Common Volkswagen Issue: Alternator Not Charging Battery

Make: Volkswagen | Model example: 2017 Jetta | Avg Mileage: 123466 | Job Number: 401378

Repair Issue:

Battery not being charged by alternator.

Cause:

Alternator — Faulty Alternator/Internal Voltage Regulator – Alternator Wiring – Battery Auxiliary Fuse Box

Customer Concern:

The battery is not being charged.

Test/Procedure:

1. Check for voltage at the alternator connector at the D+ terminal, with the harness unplugged from the alternator and the ignition in the on position (Blue wire), using a Digital Volt Ohmmeter (DVOM). Battery Positive Voltage (B+) should be present.
2. Check for battery voltage on the B+ wire.
3. Check for alternator case ground.
4. Check for a voltage drop between the alternator and the battery by placing the red lead of your meter on the alternator B+ terminal and the black lead on the battery B+ terminal. Should have approximately 0 V voltage drop.
5. Test the battery for load capacity.
6. Put a test light between the B+ post at the battery and the D+ connection at the back of the alternator (put test light in place of the D+ wire):
   A. When connected, test light should be on. The test light is taking the place of our battery light in the dash and this simulates the bulb check.
   B. Start the vehicle. When the internal revolutions of the alternator reach approximately 600 RPM, the magnetic field generated should be great enough to interrupt the ground path. The test light must go out. If the test light stays on or is flickering, there is an internal issue inside of the alternator.
7. If voltage is available to the D+ terminal, good ground is available, no voltage drop across the power circuit and the alternator will not charge, a faulty alternator is indicated.

Tech Tip:

On later model vehicles, the D+ wire was replaced with the L wire. For all intents and purposes, D+ and L are interchangeable.

Important Take-A-Way:

Confirmed Fix Summary highlights that the most popular fix for this issue is to replace/repair alternator and inspect wiring across most common models.

Most Popular Fix:

Replaced/Repaired Alternator – Repaired/Replaced/Swapped Alternator Wiring – Replaced/Repaired/Tightened Battery Auxiliary Fuse Box

Other Common Car Problems:

View more common car problems from the most popular manufactures including Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota, and more. Read more

Also applies to the following Makes and Models

1989 100 2.3, 1990 100 2.3, 2012 A3 2.0, 2012 A3 Quattro 2.0, 2005 A4 1.8, 2006 A4 2.0, 2007 A4 2.0, 2008 A4 2.0, 2009 A4 2.0, 2010 A4 2.0, 2011 A4 2.0, 2012 A4 2.0, 2013 A4 2.0, 2014 A4 2.0, 2004 A4 3.0, 1998 A4 Quattro 1.8, 1999 A4 Quattro 1.8, 2000 A4 Quattro 1.8, 2001 A4 Quattro 1.8, 2002 A4 Quattro 1.8, 2003 A4 Quattro 1.8, 2006 A4 Quattro 2.0, 2007 A4 Quattro 2.0, 2008 A4 Quattro 2.0, 2009 A4 Quattro 2.0, 2010 A4 Quattro 2.0, 1996 A4 Quattro 2.8, 1997 A4 Quattro 2.8, 1998 A4 Quattro 2.8, 1999 A4 Quattro 2.8, 2000 A4 Quattro 2.8, 2003 A4 Quattro 3.0, 2005 A4 Quattro 3.2, 2010 A5 Quattro 2.0, 1999 A6 2.8, 2000 A6 Quattro 2.7, 2001 A6 Quattro 2.7, 2002 A6 Quattro 2.7, 2003 A6 Quattro 2.7, 2004 A6 Quattro 2.7, 1996 A6 Quattro 2.8, 1997 A6 Quattro 2.8, 1998 A6 Quattro 2.8, 1999 A6 Quattro 2.8, 2000 A6 Quattro 2.8, 2001 A6 Quattro 2.8, 2002 A6 Quattro 3.0, 2000 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2001 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2002 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2003 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2004 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2005 A6 Quattro 4.2, 2009 A8 Quattro 4.2, 2012 Q5 2.0, 2007 Q7 4.2, 2003 RS6 4.2, 2001 S4 2.7, 2004 S4 4.2, 2005 S4 4.2, 2010 S5 3.0, 2000 TT 1.8, 2000 TT Quattro 1.8, 2001 TT Quattro 1.8, 2002 TT Quattro 1.8, 2003 TT Quattro 1.8, 2004 TT Quattro 1.8, 2009 TT Quattro 2.0, 2004 TT Quattro 3.2, 2005 TT Quattro 3.2, 2006 TT Quattro 3.2, 2009 TTS Quattro 2.0, 1990 V8 Quattro 3.6, 2001 Beetle 1.8, 2002 Beetle 1.8, 2003 Beetle 1.8, 2000 Beetle 1.9, 2001 Beetle 1.9, 2002 Beetle 1.9, 2003 Beetle 1.9, 2004 Beetle 1.9, 2005 Beetle 1.9, 2006 Beetle 1.9, 1999 Beetle 2.0, 2000 Beetle 2.0, 2001 Beetle 2.0, 2002 Beetle 2.0, 2003 Beetle 2.0, 2004 Beetle 2.0, 2005 Beetle 2.0, 2006 Beetle 2.0, 2007 Beetle 2.0, 2008 Beetle 2.0, 2009 Beetle 2.0, 2010 Beetle 2.0, 2011 Beetle 2.0, 2012 Beetle 2.0, 2013 Beetle 2.0, 2014 Beetle 2.0, 2015 Beetle 2.0, 2016 Beetle 2.0, 2017 Beetle 2.0, 2018 Beetle 2.0, 2006 Beetle 2.5, 2007 Beetle 2.5, 2008 Beetle 2.5, 2009 Beetle 2.5, 2010 Beetle 2.5, 2011 Beetle 2.5, 2012 Beetle 2.5, 2013 Beetle 2.5, 2002 Cabrio 2.0, 1985 Cabriolet 1.8, 1986 Cabriolet 1.8, 1987 Cabriolet 1.8, 1988 Cabriolet 1.8, 1989 Cabriolet 1.8, 1990 Cabriolet 1.8, 1991 Cabriolet 1.8, 1992 Cabriolet 1.8, 1993 Cabriolet 1.8, 2011 CC 2.0, 2012 CC 2.0, 1995 Eurovan 2.5, 1997 EuroVan 2.8, 1998 EuroVan 2.8, 1999 EuroVan 2.8, 2000 EuroVan 2.8, 2001 EuroVan 2.8, 2002 EuroVan 2.8, 2003 EuroVan 2.8, 1988 Fox 1.8, 2003 Golf 1.8, 2004 Golf 1.8, 2005 Golf 1.8, 2000 Golf 1.9, 2001 Golf 1.9, 2002 Golf 1.9, 2000 Golf 2.0, 2001 Golf 2.0, 2002 Golf 2.0, 2003 Golf 2.0, 2004 Golf 2.0, 2005 Golf 2.0, 2006 Golf 2.0, 2007 Golf 2.0, 2008 Golf 2.0, 2009 Golf 2.0, 2010 Golf 2.0, 2011 Golf 2.0, 2012 Golf 2.0, 2013 Golf 2.0, 1995 Golf 2.8, 1996 Golf 2.8, 1997 Golf 2.8, 1998 Golf 2.8, 1999 Golf 2.8, 2000 Golf 2.8, 2001 Golf 2.8, 2002 Golf 2.8, 2003 Golf 2.8, 2018 Jetta 1.4, 1986 Jetta 1.6, 1987 Jetta 1.8, 1988 Jetta 1.8, 1989 Jetta 1.8, 1990 Jetta 1.8, 1991 Jetta 1.8, 1992 Jetta 1.8, 1993 Jetta 1.8, 1994 Jetta 1.8, 1995 Jetta 1.8, 1996 Jetta 1.8, 1997 Jetta 1.8, 1998 Jetta 1.8, 1999 Jetta 1.8, 2000 Jetta 1.8, 2001 Jetta 1.8, 2002 Jetta 1.8, 2003 Jetta 1.8, 2004 Jetta 1.8, 1997 Jetta 1.9, 1998 Jetta 1.9, 1999 Jetta 1.9, 2000 Jetta 1.9, 2001 Jetta 1.9, 2002 Jetta 1.9, 2003 Jetta 1.9, 2004 Jetta 1.9, 2005 Jetta 1.9, 2006 Jetta 1.9, 1999 Jetta 2.0, 2000 Jetta 2.0, 2001 Jetta 2.0, 2002 Jetta 2.0, 2003 Jetta 2.0, 2004 Jetta 2.0, 2005 Jetta 2.0, 2006 Jetta 2.0, 2007 Jetta 2.0, 2008 Jetta 2.0, 2009 Jetta 2.0, 2010 Jetta 2.0, 2011 Jetta 2.0, 2012 Jetta 2.0, 2013 Jetta 2.0, 2014 Jetta 2.0, 2015 Jetta 2.0, 2005 Jetta 2.5, 2006 Jetta 2.5, 2007 Jetta 2.5, 2008 Jetta 2.5, 2009 Jetta 2.5, 2010 Jetta 2.5, 2011 Jetta 2.5, 2012 Jetta 2.5, 2013 Jetta 2.5, 1996 Jetta 2.8, 1997 Jetta 2.8, 1998 Jetta 2.8, 1999 Jetta 2.8, 2000 Jetta 2.8, 2001 Jetta 2.8, 2002 Jetta 2.8, 2003 Jetta 2.8, 1998 Passat 1.8, 1999 Passat 1.8, 2000 Passat 1.8, 2001 Passat 1.8, 2002 Passat 1.8, 2003 Passat 1.8, 2004 Passat 1.8, 2005 Passat 1.8, 2006 Passat 1.8, 2007 Passat 1.8, 2008 Passat 1.8, 2009 Passat 1.8, 2010 Passat 1.8, 2011 Passat 1.8, 2012 Passat 1.8, 2013 Passat 1.8, 2014 Passat 1.8, 2015 Passat 1.8, 2016 Passat 1.8, 2017 Passat 1.8, 2004 Passat 2.0, 2005 Passat 2.0, 2006 Passat 2.0, 2007 Passat 2.0, 2008 Passat 2.0, 2009 Passat 2.0, 2010 Passat 2.0, 2011 Passat 2.0, 2012 Passat 2.0, 2013 Passat 2.0, 2014 Passat 2.0, 2015 Passat 2.0, 2012 Passat 2.5, 2013 Passat 2.5, 2014 Passat 2.5, 1995 Passat 2.8, 1996 Passat 2.8, 1997 Passat 2.8, 1998 Passat 2.8, 1999 Passat 2.8, 2000 Passat 2.8, 2001 Passat 2.8, 2002 Passat 2.8, 2003 Passat 2.8, 2004 Passat 2.8, 2007 Passat 3.6, 2008 Passat 3.6, 2009 Passat 3.6, 2010 Passat 3.6, 2011 Passat 3.6, 2012 Passat 3.6, 2003 Passat 4.0, 2004 R32 3.2, 2005 R32 3.2, 2006 R32 3.2, 2007 R32 3.2, 2008 R32 3.2, 1981 Rabbit 1.6, 2007 Rabbit 2.5, 2008 Rabbit 2.5, 2009 Rabbit 2.5, 1981 Rabbit Convertible 1.7, 2009 Tiguan 2.0, 2010 Tiguan 2.0, 2011 Tiguan 2.0, 2012 Tiguan 2.0, 2013 Tiguan 2.0, 2014 Tiguan 2.0, 2015 Tiguan 2.0, 2016 Tiguan 2.0, 2017 Tiguan 2.0, 2018 Tiguan 2.0, 2004 Touareg 3.2, 2004 Touareg 4.2, 2005 Touareg 4.2, 1981 Vanagon 2.0

Author: William Krug

Bill started his automotive career at an early age. He attended the small engine class and also spent 2 years in the high school automotive shop learning the basics of automotive repair. He also worked for an independent Goodyear dealer during this time. After graduation, Bill spent 2 years in Chicago completing the Automotive and Ford Fact programs with Universal Technical Institute. After graduation, he then went on to the Audi Academy where he received factory specific training. Bill spent 4 years in North Carolina working as a technician at an Audi dealership;. It was here that he achieved Expert status as a Audi technician while facing the many challenges of automotive diagnosis that today’s cars provide. Bill is currently an Audi/VW specialist with the European Carline.

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