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Ask Your Question2003 Volkswagen GTI
Question: Electrical problems
Question
I just took my car to the VW dealer for 100K service, where they did the N4 recall on the brake light switch. When I got the car back, the power windows, headlights, and gauges stopped working after about 10 seconds. I made the dealer take the car back to get looked at and they said that the alternator was overcharging, and recommended to replace the alternator and battery to start. The alternator was just replaced 8/2007. The battery passed the dealer battery performance test. I have done some research and it could be a bad voltage regulator or a bad ground. I have inspected the main fuses and they are in good shape. I checked all the other fuses and none are bad. It is strange that this occurred after the dealer installed the N4 recall on the brake light switch.
If the battery was bad, then the car should not be able to start. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
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Answer #1
spyder May 18, 2009, 08:30
JourneymanAn over charging alternator is a problem. However with the ignition "on" only , that is engine off but key on , you would be on battery power. The windows etc should work normally. If not the alternator is not part of your problem(s).
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Al Pacheco, May 18, 2009, 10:15RookieThanks Spyder.
Yes with the key in the ignition, but the engine turned off, the power windows work, the gauges work, but the headlights don't turn on. When I start the car, the power windows and gauges stop working after about 10 seconds. Also, the headlights still don't turn on. The side marker and tail lights do turn on, just no low beam or high beam. Everything was working prior to taking it to the dealer for 100K service and the recall on the brake light switch. Is it possible that they installed a bad brake light switch. The brake likes are working correctly, though.
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spyder, May 18, 2009, 20:08JourneymanThe brake light installation is straight forward. If the brake lights work OK that's it.
If the alternator is overcharging by alot , say >16 volts , various modules would shut down for their own protection.Did they check for fault codes that confirm this?The P0563 fault is voltage HIGH. The 00668 fault is voltage out of range , HIGH OR LOW.The OO532 fault is labeled voltage LOW.
You need to measure the voltage , preferably at the alternator or battery , engine running +/- 2,000 rpm.
If it is low and found in an individual control module, it's most likely a local source (e.g. wiring/connectors).
If it's high and found in multiple control modules at the same time, it's most likely a common source (e.g. Alternator).Flag This -
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Al Pacheco, May 20, 2009, 16:36ReplyRookieI replaced the battery, since I believe it was the original battery. Problem still exists. Got the following fault codes from a OBDII scanner, not a VAG-COM.
16947.P0563 system voltage
00668 vehicle voltage
00532 supply voltage
Also, the airbag light stays on at startup, but dies when the gauges, windows, quit after about 10-20 sec.Flag This
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