I have a VRS and recently the battery warning light came on intermittently.

I got a local mobile car electrics guy to take a look and he said the black wire from the alternator to the fuse box on top of the battery was overheating and consequently I need a new regulator for the alternator. I've sourced one on ebay and will be confirming with the supplier that they have the right part for me. He thinks the alternator is OK but I read on this forum that the pulley has a clutch in it and should have some resistance in one direction. Mine free wheels both ways. Is this OK? Also although I have got the alternator off its mounting I can't see a way of getting it out of the engine bay so if I only need to change the regulator it would be much easier (and cheaper!) Any advice would be most welcome as I need to get mobile again!

Err the black wire to the alternator over heats due to corrosion, fix for it is a new cable and if the fuse box has melted one of them too. I've never heard that's its due to the regulator being faulty, its always been the cable, including when it happened to me

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Did the corroded cable bring your battery light on intermittently?

Also when the cable was disconnected from the battery and a meter put across the cable and earth I only got 5.5volts out of the altenator

+1

You'll be lucky if there is no damage to the fusebox. The cause of the problem is corrosion/bad crimps at the ends of the cable.

...a meter put across the cable and earth I only got 5.5volts out of the altenator...

What was the reading with the battery connected?

I got about 13.5volts but that was when the fault wasn't present

I got all the dash lights on at once followed by running issues, I'm not saying you haven't also got alternator problems just that the lead getting hot is usually always problems with the cable. If I was you id change that first and see if it fixes your problem as the overheating of the the cable is due to bad conductivity.

Sent from my Galaxy S2  not a Crapple!

Iv'e just replaced the cable and fuse box and 110a fuse. Took the car for a short run and checked the crimped lead and all seems OK. Battery light not on but this was intermittent before so time will tell. I did notice however that the alternator case was very hot. Is this normal? as I've never had reason to check this before. Also I found it impossible to attach the cable clip to the alternator body, does this matter?

Thanks

Can anyone tell me if the alternator should be running hot please?

Can anyone tell me if the alternator should be running hot please?

Is the thick cable hot at the alternator end?It will eventually work loose if the clip is not on properly