Replacing the brushes is easy although I don't know if it will fix your problem. To replace the brushes remove the alternator, then remove teh black plastic box on the back which is the voltage regulator and it holds the brushes in. After removing the box the brushes will fall out of their slots in the voltage regulator. You will be able to tell if they need to be replaced or not by how short they are. If they need replacing grind off the solder on the outside of the black box which will free the brushes, buy new brushes ($2) and solder their wires back where the old ones were. This is easy and it will all make sense once the alternator is out. If you need to replace the alternator check tom carrington's site for info on using a cheaper bug alternator. I would recommend checking your brushes before a very long trip as preventive maintence and if your alterntor light ever comes on while driving pull over immediately as you may have broken the alternaor/water pump belt (happened to me last weekeend) no serious problem. later, Andrew fox
On Mon, 22 Apr 2002, developtrust wrote: > Steve Freyling, a local list member, came over to help me diagnose my > alternator. He says it should put out 14.5 or so on a volt meter and mine is > putting out 13.3 or so. > > Any advice anyone in what the problem might be? How easy will it be for me > to replace the brushes? > > William > 1989 Vanagon GL > 1988 Mercedes 300SE > |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.