Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2013 11:56:48 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Question about battery light
In-Reply-To: <CANEuo0g24L8P9ov_V9aFcVgTOnmbFBpGFP-yw2U9xZxbwZdUTw@mail.gmail.com>
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You only had the light due to the fridge or auxiliary battery relay. No
relay and the broken wire mean no light which means no warning in the event
of belt or alternator failure. Why is important to check for the lights
every time the engine is started.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2013 11:01 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Question about battery light
OK, so the resolution of the problem was that the blue wire on the
alternator was broken. I checked it there first thing and it seemed OK, but
the wire was broken inside of the heat shrink on the end of the wire so that
you couldn't tell just by looking at it. I should have known because I have
run into this problem before. You do some work on the engine and bump this
wire one too many times and it breaks inside of the insulation.
Now suddenly you get a battery light. If you give the wire a little tug, it
easily separates so that is a good test if you are scratching your head on
this one.
Thanks to all you folks who took the time to explain the operation of the
blue wire to me. I am great at troubleshooting wiring, etc. except I have
never really gotten into the next level of electrical which is electronics
and troubleshooting resistors, chips, etc. I am still learning, so maybe
some day I will get to that point. For now, I will do the best I can with
what I know and if there is something I don't know about, I will ask for
help. I appreciate your help and patience with me.
Sincerely,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
On Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 10:01 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> Weekender with aux battery, I see.
> I bought one a couple of years ago, I am certain I was the first
> person to ever lay eyes on the factory-installed VW-Audi white battery
> under the drivers seat. It was cooked dry long ago.
>
> I hope you have at least disconnected that battery if it's shot.
> I would just work on it until I could get the battery light to come on .
> with key on, engine off.
>
> if it has an OXS light, it should come on with battery light.
> both lights will go out when it's charging, as long as the miles
> counter in the OXS box isn't tripped.
> Bush that button in until it goes clunk, can't hurt.
> for simple things to try, I might disconnect the wires to the miles
> counter box, though I've never had to for any reason.
> In a really bad case I rig up my own warning light in the blue wire
> circuit, even by the alternator ..
> if that works ....then you know it's in dash or wiring going there.
>
> if it wasn't clear from those other guys' posts ...
> it's kinda funamental to the alternator charing for the warning light
> to come on when you turn on the key.
> It's hard to imagine the Alt could get excitation voltage to it,
> without that light coming on, because the light is part of the path to
> excite the Alt.
>
> let us know what you find ..
> one wonders about the insrument cluster and T14 connector on it.
> Be real funny if a wire tab was out of place touching the wrong thing.
>
>
> On 4/4/2013 5:58 PM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
>
> Thanks to Mark and Dennis for taking the time to help me out with
> this. I know it sounds weird but even after all these years I am
> still learning new things about our vans.
>
> This particular van is a multi van ( 86 Wolfsburg Westy Pop Top ) so
> it doesnt have a fridge however it does have a secondary battery setup
> that doesnt seem to be working at the moment. I think that might be
> the source of the issue.
>
> Trying to get this van back up to snuff after years of PO allowing
> Bubba Sunoco to work on it when he wasnt busy pumping gas. It keeps
> throwing me curve balls.
>
> When you are looking to buy a van please ask for records of repair
> work done. If they have nothing or it hasnt been kept up by a
> specialist, you might want to keep looking.
>
> Thanks again guys! You are the best!
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16www.vanagain.com
> On Apr 4, 2013 7:36 PM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
<d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Was the replacement cluster out of a Westy? If not the fridge relay
> could be loading down the circuit and be part of the problem.
> Disconnect it and see what happens. The light gets power from the
> ignition circuit (with some
> resisters) and completes the circuit through the alternator. This
> current is also needed to help[ excite the alternator to get it going.
> When the alternator is working it back feeds voltage to the light
> causing the light to go out as it has +batt on both sides. This is
> also used on the Westys to operate the fridge relay which is grounded
> through the starter solenoid!
>
> So to test disconnect the blue wire to the alternator and control
> wires to the fridge relay. Key on engine off, alternator light should
> be off. If on, find out why.
> Connect blue wire near alternator to a ground point, light should turn
> on, if not wiring problem. If OK, then connect to alternator. Light
> should turn on. Start engine, when alternator kicks in light should go
off.
> If this checks good, then try with fridge relay connected. Does fridge
> relay work? If not then you have voltage drop problem. If yes then and
> the light stays on you have a cluster problem.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>] On Behalf Of kenneth wilford (Van-Again)
> Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2013 6:47 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Question about battery light
>
> I have a customers 86 Westy that has an instrument cluster from a
> later model installed. I have been trying to troubleshoot the battery
> light staying on and I am bumping my head against a brick wall. The
> cluster seems to be seeing around 13.5volts when the van is running
> and all of the other lights, etc. on the cluster seem to be working
> fine. Yet the battery light won't go out.
>
> I think originally this van used to have the oxy light and box, but
> the box is no longer there and the newer instrument cluster doesn't
> have the oxy light in it. I guess what I need to know is exactly what
> the light is looking for as an input to turn the light out. I have
> never been completely clear as to exactly what I should be seeing from
> the blue wire that goes to the alternator since this is also the wire
> that is controlling the light.
> Should I see a voltage from this wire? Is it a ground instead? If
> someone could explain what this blue wire does that would help me out a
lot.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16www.vanagain.com
>
>
>
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