Problem with alternator in 08 petrol VW Passat

tmh106

08 VW Passat Petrol. Battery warning light came on and eventually I started to lose electrics (e.g. A/C, lights dimmed, etc.). So, I assume alternator either needs to be repaired or replaced. Anyone any idea how big a job that is and what kind of cost it is likely to be.

Also, am I likely to pay considerably more if I go toa VW main dealer as opposed to a local mechanic?

User1998

Do not bring a 16 year old car to the main dealer. If your sure its the alternator you could buy one from a scrapyard for cheap or send the bad one off to be reconditioned. It won’t be that expensive.

FDave

Could be just the battery, bring it to a garage that has a proper battery tester that will check alternator and battery cranking current.

Andrewf20

Alternators are fairly bread and butter. 300-400eu usually once there's reasonably decent access to it. I paid 340 recently on a 09 Cmax. I had the battery warning light also. Battery voltage was also weak on the multimeter. Sometimes they give off an unusual low level whine noise if on the way out.