Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 8 Jul 2023 17:45
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - Brian Worthington

The red battery warning light stays on and the steering is very stiff. Is this the alternator or could it be something else instead or as well anyone?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Jul 2023 17:51
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - elekie&a/c doctor
Think I’d check the drive belt first .
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Jul 2023 23:17
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - Brian Worthington

Sounds good. Looking it up, it says it drives the alternator and the power steering.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Jul 2023 07:38
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - Ian D
Shine a torch down at the belt and check it is going round and looks in decent condition. If ok get a voltmeter and read the voltage across the battery terminals. With the engine off it should read 12 to 12.7 volts (hopefully the higher value which means battery is ok), with engine running and alternator working it should be 13.5 to 14.8 volts approx…

Edited by Ian D on 09/07/2023 at 07:41

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Jul 2023 08:58
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - Brian Worthington

Auxiliary drive belt is no longer there - what are the most likely reasons for it to have broken or fallen off? I remember it happened just after a big acceleration to join a motorway

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Jul 2023 09:15
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - elekie&a/c doctor
Belt has either given up through age , or has delaminated from oil contamination. I would also check the belt tensioner to make sure it’s working correctly. This car may be fitted with an overrun pulley on the alternator, if this has failed, it can cause the belt to judder and jump . After a big acceleration, is that possible on an SD I ?

Edited by elekie&a/c doctor on 09/07/2023 at 09:20

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 9 Jul 2023 09:44
Golf 1.9 SDI Mk 4 2003 - Red battery warnig light on and steering very stif - Brian Worthington

Lol! Relatively big I suppose. My size 12 foot took it from freewheeling on the slip road straight to foot flat on the floor when at 45-50 mph

Edited by Brian Worthington on 09/07/2023 at 09:45

Reply | Report as offensive | Link