Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 10:39:05 -0800
Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Battery Light
In-Reply-To: <C36A09F5-3161-4634-A807-3B286A4F782E@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Greg -
Airhead Parts has a the Genuine Bosch Regulator for $53.74:
http://www.airheadparts.com/viewDetail.asp?strMasterCat=&idproduct=7748
Your 85 should have the same alternator that's on both my 84's
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On Jan 7, 2008 10:21 AM, Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca> wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> OK, I've put a charged battery into it and the light is still on. The
> voltage at the battery is reading just barely above 12V which tells
> me the alternator is not doing its job. The light does not go out
> when the engine is revved up (which it did before the stall out on
> Jan 4th) but it does flicker a bit in brightness.
>
> The ground strap was loose on the original battery, but was not
> disconnected while the engine was running; The engine had already
> died out when I discovered it was not fully tightened down. I will be
> replacing it ASAP with a heavier and slightly longer cable.
>
> I don't have a spare VR on hand, and my local NAPA wants $49 for a
> BERU voltage regulator vs $89 for the Bosch regulator. Are these
> prices in line? I haven't yet looked close enough to determine which
> alternator i have.
>
> My local auto-electric rebuilder did the bosch alternator on my
> aircooled bus for $125 last summer so I'm thinking that would be a
> better choice. It doesn't look like the re-and-re will be all that
> much trouble and having the alternator completely redone seems like a
> better idea...
>
> Additional guidance appreciated...
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> 1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
> www.pottsfamily.ca
> www.busesofthecorn.com
>
>
>
> On 5-Jan-08, at 12:03 AM, John Meeks wrote:
>
> > Greg,
> > My money's on worn alternator brushes. Got a spare voltage regulator?
> > Let us know what you find.
> > John
> >
> > On Jan 4, 2008 8:33 PM, Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca> wrote:
> >> Hi Volks,
> >>
> >> I was driving the vanagon on the highway tonight and as I cruised up
> >> the off-ramp I saw the battery warning light was on. I figured it had
> >> spit the belt, and made a note to deal with it as soon as I got home,
> >> since I was only a few miles further. And then as I pulled away from
> >> the off-ramp, the light went out. Uh-oh, says I... That's the sign of
> >> a wonky alternator, or a VERY loose belt. So I kept watch on the
> >> tachometer to get an idea of how bad the problem was... it seemed to
> >> vary a bit, lighting up when below 2,200 to 3,000 RPM.
> >>
> >> But it didn't last 7 minutes before the engine quit completely. I
> >> still had dash lights and emergency flashers (dim, and fast-
> >> flashing), but the starter wouldn't even click. I checked the belts
> >> and they were OK, but the battery connection was pretty loose. I
> >> pried off the + terminal without much trouble at all. Luckily I was
> >> very close to my brother's house at the time and he and I were able
> >> to tow the vanagon back to my house.
> >>
> >> So what's the prognosis? Did the loose battery terminal allow the
> >> battery to run flat, or does this pattern indicate a failed
> >> alternator? I can throw a spare marine battery into it tomorrow to
> >> get it running again; once it's lit up I can put a voltmeter on it
> >> and see if it's charging.
>
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