got mk mk1 golf back on the road at last but got probs

i have a mk1 golf gti and haveing probs with the battery chargeing its had a new allternater new battery it starts for the first five or six times an then it like the battery totaly dead any help would bo realy good thx billy

does the battery light on the dash go out when you give it throttle?

Yeah, that's the first thing. Also, does the light come on when the ignition is on but the engine hasn't started? Sounds like you've missed out connecting something.

PS why did it need a new battery and new alternator?

just started with them to see it would sort it dont think the battery light as ever work to be honerst what would tht be thx

Check all the terminals and especially the earth castle connector attched to the body by the fuse box and clean all contacts, my last mk1 had bad earthing and a lot of issues were related to the earth connections (like the battery light staying on after the ignition was off etc) and multi x- relay No 53 being burnt out and also check the power cable to the starter is tight. I'm sure it'll be something simple.

Blown dash bulb? Worth a check, otherwise its some other kind of wiring issue with the alternator warning lamp, eg an earth.

There is a blue wire with a spade connector on it near the battery tray that comes from the alternator,I would check and clean that one as that is the battery light wire,as previously mentioned I would chech and clean the battery earth cable which attaches to the body as well as the gearbox,keep us posted mate we can get it sorted

right today cleaned all  the earth connections got it running put  the tester on battery it reads 11.50 what should i be getting.still no battery light so i put the blue wire to earth on the battery on the light on the clocks work any idear what it could be thx

When running with the alternator working the battery voltage should be close to 14.4 volts?? the blue wire shouldnt go to an earth it should be connected to a white connector with another blue wire by the battery that goes into the car I'm sure it goes to the back of the clocks to earth out the alternator without this attached the battery will not be charging. not sure why it would be disconnected in the first place, (also if the light comes on for the battery when the ignition is on and the engine is not running and goes out when started it has an ok circuit and is a probable dodgy alternator- Was it new?) if all else fails try another alternator??

alternater is brand new the blue wire is connected to wear its sopose to be only putt it to earth to see if the lights on the clock work it does when its connected wear its sopose to be have no light at all thx billy

budge said

alternater is brand new the blue wire is connected to wear its sopose to be only putt it to earth to see if the lights on the clock work it does when its connected wear its sopose to be have no light at all thx billy

just cos its  new doesnt mean it isnt faulty, if you are only getting 11.5 I would look at alternator, has the NEW battery ever been fully discharged ie under 7 volts?

no its not mate the old allternater read 11.5 put the new one on thats the same but still have no battery light on dash thx

You should have a thick red wire going to the battery which is connected to the alternater as well as going into the main loom,don't suppose that wire is faulty ?I don't understand if you have earthed out the blue wire from the alternater spade and the light comes on then as previously suggested sounds like a faulty alternator to me.

if the light doesnt come on with the ignition, there is a problem with the blue wire. you have tested the blue wire back to the clocks by earthign it, so the issue is between the plug and the alternator, or the alternator itself. you have put the blue wire to the D+ terminal right? it may be the blue wire has snapped somewhere in the alternator loom, run a fresh wire from the plug next to battery + direct to the alternator D+ and see if that gets the light going. if not, duff alternator

update found out the blue wire is old crack so bad connection used a piece of wire battery now chargeing at 12.5 so is that enough to charge battery its sopose to 14.5 i think

yeah thats not enough, check at the alternator stud if its more there then you know its a poor connection between battery and alternator or the battery earth to engien/box is poor

thank for all the help guys got a new loom made up for the alternater while i was theare
i got him to check the new allternater out turn out it had been droped and smashed the bushes
so he put new ones in tested it works thank god for that best £20 i have spent lol

Glad its all sorted mate,got to help keep these MK1's on the road if we can