Volkswagen Golf Quiz
Electrical System

Alternator Component Inspection

In this manual: Electrical System
General Information — 9Engine — 14Engine Disassembly and Assembly, 1.1 and 1.3 l Engines — 15Engine Disassembly and Assembly, 1.6 and 1.8 L Engines — 13Diesel Engine Disassembly and Assembly — 16Fuel System — 1Carburetor Engine Fuel System — 19Fuel injection system — 17Diesel Engine Fuel System — 15Clutch — 12Transmission — 37Transmission — 8Front-wheel drive — 5Steering — 12Front Suspension — 9Rear Suspension — 4Brake System — 16Body — 26Electrical System — 42Wiring Diagrams — 24
~1min read

PROCEDURE 1. Using an ohmmeter, check the stator winding for open circuits and check that all windings are not shorted to ground.

2. To do this, connect one ohmmeter lead to the stator housing and the other lead in turn to the three winding terminals.

3. Then check the resistance between each pair of the three winding terminals in turn. The ohmmeter reading should be 0.25–0.28 Ohm for a 35 A alternator and 0.14–0.16 Ohm for a 55 A alternator. 4. Check the rotor resistance (see subsection 12.2.1 for specifications). 5. Check the rectifier diodes. A good diode conducts current in one direction only. A faulty diode may conduct in neither direction (open circuit) or in both directions (short circuit). Connect one ohmmeter lead to the diode housing and the other lead to the diode terminal. 6. Check the slip rings on the rotor shaft. If they are burnt or scored, clean them and, if necessary, turn them on a lathe. 7. Check the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is not serviceable.

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