Alternator?

[jaggedsauce]

Hey guys, got another problem with my vts unfortunately :(

Its making a wining noise and the higher the revs the higher pitched the noise...then when im driving it the dials are going mad jumping up and down or just staying on 0 as its going along. The dial lights are flickering really fast as well unless i put it in neutral then it stops.

Any ideas?

Thanks sam

[Ciarannn]

i doubt its the alternator. as you would know if the alternator was on its way as the car will rev itself slightly at idle and when the alternator goes it takes the power steering and heaters with it lol.

could be the belt slipping though, you tried tightening it up ?

[obeone]

Could it not be a partial failure of the alternator ie one diode failing? If you had a spare lying round its only a 10 minute job to change

[devilsadvocate]

To start with I would simply remove the belt, replace it (they are cheap) and retighten
I had a whine on a previous Saxo I had and it was one of the alternator pulleys
I bought a 2nd hand one off Ebay for £10 and replaced the whole alternator

There easy to fit, literally just a few bolts

[Alex16v]

I'm having this exact problem with my GTI, did you manage to find out if it was the alternator?