andy mcd said:

when you remove the two wires ther should be 14.v volts from the out put of the battery.
Its a NA engine does it not have a plug ? i have had the internals of plugs corrode and melt away, could be worth checking this. some of the later models like the 300tdi use the battery warning light circuit to excite the alternator to get it to produce electricity pretty sure the NA doesnt.

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Are you referring to the spade connector plug ? If so I have replaced this with a new one.

I'm thinking it might be the wiring damaged somewhere as its 25 years old and although heat insulated it runs around very close to the engine block.

yeah the plug/spade connector plug. If your in any doubt about the alternator output you local motor factors wil check it for you for about a £5.

If you have shorts on the wiring is the battery going flat ? if the wires were shorting to earth there would be a massive drain on the battery, Might be worth check the drain on the battery with a multimeter. That way you will know if you have a short you wil be able to avoid a potential fire