Alternator dying?

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Jamesc

RMS Regular
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1,857
Location
Portadown
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Audi TT, A4
Im guessing its the alternator but just double checking if anyone can confirm

Driving home on Thursday, battery light came on lights dim etc and functions slowly died off further i drove thankfully i made it home. Checked the battery with volt meter next day it was reading 11.9 or there abouts, starting the car it reads 11.5/11.6, turn lights etc on it starts dropping, though turn lights etc off it slowly returns to 11.5, battery light is no longer on but im guessing the alternator is dying and not supplying enough charge?

Battery is on the charge atm though the little indicator on the top is showing a good battery. Car starts etc fine even before battery charge.
 

stevieturbo

RMS Regular
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21,096
Location
Antrim
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Old Ford
Sub 12v even without the engine running is poor.

Sub12v with engine running, then clearly there is no charging whatsoever. It should be in the 14v range, or over 13v at an absolute minimum.
 

genman

G
how is the alternator driven.. if by belt... is it there and propey tensioned. ...can you see if the cables on it are ok.. is there a fuse for it... possibly 80a or so.

if all ok then what you describe would usually end up being the regulator unless the bearings in the alt have failed and damage has occurred to the main windings.
Unfortunately these days the alt as a unit is considered as an almost throw away item and the old days of external replaceable regulators is becoming rare. . might be an easy fix to some place.
 
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