the alternator. the diodes pack up. this happens to my polo but I've learnt a new trick rev it above 2500 rpm and the alternator kicks in 8) cant be bothered to fix it.