Re: Woe is me

["Ewan Hopkins" <ewanhopkins@hotmail.com>]

Don't think you want to be looking at actually replacing the alternator as 
your starting point.
Assuming that there's no connection between the a/c belt and the lack of 
charging ( never seen A1 a/c so don't know ) you want to be checking a few 
other things before taking such drastic action.
Recharge your battery before starting so you can at least get a few minutes 
running out of it for diagnosis. Check that it is not hosed, although, 
unless there's a completely dead cell, it's unlikely to be bad enough to 
stop the car running once you start it.

1. Check the condition of the leads to the alternator and at the other end, 
i.e. at the starter motor connector. You should have at least 12v at the big 
terminal on the alternator without the engine running and more when it's 
running. Check that the blue wire is still connected although I can't 
remember offhand what the effect is if it isn't connected.
2. pull the regulator and check the brushes - I think the Haynes specifies 
the minimum brush length. If they look kind of short, you can maybe get a 
few more miles out of them by gripping the end of each brush and pulling it 
gently. If the slip rings are well worn then they may not need to be that 
short before losing contact - look & see. The brush is attached to the 
regulator by braided wire and this is what limits the distance that the 
brush can travel. Gently pulling the brush might stretch the braid enough to 
restore contact temporarily: BTDT - it was a lifesaver!
There are a few other thing which could probably be checked but I can't 
remember off the top of my head - I'm sure someone else will pipe up!

HTH,



Ewan Hopkins...

'85 Storm 2.0
'86 GT 1.8
'87 GT 1.6

>From: "Bobby Griffin" <strtstr@mediaone.net>
>To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>Subject: Woe is me
>Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 10:33:00 -0400
>
>ok guys - I am sure it's no big deal to change, but I've never had to do
>it - Last night my alternator left me stranded on the other side of town. 
>It
>was late so I had to leave my roc behind.
>
>The symptoms:
>drove fine over there...let it sit roughly 3 hours- got in it and nothing. 
>I
>mean it turned over but sounded like I had left the lights on..I hadn't.
>Finally get the car jumped...make it half a block, lights dim...car cuts
>off..never to start again -
>I left it there and came home. I do not have a Bentley. I have a Haynes and
>a Chilton's (both given to me) and the process looks fairly easy. Now how
>hard is it to replace this alternator on my 87 16v w/ac? Also, my ac belt
>broke on tuesday and I have yet to replace it - are they related? What
>should I be looking for when I get started and what difficulties can I
>expect to encounter?
>Thanx in advance guys and all help is sincerely appreciated. This comes at
>the lamest of times and may even KILL my trip to CINCY. I was scrapin the
>barrel as it is..8(
>Bobby G
>87 16v
>Jax., FL
>
>
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