I just went through the same thing. It was the alternator. The message disappears when you restart it, but will come back on again after a minute or two. I went through the connections and grounds before dropping $1k on the alternator - and that was doing it myself. I did scan and it gave an error for the alternator. Also if you have a volt meter check the voltage at the booster lugs when its running. Should read around 14v. I confirmed I was under 12 before the replacement.

 

Great input. I'll go ahead and hook up the van for a scan.

 

Just went through this on my T2, it was also my alternator $360 for a good aftermarket replacement. VW quoted me $900 for the same part.

 

Here is the output. I am not sure if this indicates a battery issue...or alternator issue.

 

Battery looks low. I would charge it with a Ctek or similar charger for a few hours and repeat the test.

 

Yeah, but if the alt was working, should it get that low?

 

On it today!

 

I am throwing it on a 6amp auto charger, that's all I have right now. And will report on my findings. Interesting battery level was right at 50%. Hopefully, that is the warning level, and it really is just the battery. And if it is the battery, hopefully the alternator was not overworked trying to keep it up.

 

Well...its not looking good. The battery did charge on the charger from 50 to 70%. But message was still thrown. I also noticed this on the "generator status 2".

It goes from ok to mechanically not ok every few seconds.

 

You have the answer.

 

What mileage? Mine is also a 2014.

 

78k

 

Well...I am pretty sure its the alternator. Cteck charged the battery from 50 to 90%. Ran and monitored and watched battery charge drop from 90 to 88% in 2 minutes....then message appeared again.

I just purchased: Valeo 439774 Alternator - Porsche, VW | 059903023L 059903023N 059903025C 10250

Any tips on alternator install? (Like, do I have to get under the seat to disconnect negative terminal?) I have done alternators before on non VW vehichles.

 

I just changed my 2014 TDI alt a couple weeks ago. Was not pleasant, but I expected worse. Have to remove airbox, charge hoses, and disconnect battery. To get the airbox out you need to remove the front of the wheel liner. I removed the brackets that hold the lower rad hose to the engine to push it back and work the alt out between the engine and radiator. You need triple square and external torx bits to remove the serpentine belt.

 

Oh wow. I just undid the upper charge hose, and the lower portion of the lower charge hose. Then wrestled it out. It was pretty terrible. Removed the pully and undid what I think is a water pump hose.

Learned aobut the triple square bit. Torx was stripping the pully.

 

I just replaced my alternator about 3 weeks ago. Similar issues. I found an Alternator Rebuilder. Originally quoted me $180, but had to get a special part from VW and raised price to $225. What I got back looks and performs like a brand new alternator for a quarter of the price. All errors resolved.

 

Still waiting on my alternator.

 

Thanks for all the help. I put in the new alternator, no message. All fixed. All in all took me about 8 hours. (I had never even accessed the battery, so I had to learn all that.) Again, replaced with Valeo alternator $650 (the one that was in there was valeo). Hardest part is actually dragging it out from the top after its all unbolted.

 

I believe I'm having some alternator issues in my 14 TDI. What control modules have the generator status values? I've checked "engine" and "central electrical" with nothing like that showing up in advanced measure values.

 

Just put a voltmeter on the battery terminals while the engine is running. You should be getting around 14 volts if the alternator is good. If it’s less than 13 the alternator is toast. Just replaced ours at 220,000 miles. Battery light was on and battery gauge was at 12v. 2010 tdi.

 

On a '14 you can pull the history file and have lots of details about what's happening to flush out a battery and or alternator issue.

 

Oof-dah. Alternator & battery. <facepalm> I suppose 10 years/200k will do that.
Should be good for another 10 years/200k now, right... RIGHT?? <fingers crossed> lol.

 

Oof-dah. Alternator & battery. <facepalm> I suppose 10 years/200k will do that.
Should be good for another 10 years/200k now, right... RIGHT?? <fingers crossed> lol.

I wouldn't even let the battery go for another ten years before changing. Maybe it's my OCD but I'm on a schedule changing mine every six years. I figure the cost of the battery divided by six is cheap $/year and it might help my alternator last longer by not straining it to charge a tired battery. Then again I could be totally wrong with that thinking.

 

We have the tools and technology to know what's going on... if we choose to make use of the info.... no need to guess at anything.