my old golf, finally let me down. just under 5 years and just under 90k miles (in my hands, its on 226k now) this is the first time it didnt get me home or to my intended destintation.
i had the battery light flickering on at high revs on saturday night, the car was out being ragged, after its ragging i did a couple quiet miles to let things cool off, parked and then had a cig
went to leave and on start up the starter turned over slower than usual. and the HIDs flickered (ie not enough voltage to trigger them)
got petrol, it started slower again, only one headlight on now.
headed toward home, dashboard dim, sidelights only (!), took a turn off and headed to my mates house. got to his, rung him to see if he could give me a lift home (it was 3am so chances were slim). waited a while, decided to leave again... not a dickybird from the starter.
one push start later im going again, passed a petrol station 2 miles later with a copper there who was giving me concerned looks. pulled in, poked around with this and that, no joy.
by this time the rev counter and speedo were going haywire and on leaving the petrol station the car was permanently misfiring. had to abandon hope round the corner in a car park!
my brother was still out, so i was rescued by a FRENCH car. popped home, got my other golf and some tools.
old golf battery was back to 12.5v but put the jumpers on it, sat in the mk4 with the engine running and had a cig.
the mk3 fired up again and ran faultless to my mates place where i dumped it.
with the engine running it was showing 11.1v and falling. god knows how long it had run without an alternator but there was no charge and more strangley, no battery light either.
i can get a rebuild starter for about £60-£70 or a brand new bosch for £130ish.
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i had the battery light flickering on at high revs on saturday night, the car was out being ragged, after its ragging i did a couple quiet miles to let things cool off, parked and then had a cig
went to leave and on start up the starter turned over slower than usual. and the HIDs flickered (ie not enough voltage to trigger them)
got petrol, it started slower again, only one headlight on now.
headed toward home, dashboard dim, sidelights only (!), took a turn off and headed to my mates house. got to his, rung him to see if he could give me a lift home (it was 3am so chances were slim). waited a while, decided to leave again... not a dickybird from the starter.
one push start later im going again, passed a petrol station 2 miles later with a copper there who was giving me concerned looks. pulled in, poked around with this and that, no joy.
by this time the rev counter and speedo were going haywire and on leaving the petrol station the car was permanently misfiring. had to abandon hope round the corner in a car park!
my brother was still out, so i was rescued by a FRENCH car. popped home, got my other golf and some tools.
old golf battery was back to 12.5v but put the jumpers on it, sat in the mk4 with the engine running and had a cig.
the mk3 fired up again and ran faultless to my mates place where i dumped it.
with the engine running it was showing 11.1v and falling. god knows how long it had run without an alternator but there was no charge and more strangley, no battery light either.
i can get a rebuild starter for about £60-£70 or a brand new bosch for £130ish.
decissions decissions
