My battery has stopped charging while driving (but charges fine via CTEK mains charger) I saw a local VW specialist who has diagnosed alternator failure in my 2013 Fabia Mk 2 1.2 tsi. He wants to put in a new unit rather than look at regulator or change brushes which he says will be time consuming; I can see what he means because the alternator is really awkward to get to, under the air con, so replacing it all does make some sense.

 

I'm sourcing the alternator myself to save money. I've managed to peel off the detail sticker of the current unit - 14V Valeo 110A 03f903023e

I noticed when I search online by car reg / spec, I also get options for alternators with a 140A output.

Does this mean a 140A would be compatible, and offer some benefit?

Should I pay extra for a Bosch?

Reading around, I think I'm satisfied with getting a refurbished one from a reputable supplier (rather than a new one).

I wonder if anyone has supplier recommendations, maybe an opinion about the alternator spec?

 

Thanks in advance 😊

You would need to look up the Valeo data to see if both these ones were physically identical. I replaced a failed Bosch in a late 2009 Ibiza, but I chose the slightly wrong one - it had a very slightly bigger diameter pulley, the price difference between that one and the identical one with a slightly smaller pulley was shocking via ECP, but it did the job for the next 6+ years.

Edited 4 October, 20196 yr by rum4mo

First things first; does the battery light come on when you turn the ignition key to the position where all the other fault lights self-test?

 

If by search online you mean ECP's look-up by registration; all that means is that some variant of a mk2 Fabia with some engine or other uses a 140A alt. It's that vague.

Yes, the battery fault light is on with ignition key one ( turn engine off). It generally remains on while driving. 

Good to know about Europarts reg look up, I will be wary.

I've now found a company called West Lancs Auto Electrics who specialise in alternators so have passed current model number on to them and waiting for their response. 

 

13 hours ago, rum4mo said:

You would need to look up the Valeo data to see if both these ones were physically identical. I replaced a failed Bosch in a late 2009 Ibiza, but I chose the slightly wrong one - it had a very slightly bigger diameter pulley, the price difference between that one and the identical one with a slightly smaller pulley was shocking via ECP, but it did the job for the next 6+ years.

Good to know, thanks rum4mo.  Well it's a Valeo coming out, so if I match it with the same, at least I can be sure of giving mechanic a correct fit and hopefully save myself some £.

Was slightly surprised at it failing as car 6 years old, bought from Skoda dealer, 45,000 miles on clock, but I'm a new car owner so I've discovered it's a life of surprises...

Have now found an alternator specialist West Lancs Auto Electrics who are looking into it.

I too was less than impressed when the charge warning light popped on on that late 2009 Ibiza back in 2013/14.  Initially and probably unfairly, I that that as it was a "Made in Spain" Bosch alternator, I thought that a "Made in Germany" one would not have failed - then I checked where the voltage regulator was made "Made in UK" so that kind of blew my logic out if the water as I'd guess that it was the regulator that had failed!

I would just replace the voltage regulator, a LOT cheaper....alternators as a "whole" dont fail often, usually just brushes and / OR regulator, most modern ones its all one part.

 

 

14 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

I would just replace the voltage regulator, a LOT cheaper....alternators as a "whole" dont fail often, usually just brushes and / OR regulator, most modern ones its all one part.

 

 

I agree . Two months back I had the same issue like you on my 10' 1.2 TSI. 
Skoda garage uninstalled the alternator, send it out to a local electrician to repair it and few hours later it was back for the Skoda garage to reinstall it. 

The garage that you have selected I would imagine can do the same. This way you can save money / don't through away repairable parts. 

In my case there was no rush to get the car back into use, but I could not source that p/n of regulator back in 2013.

 

Years ago, when I ran Fords, where I worked was only about 150 yards from the local Lucas repair place, so it was a case of hand it in on the way to work and collect it after work!

 

Even the localish starter/alternator repair place closed down, as usual demand has dropped and all that sort of work gets done remotely and only warrantied repair units supplied, that was why I opted for a Bosch rebuilt unit from ECP at a very good price as it was really meant for a slightly older VW engine. Also as this happened quite early in the life of VW Group using that model of alternator, so what I was supplied with was a brand new alternator which now doubt Bosch were dumping into the "pot" until returns started to appear for refurbishing, the next thing was, as that car was at that time a 3rd car, I handed in the old unit when collecting the refurbished one and so no surcharge was made.

 

Back in my "Lucas" days, I'd replaced the odd diode plate, surge protection diodes, regulator and brushes.

Thanks everyone for sharing advice and experiences. I decided to order the exact same make and model, the valeo 110A.

 

Ideally I would done as UrbanPanzer and exantas suggested - examined the existing and replaced failed parts - but I'm in a tricky situation with my MOT being overdue and it wasn't something mechanic was keen to do, ho hum.

 

Anyway, I got a new one for £220 - down shot is it's taking 5 days to arrive form mainland europe.

Oh well- hopefully this will mean the end of my alternator woes! 🤞