vs
Alternator Mitsuboshi or OEM Volkswagen
Reviews
The high rev voltage must be over 14 volts, so if not, then its the alternator. But make sure all connections clean and greased.
Pros: clean connections, greased connections
Cons: low voltage
Eurovan exhibited similar behavior. Start and run fine until.... engine would lose power. Pull over and would die. Restart would be nothing. Sit for an hour or so and could restart and could get the few miles to home. Next day things could be normal or a repeat of slow down and die. This went on for a couple of weeks. The last fail found the battery to be toast even though only a year old. OK, so new battery. All good for the next few days then the gremlins return. New battery is now no good. Determined the alternator had developed enough play that when warm would start to short creating more heat and more of a short allowing it to eat the battery. New alternator and another new battery and all is and has been good.
Pros: solved power loss issue
Cons: alternator shorted when warm
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
At 48K miles I experienced an alternator fail (car was running great at the time).
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
Mileage: 48000 km
check the charging at the battery while the car is running about 2000 or 2200 rpm with multimeter. The alternator should be charging at 14 volts (give or take a little)
Pros: charging at 14 volts
Cons: false readings at idle
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
I just replaced the one from my 1996 Passat Tdi. 326k miles on it. The alternator still works too!
Pros: alternator still works
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Passat
Mileage: 326000 km
Mine has 69K miles. I've owned it for 4 years. Replaced the alternator and MAF sensor after failures. Keyless entry works only sporadically on the driver's door (lock switch already replaced - latch mechanism needs to be replaced, but for $$$).
Cons: alternator, MAF sensor failures
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
Mileage: 111042 km
When I had mine I had to replace the alternator just outside of warranty.
Pros: problem free otherwise
Cons: alternator replacement
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
even a simple job like changing the alternator is difficult due to where they place it. There's not a ton of space to work on the car in the engine bay.
Cons: difficult to change, poor placement
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
What bugs me now is that it seems the alt doesn't quite put out. Dash light (at least the one I put under the dash since the one in-dash quit working) won't go out. Goes from bright to dim when the alt should excite.
Cons: doesn't put out
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
Upon only 3 days of ownership, the alternator went out due to the battery going bad, that took out the internal voltage regulator.
Cons: alternator went out
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Passat B5
Mileage: 144844 km
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
Comparisons
Show all
Voted AGAINST engine oil RAVENOL on the rating page
The brake pads OEM Alfa Romeo got the first review!
The brake caliper OEM BMW got the first review!
The brake pads OEM Infiniti got the first review!
For wiper blades PIAA already 100 reviews.
For battery Energizer already 25 reviews.
In the rating best water pump already 12 brands participate!
In the rating best timing belt already 13 brands participate!
In the rating best head gasket already 3 brands participate!
In the auto rating oil filter for Volkswagen Passat already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating brake pads for Mazda 5 already 10 brands participate!
In the auto rating tires for Subaru Outback already 50 brands participate!
For cabin filter Fram already 25 reviews.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RED LINE on the rating page
Voted AGAINST engine oil PENNZOIL on the rating page