I also seem to remember strict warnings (cant remember where) that you must never ever disconnect the battery when the engine is running. I don't know what can happen, as I've never tried it. It is supposedly damaging to the alternator. PerL 87 Syncro 112i Karl Wolz wrote: > I kinda remember in the old days, driving a truck with the battery > disconnected, but that was carbureted and non-electronic ignition, etc. I > think if you disconnect the battery in a Vanagon, you've disconnected the FI > system. > > Yeah, I'm as groggy as you. > > Karl Wolz > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <KENWILFY@AOL.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Monday, February 21, 2000 9:50 PM > Subject: Re: Alternator not charging/ solenoid meltdown > > > Sorin, I'm kinda tired so this might not be right, but I am pretty sure > that > > if you unhook the negative battery terminal when the engine is running on > any > > van that it will kill the motor. Why? Because you have just opened up > the > > return path in the circuit. All of the electricity going to the motor has > to > > have a ground and you just unhooked it. So no wonder it dies (normal). > > The problem you were having with the "solenoid" (which is actually called > a > > coil) was really unrelated to your charging problem. When coils go bad > they > > poop out black tar which insulates the coils inside from each other. > > Eventually even tar will come out to allow the coils to touch which would > > either kill your ignition or make the spark so weak that it wouldn't > start. > > The best way to check your charging system is with a multimeter between > the > > two terminals of the battery. Check it when the van is not running. > Start > > up the van and see what it is putting out then. Should be around 13.6 > > volts-14 volts. Higher or lower can mean problems. > > Hope this helps you. > > > > Ken Wilford > > http://www.vanagain.com > > John 3:16 > > Office (856)-765-1583 > > Shop (856)-327-0027 > > Fax (856)-327-2242 > > |
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