Date:         Mon, 21 Feb 2000 19:23:57 -0500
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alternator not charging/ solenoid meltdown
Comments: To: Sorin Bejenaru <CaliforniaCampers@COMPUSERVE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <200002211832_MC2-9A14-E825@compuserve.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:31 PM 2/21/2000 , Sorin Bejenaru wrote:
>engine running and it is OK.  No battery light comes on in the dash at any
>time not even when starting the engine

If the light doesn't light when you turn on the ignition, the alternator is
not going to charge.  The alternator needs to be supplied a tiny current
through this circuit in order to begin charging.

According to Bentley, a thin black wire runs from the D+ terminal on the
alternator to a connector in the wiring box on the firewall, then to
terminal E13 of the fuse/relay panel, then out terminal B1 to terminal 11
on the instrument panel connector.  On the panel flexible circuit are three
resistors in parallel, one supplying the light and the other two allowing
more current to pass through the alternator than the light itself could handle.

If you have battery voltage at the panel terminal 11, (ignition on), then
you have an open somewhere between there and the D+ terminal.

david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"