MK4/5 Alternator warning light, oddness (Newbie)

[DTWD]

Afternoon,

I am new to the forum so first hello and I hope you can be of help.

Secondly a little about myself/car history: I started off with a clio, and then a MG ZS 180 (for the thrills), then I had a Golf 1.8T GTI, but I decided I needed to save money so I got a polo for reduced costs and the fact I am mainly only doing the work run.

So anyway onto the problem.

I was driving back from a shopping trip, with the missus, when all of a sudden I noticed the battery (alternator warning) light come on on the dash. I wasn't sure how long it had been on as I was dodging the boxing day sales traffic. Anyway it was lit up but everything seemed to be fine, I took the risk and continued driving home. I got home restarted the engine to see if it would clear but it didn't. The following day it was still the same, so I checked the belt and from initial inspection it looks ok. I spoke VW who will want to charge me upwards of £90 to just look for the problem and then charge me to fix it plus replacement parts. So I thought I would do it myself (myself and my brother have always tinkered with cars and know a fair bit).

I spoke to the spares garage I get my parts from and it was £13.03 for a ribbed belt, but £140 to just recondition my current alternator. So when I stood back up I thought I would ask advice on here.

A breakdown:

- Alternator warning light came on during journey

- Car ran fine, although lights seemed dimmed, and wipers slow (as if running off battery).

- The belt is spinning perfectly fine, although due to the weather I haven't had it up on the axle stands to have a proper look.

- The car starts first time everytime and it had a new battery when I purchased it.

- It's done 68k miles and has just been serviced (although there is no record of a cam belt change, but thats another story)

The light is now perminatly lit (when the engine is on) and everything appears fine. I don't want to test the electics again so I don't drain the battery.

Any advice, and should a recon of my own alternator cost me £140?!?!

Regards
Paul

[DTWD]

Oh and sorry for the long winded post, it's just a bad time for it to happen with garages shut/shutting over the long weekend and with the weather and the fact I currently have a week left off work (perfect car fixing time).

So sorry, but I hope you can help.

Regards
Paul

[DTWD]

Actually, thinking about it, the car might be a mk5. It's a W reg, what does that make it?

It's a 1.4 16v DOHC engine btw.

Regards
Paul

[Rubber12]

i would say its a mk5

[DTWD]

Cheers. I did a bit of research and figured it out anyway. It's the alternator problem thats doing my nut though.

Regards
Paul