Replace the charge indicator bulb; at least some VWs (I have no specific
knowledge on Passats, so don't know if it applies there) use it as part of
the control circuit; you WILL NOT get a charge without it present on those
models. I suppose that a burnt-out one would be the same... but a dealer
should be aware of this quirk. It involves pulling the instrument
cluster-f..., uhhh, cluster, and partially disassembling it, on our cars at
least. I have a friend who has encountered this one at least twice (once on
his own car, once on an acquaintance's). Don't know if the high-rev trick
was tried on either of them.
I have my Bentley for earlier cars (1980 - 1984) at hand; it
specifically mentions the importance of the bulb to the system's function on
page 22 of section 6, and has a table to go with it: "Table g. Warning Light
Troubleshooting". Current passing throught the bulb is used to magnetize
the rotor of the alternator every time the car is started.
A similar section should be in the Passat Bentley; if not, I can try to
scan this in, or look at the one for our 16v cars (not in the house right
now) and copy it.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phillip Trickey" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 6:37 AM
Subject: Battery-Electrical Prob 16V Passat
I'm posting this for a friend of my fathers. I will pass along any posted
suggestions.
The problem as described to me:
"Car: 1992 Passat 16V 95K
For 18 months it has had a strange electical problem. The local VW dealer
has had the car for 2 long stretches with no success.
Suppose the car to be started normally. After 15 miles or so, the
electrical system will begin to fail as the battery discharges and
shortly the car will stop. After waiting awhile it can be restarted
if the battery and engine aren't too cold. Clearly the battery has
not been charged (net that is) since starting.
Now suppose that the car be started and IMMEDIATELY the throttle
punched a couple of times, revving hard, to about 4000 or more. Then
the problem described in the preceding paragraph does NOT occur. The
battery charges normally and the car runs normally on the alternator
as long as one likes.
Attempted cures have included 3 different alternators, two from
VW and one non-Bosch equivalent. No change, same problem. The VW dealer
has run a standard set of diagnostics on the electrical system. Also, it
doesn't appear to be a belt problem.
A minor oddity is that the battery charge light never seems to
come on.
What seems to be happening is that something in the charging circuit is
activated after starting ONLY when there is a big enough raw voltage from
the alternator to trip or trigger that something.
The only obvious electrical oddities are the electrical cooling fan runs a
long time after shutting the car down, more than 10 minutes. And only one
electrical window goes up at a time."
TIA,
Phillip T
91GTI8V
88GLI16V
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