FCP also does lifetime warranty on anything.
MK7 VW GTI Alternator Reman or New?
- Thread starter Jackphom
- Start date
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
Its new or they would say so. FCP is also claiming this is the OE manufacturer for VW. But, the one supplied to VW is probably made in Germany or somewhere in Europe. I would get this since it should be of good quality and backed by FCP Euro's lifetime warranty. Lack of core charge saves you on the return shipping too, which is an additional plus.
The Valeo is worth considering, what is the warranty?
twouvakind
Site Donor 2025
Was your original battery an EFB? Three AGM's later.
Was the car coded when new a new battery was installed?
Audi video but VW is the same regarding coding.
Audi video but VW is the same regarding coding.
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Btw, Mk7 GTIs came with either 140 A or 180 A alternators depending on equipment
(eg heated windshield) from factory, Euro spec at least. Apart from this I think 140 A
should be more than adequate even with heated seats, lighting, AC and electric power
steering. I never noticed any issues. Last not least still factory battery after 7 1/2 years.
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Btw, Mk7 GTIs came with either 140 A or 180 A alternators depending on equipment
(eg heated windshield) from factory, Euro spec at least. Apart from this I think 140 A
should be more than adequate even with heated seats, lighting, AC and electric power
steering. I never noticed any issues. Last not least still factory battery after 7 1/2 years.
.
I would be looking for bad grounds, time to get the voltmeter outand measure voltage drops when consuming a lot of electric.
Get it tested by a local rebuilder who knows what they are doing. I would not trust the local auto chain load checkers. The guy who did the testing probably does not shave yet
I've replaced the ground wire on the Trans to Body with another OEM ground wire, that one was corroded.
Battery terminal ground is clean. There is only two grounds, the positive hot wire that runs to the back of the alternator was a little corroded and I hit that with some Deloxit over the summer. That seemed to have a positive impact, I do not see any other corrosion.
I have a voltage meter on my Cobb Accessport, so I can read the battery voltage in real time. Usually after sitting overnight, the battery will be charging around 14.7V.
But running the Blower, the voltage drops to around 12.17. More like a blip than anything, and recovers but steering gets hard and blower motor speed changes (gets slow). But everything goes back to normal after the surge.
Battery is a new AGM that was manufactured 12/24, Walmart Everlast AGM
Yup, you're correct. It's a NAR GTI, has the Bosch 140A Alternator. This issue just started recently, it has gone through more batteries than any car I've owned.
Going on 5 years now and this is it's 4th battery. I think the heat is the killer, this car spends a lot of time in 90 degree heat moving through heavy city traffic. Wouldn't be surprised if this is the cause of the Alternator failing, as I read they are pretty stout.
Car does not have auto start/stop. However, I still code the battery with OBD11
Yes, the OEM VW battery failed around 47k miles.
I upgraded it to a Group 48 H6 battery the first time around and since then. Never had any real issues, just really random when the first one failed. The car just decided to not start one day.
The other times, the blower motor would only run on speed 3 and the power steering would stop working until I turned the car off and on again. This usually happened in severe heat and when driving around in low speeds.
Lifetime, I have spent so much money with FCP. I have enough store credit to get a few of those Valeos.
My only hesitation is, leaving me stranded without my tools on a roadtrip.
I prefer to use OEM parts when possible, been rock solid since I bought it CPO 5 years ago.
Voltage only tells half the story. Test your electrical system (including the battery) with an AVR machine in order to see the whole picture.
Battery aside (which is less than 2 weeks old), I really have a feeling that the alternator is failing.
But what other causes could there be? I can leave the car for days without driving it and holds a charge fine, so there is no parasitic drain. I've checked the grounds, the positive hot wire looks good as well.
I live in a small city, so lots of short trips. I'm talking less than 10 minutes, about maybe a couple miles driven throughout the week.
It's a 3 mile peninsula, so never really see highway times that often.
A rebuilding shop will use an oscilloscope to check the output.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
Valeo products are generally solid, they are OEM to many european manufacturers. Do you know where the Valeo is manufactured?
It's off rockauto not fcp as I had remembered. Doesn't show where the origin it is from but I'm seeing on other sites that it's made in Poland
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2025
According to FCP the SEG is the OE supplier to VW for this specific alternator...but I suspect the one supplied to VW is made in Europe, not Mexico. But should be nearly identical...
Pictures at ECSTuning of the new alternators sold by VW show Mexico.
