Got a strange one - My Octavia (a 2001, 1.9TDI 110BHP Elegance) has been running fine for the last 3 years, just having usual service items as necessary.

However, a month ago or there abouts, the clutch failed and so I had that replaced.

Since then, I have had nothing but electrical problems with it.

First off it would take ages to start, turning the engine over and over, whist sounding as though the battery was more flat than it should be. Suspected that the battery was on it's way out, I swapped the battery.

A week later, I had the misfortune to try and start it one morning, to just hear the starter motor clicking away. Again, rightly or wrongly, I suspected that the starter motor had given up the ghost, and swapped this.

However, 2 weeks ago (about 2 weeks after the clutch incedent) I park my car up on the Saturday night, having completed a journey of aprox. 80 miles. Came out lunch time on the Sunday, and the battery is so flat that the dash lights won't even come on.

I have checked the alternator output, and it is about 12.6v when idling, and suspect the alternator is at fault. However, having looked on here, I would expect (from others experiences) to see warning lights coming on, but haven't other than when I initially turn the ignition on. Therefore I know that the warning lights are operational.

Any ideas as to whether the alternator is at fault, or what else I could check would be gratefully accepted.

Also, if it is the alternator, how difficult is it to replace?

Got a strange one - My Octavia (a 2001, 1.9TDI 110BHP Elegance) has been running fine for the last 3 years, just having usual service items as necessary.

However, a month ago or there abouts, the clutch failed and so I had that replaced.

Since then, I have had nothing but electrical problems with it.

First off it would take ages to start, turning the engine over and over, whist sounding as though the battery was more flat than it should be. Suspected that the battery was on it's way out, I swapped the battery.

A week later, I had the misfortune to try and start it one morning, to just hear the starter motor clicking away. Again, rightly or wrongly, I suspected that the starter motor had given up the ghost, and swapped this.

However, 2 weeks ago (about 2 weeks after the clutch incedent) I park my car up on the Saturday night, having completed a journey of aprox. 80 miles. Came out lunch time on the Sunday, and the battery is so flat that the dash lights won't even come on.

I have checked the alternator output, and it is about 12.6v when idling, and suspect the alternator is at fault. However, having looked on here, I would expect (from others experiences) to see warning lights coming on, but haven't other than when I initially turn the ignition on. Therefore I know that the warning lights are operational.

Any ideas as to whether the alternator is at fault, or what else I could check would be gratefully accepted.

Also, if it is the alternator, how difficult is it to replace?

i had a simlar problem once a cavalier starter motor packed up brought a new one fitted it and then battery would die after a day , turned out starter motor was faulty and the solenoid was at fault just an idea not same car i know but gives you somewhere to start , also check to see if any wires have been snagged while your clutch was fitted

if yu have only had problems since the clutch was fitted i would check to see that all the earths are on properly and that there are all the connectors actually connected

Might be worth checking the fuses in the box on top of the battery too, plus the cabling there..... I wonder if you have a melted fuse box

Another option is to check the clutch on the alternator as this can be purchased and replaced without replacing the whole thing at a much lower cost.

Edited 2 June, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

Well, I eventually took my car to the VAG specialist who I use, and he diagnosed that the alternator was doing strange things.

First time he checked it - it was delivering 12v, 2nd - 10v, 3rd - 14v, and 4th - 11v

He replaced the alternator and it has been fine since (Keeps fingers crossed!)