# 2003 VW Battery or Alternator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** selling, beetle, batteries, volkswagen, alternators\ **Created:** [October 17, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-battery-or-alternator/38243 "2009-10-17T20:01:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![classicbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@classicbob](https://community.cartalk.com/u/classicbob)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-battery-or-alternator/38243/1 "2009-10-17T20:01:02Z")
My daughter has a 2003 VW Bug. Been Diagonist as probable bad alternator and not the battery? Auto Zone would not sell us a batter after their “Diagonistic” geezzeemo told them it was not the batter? We charge it up but in a few days it needs charge again. What is a good price for changing out the alternator for the average Dad. What would a machanic charge? Just trying to help my daughter save a little $$ thx…Classicbob ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-battery-or-alternator/38243/2 "2009-10-17T20:51:34Z")
Prices can vary by locale, call a few shops and ask the price, then price the part and see a manual at the library to decide if it is a job you want to tackle. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-battery-or-alternator/38243/3 "2009-10-17T21:04:39Z")
You may want to have a shop do a load check on the charging system. The trouble could be with the alternator but there could be something else wrong also, like the wiring.