Ok, so ive searched on here and got a myriad of answers so looking a for a consensus before attacking the car tomorrow. Battery went flat last week so a new one was fitted(could feel the difference in just starting it) and had no probs all week-lights fine at night, good starting etc. Im at work today, wife phones up to say while driving back from the supermarket(6mile round tip) the battery light first started flashing and then just before pulling into home went solid red.

After searching on here seems to point to alternator gone(which was my first thought) but then start reading about, fooked belts, loose wires from all over the shop(but that seems to mean I shouldnt get a light?), over charging etc.

So ive got a mutlimeter but more used to working on two wheels than four, to check for charging rate is it a case of putting prongs onto battery, give her a good rev and see if it goes up to 14v roughly?? Or is there a way to check alternator directly?

All help greatfully received before I start headbutting a wall as MOT is due at end of month so no doubt other things will pop up on that, car has 114k btw

I think that you should check the battery voltage first, with engine running at idle and no load - should be over 12 volts, increase idle to 3000RPM and switch on lights and heated rear window, voltage should be, as you say, roughly 14 volts. If the alternator is faulty, then I'd expect that you would not be able to achieve the "roughly 14 volts" with a load with the engine running at 3000RPM. Possible failure will be rectifier stack, brushes worn or control circuit u/s - either way, you could fix it if you like a challenge and have a biggish soldering iron - and can identify the correct parts to change, or get a recon'd one as the shaft bearings on that one will have been lifed and near failing point maybe.

Checking the alternator directly would involve removing it and opening it up - and maybe also unsoldering the rectifier stack.

Edited 11 March, 201214 yr by rum4mo

Cheers Rum, well just been out......wouldnt open off the fob so popped the bonnet, checked the battery voltage and flat as a witches tit so guessing alternator has gone(no sign of loose wires to it etc), just trying to put some charge back into the battery(will be mighty ****ed if i cant save that after only a week) and will sort replacement alternator in the week....doh

Oh buggar, ah well you know now (hopefully) what you are dealing with. Of course that new battery will have come with a warranty, though hopefully you can drag it back up to life, maybe even connect it to the old battery if you still have it, or try charging it up very slowly at first.

Looks like the battery is FUBAR, been on charge since 1300 and now has a mighty voltage of 3.8v. Bought from eurocar parts so might chance me arm;)

How interchangeable are the alternators between fabia's, see quite a few MPI ones and a few just listed 1.4 on ebay......but cant see the part number on my one as havent took it off yet.....grrrr

Haynes lists four alternators ,but no mention of which one is fitted to any car. They are 55/60/70/90 amp output. I'd suspect the last two are on the Diesel versions ,as batteries vary in capacity ,and depending on the market . No mention in the 16v engine as to type/size fitted,so sorry .That's all I can find .

Cheers for looking VWD, mines got a/c so guessing its gonna be at least a 70amp, will sort the battery tomorrow as can then test the car itself and see if it is charging...or not as i suspect

Some facts from my wife's 2003MY Polo 9N 1.4 16V SE - with AC, on its "Car data" printout, battery is 280 A (60 Ah) and alternator 90A. The original battery is still fitted and it is "Varta 480Amp 60Ah and is trade size 027. When the time comes to replace it, I intend to fit a Bosch Silver S5050 which is 610Amp 63Ah - also sold as Halfords stock number HSB013. If I'm lucky and Costco still sell these batteries - but have a rationalised stock, I'll buy an S5040 which is 600Amp 61Ah as it will be a lot cheaper from them. By the way, I'd reckon that Varta and Bosch are either the same company now or at least share battery technology as the final items are the same except the colours are different.

I'm assuming that you no longer have the previous battery which is recharged, then could safely be connected to the flat one to try to convince it to wake up again.

Of course, your car could have a 70A alternator.

Edited 11 March, 201214 yr by rum4mo

Well, back into eurocar parts, were good enough to change it, sales bloke in there turns out has an MPI fabia and said its probably the battery being drained too quick and seen this before, he stuck it on a tester and it was showing 6v. Said he runs a higher output battery so got one of those(only£15 extra), back home, farted about with battery tray as its 1/2 inch to wide, stuck it on and now have no dials working and the power steering warning light, seems to be 19v running through which I guess could be because the power steering motor hasnt kicked in so isnt draining off the system. Does this sound plausable?....and what can I do, is it a case of lock to lock to try and get it to kick in?

Help...one prob solved, another appears..lol

see your other post http://www.briskoda...._fromsearch__1.