Flickering lights - whats the cause????

[plateletboy]

Yes!!  you sound spot on to me.  Everytime i've had flickering lights i've changed the brushes/ regulator - which come as one chunk - and its sorted it out!!

PB

'86 Scirocco GTX

[JOHN@HEATHROW]

D66
Valeo Alternator reg. GSF # 91035 £19.00 + vat, if its like the bosch one it's just two screw jobbie.
The Reg & bushes are,as PB says,normally a single unit,not the really old style of "bushes here & i think i'll dump the reg over here"
J.

"POSITIVE WAVES ARE WHATS NEEDED"

[Drew666]

Yep got and fitted.  But what a bodge.  'cause of the way the new reg is designed a longer lead is required (and yes it was supplied with the reg), but the old bloody lead was soldered onto the terminal.  Is this normal? do people have soldering irons next to thier cars?  So i cut the old wire, joined it to the new one, and hey presto, job done.  As i say, bodge!!

**How many miles can I do before I kill my car?**

[markzwei]

I too have this problem with the Valeo alternator fitted to my 1988 Golf 1.8GL.

Before I replace the old volt reg can you just confirm where the terminal with the soldered lead is located?

Also, is it easier to replace the volt reg by first removing the alternator from the vehicle (to do the soldering stuff) or is this not possible until the soldered lead has been detached?

[markzwei]

I have just been told that the individual brushes can be replaced, rather then the volt reg unit as a whole...is this right?

Also, what would be the more likely cause of the flicker problems, just the brushes or the volt reg unit?

[Drew666]

Yeah, the haynes does say that you can do the brushes only, but it means unsoldering them from the reg assembly, and then solderingthe new ones in.  And the reg may still be knackered anyway.

Ok, this is how i did mine:

1. disconnectg battery

2. disconnect all wires to alt

3. unscrew black plastick thing on back of alt

4. remove back of alt by undoing screws and using a bit of leverage.

5. remove reg assy (it is separate to cover)

6. atach new assy to old wire.  discover it wont fit due to a design change.

7. go oh f**k

8. Cut old and new wires, and join the two together.  

9. replace everything and test.

the old wire is soldered close to the lower connection point on the body of the alt.  i could have done it the proper way if i could have been botered to.  leave the alt in the car.  is gonna be easier.

**How many miles can I do before I kill my car?**

[markzwei]

Cheers Drew

[Drew666]

Hi,

since i got the car just under a year ago, all the lights have been flikering.  they dont seem to do it all the time, and it used not to bother me, but it does now.  any ideas what is causing it, and how to fix it?

Personally i think it could be the brushes (one is bout 5mm long, the other bout 4mm) or the voltage reg on my alt,does any one agree?

How do you replace the brushes - is it a case of chenging the brush block, or are they done individually? Do GSF do the parts?

The car is a golf 2 1.6 CL, with a Valeo 65A alt.

Cheers,

Drew

**How many miles can I do before I kill my car?**