OEM Volkswagen Passat Alternators

When you turn the ignition key or press the "Start" button in your VW Passat sedan, your battery and spark plugs work together to create the electricity that feeds combustion. However, it's the alternator that actually generates most of the electricity your systems and accessories use.

How Your Alternator Works

A crankshaft takes the vertical motion of the pistons and converts it into rotary motion. That moves a belt that's attached to a pulley on your car's rotor shaft. Coils inside the shaft create a magnetic field when agitated by that movement. The field is captured as AC power by a rectifier, and then transformed into the DC power that powers your battery, entertainment system, power windows, headlights, and more.

Unfortunately, even the highest quality alternator can begin to go bad over time. When that happens, more demand is put on your vehicle's battery. Once that runs out of juice, systems will stop working – and you may wind up stranded on the side of the road.

How to Spot Alternator Issues

Signs of potential trouble include:

Buy Volkswagen Passat Alternators at Affordable Prices

If you're having any of these symptoms, check your battery voltage with the engine turned off. If it reads below 12.5 volts, give it a good charging and test it again. If it still reads low, your alternator is likely failing. Replace it with one made by your manufacturer and you enjoy a guaranteed compatibility and a manufacturer's 12-month warranty when you enter your VIN. Find yours right here in our online Volkswagen parts catalog, in stock and priced up to 30% below the MSRP your local dealer charges. Buy now and save!