Date: Mon, 8 May 2000 15:50:52 -0700
Reply-To: "Johnson, David R FOR:EX" <David.Johnson@GEMS6.GOV.BC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Johnson, David R FOR:EX" <David.Johnson@GEMS6.GOV.BC.CA>
Subject: 84 westy alternator light flickers(longish)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hello Volks,
Here's the deal, Yesterday when going for a relaxing Sunday drive, about 10
km in, the alternator light in the dash comes on. EEEk. Now, this light has
ALWAYS come on when the engine turns over, then when it is running a "blip"
of the throttle and its gone. I read some discussion lately about how this
is not normal, I though PPff, whatever, it has always done this and never
posed a problem to date. There has never been a problem with cranking
power. I also have an auxiliary Optima that is connected to the LED. This
light has recently been in the yellow unless the engine is running,
alternator charging. In the not to distant past this light was always in
the green, unless there was a power draw. Hmmm . I believe the consensus was
that this was normal, to be in the yellow.?
The alternator light seams to come on and go off intermittently, and around
4000rpm it also goes out. The belts are tight, with the engine running, the
LED for the auxiliary battery is in the green. So I assume the alternator
is functioning. Excuse my ignorance here, I am no mechanic. Is there a way
to test the alternator., I have also updated the dash to now have the built
in tach, is there a way to test if this dash light is not functioning
properly.
I am thinking perhaps there is a short somewhere on the auxiliary battery
side, causing the LED to dip into the yellow, causing the alternator to work
harder, and it has just decided it is too much(?) Does this sound
reasonable?
I assume I need to measure battery voltage(auxiliary), while pulling fuses,
watching for any change in voltage, thereby isolating possible causes of
power draw( if any exists(?)) It seams all the vw problems I have had in
the past are very common, and somebody on the list has figured out the
solution, so whatdoyathink?? Do I need to buy the 350 dollar alternator,
what about rebuilt. Any and all advise appreciated. TIA
David Johnson
Phone: 620-3251 Fax: 620-3540
Compliance and Enforcement Technician
Timber, Horsefly B.C.
David.Johnson@gems6.gov.bc.ca
| 
