Date:         Mon, 23 Jan 2006 22:02:34 -0500
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: FIXED? (and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage,
              starter running intermittently, but alternator is okay?)

wes:

it would be reasonable to check for a voltage drop across the crimp on the
connector at the alternator output, and also between the battery posts and
cable clamps. check also for star washers and tight, clean, crimps and
connections at all grounds.

the wire at the alternator output may a bit short on an '84, and the
resulting stress and strain can loosen the crimp. fix could be a new
connector crimped and soldered onto #10 wire, then a big wire nut and 3m
scotchkote to pot and make a weathertight, strain-free splice into the
van's wiring. likelwise, the crimps on the bonding strap that goes between
the driver side of the engine and body (near the coil) may also degrade
due to stress and strain, causing a resistance, and can be repaired
similarly.

sounds as if the battery has been run down pretty badly during this
episode, and if so, that will shorten its useful life.

obviously, the greater the current, the greater the voltage drop across a
given resistance, and it might be useful to experiment with various loads
and rpms.

dan

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:29:55 -0500, Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
wrote:

>So...
>It seems my starting problems have been resolved... after changing the
>alternator and letting the battery get a good charge.  I'm still
>wondering about changing the wire between the alternator and the
>battery, to avoid future problems like this.  My voltage at the
>alternator is 14.0 volts, and at the battery is 13.25.  What do people
>think?
>
>Wesley Alden Pegden wrote:
>> Hi guys,
>> I'm having frustrating electrical (I think) problems.
>>
>> First, my van ('84 manual) wouldn't start.  Headlights would come on
(battery okay) and they would dim when I turned the ignition (so power was
getting to the starter), but it wouldn't turn.  I heard a click when I
would turn the key, and again when I would release it.
>>
>> I ordered a rebuilt starter, and finally got around to installing it
today.  It started twice in a row, so I thought it was okay, but then the
third time it didn't, and I realized I was back where I started.  It
starts maybe one out of 5 times, and when it starts, it starts right away.
>>
>> The battery is right at 12.0 volts with the car off.  With the key
turned all the way (but when it fails to start) it drops to 11.4.  If it
starts, it sits at 11.6.  So now I figure maybe my alternator is bad.  I
had an extra alternator, so I put it in, but absolutely nothing has
changed, and so  now I'm stumped.
>>
>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
>>
>> -Wes
>>
>>