Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 2002 21:49:56 EST
Reply-To:     DANJNOLL@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Noll <DANJNOLL@AOL.COM>
Subject:      86 vanagon GL  w/ A/C electrical ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I just put my 3rd alternator on in two years.  There is a long story in this
becuase I took it to Bahrain for 2 & half years and brought it back (it is
very hot and humid ... 100's for weeks).  I bought a reman 90 amp form
autopart .com (don't knw if I would do that again) w/in 2 months I had
another dead battery (the heat seems to eat batterys and alternater(maybe) as
well as waterpumps but I don't think the alt was strong enough)

Turns out It was only putting out 13.3 volts... temp fix, my mechanic went to
a junkyard  and got toyota alternater and adapted it... it worked!  6 months
later I shipped it back to the states and after 6 months I got my GL with a
dead battery...

Bought a new battery ... 7 months later ,dead battery... battery is good and
alt is putting out 12.1. I bought a NEW alt form Kragan auto and seem to be
charging... with all that said, not being partial to electrical systems I am
looking for a volt meeter that will:
1. work and
2. fit in the dash in the slot below the emergency flasher...

There is more to this story...  while in Bahrain the AC clutch burned and
melted some wires, mechanic cleaned that up , and I have a FORD relay in the
system; however, when I turn on the AC the raditor fan comes on in high and
shuts off only when the AC is shut down and draws ALLOT of juice.  Good note,
it runs really cool and never overheats with AC on.
I'm afraid to toucha nthing because it works but when summer comes I want to
use the AC and not worry about dead batteries melted wires.

Dan