The fault that was given on both my vag-com check and Matt-59's was as follows:
17911 - Load Signal from Alternator Term. DF: Implausible Signal
P1503 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
This is also often accompanied by a host of other low voltage faults on most systems.
The symtoms of the fault that I experienced were:
-The Pas steering would remain heavy once the car was started for a breif moment until the engine was revved up.
-On a trip down the motorway at night with all the consumers on, I lost the power to the cd player, followed by all the error lights coming on the dash, then loss of Pas, then the headlights etc all went out. Once revved up past 3thousand rpm the alternator began to charge again, I turned the engine off then on and then continued on as useal with no further problems.
-On a trip home from work one evening I lost power steering when entering my street, I turned the engine off then the car would not start again as the battery was flat.
Using the infomation provided by RUM4MO I tracked the problem down to the yellow signal wire under the car. There is a connector with 2 wires going into it, its infront of the gearbox and basically directly below the battery in the engine bay. On inspection both wires into the connector had snapped.
On my car the wiring had already been repaired once in the past which is why you see a blue wire instead of a yellow wire. The plug had snapped off flush with the wiring which leaves you with a bit of a problem regarding repair.
I was dead set on reusing the old plug as my car doesnt have an undertray and the plug is in a very vunrable place for water ingress so its pretty essential for the reliability of the repair that the plug is water tight. On the contrary you could just use spade terminals, but the reliability of the repair is compromised.
Using some old connectors we had lying around our workshop I salvaged a pair of terminals out of them. I had to remove the old terminals from inside the vw plug by carefully removing the locking slide out of the plug, then pushing them out using a pick or a small screw driver. I pushed the new terminals into the vw plug and reassembled the locking clip into the connector. I was then left with my new plug!! I think that you can buy these terminals from maplins new or definately online.
I then stripped the wiring on the car and using crimp heat and seal connectors I attacted my new plug onto the engine loom. I used these connectors again to prevent water ingress into the connection and hopefully meaning this should be a reliable repair. Alternatively you can just sold these connections and insulate with black tape but seeing as I had the pro way of doing it I did so.
I then taped up the wiring and slid it all back inside its protective sheafing. I dont know whether the sheafing was fitted as standard but its worth getting some if yours is missing. All done and plugged back in!
Not the greatest pictures in the world I know but its better than poking around without a clue. Best thing about my repair. I cost me nothing but a bit of time
I hope this of use to some guys on here, If not I enjoyed writing it lol. Feel free to ask any questions as I may have left bits out or made things not prefect to understand. Obviously if you dont know what your doing, I'd advise you get someone who does to take care of it for you.
), in order to access this wire / connector, do you need to get under the car or can you do it by just removing the battery? One issue I've noticed at night with the headlights on is that when idling and the door is open (eg. when dropping someone off), if I turn the steering wheel, the headlights and interiror light dim slightly. Not checked if it does it when I rev it though. It may well be a related problem...