Date:         Sun, 4 May 2003 11:25:57 -0700
Reply-To:     developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: charging problems 82 Westy
Comments: To: THX0001@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

This post confirms my suspicion that the voltage regulator and brushes need
replacing.

As I said in my pmail to you I had the same problem and replaced them (part
#068 903 803B ($69 + tax from the dealer but I got mine from a VW parts
place for $$35 + tax.)

William


> In a message dated 5/4/03 2:45:09 AM, Zcoop1@AOL.COM writes:
>
> << Any suggestions? >>
>
> Coop, my man, here is one unlikely possibility.  It is so unlikely that it
> once happened to me.  On a hundred mile trip, my alternator stopped
charging.
>  When I checked the charging system the next day, I found nothing out of
> sorts.  While driving around town most of the day, the charging system
worked
> fine.  Still, I knew that these things do not cure themselves, so I opened
up
> the alternator.  I found that the brushes were worn to the point that they
> barely contacted the slip rings.  I assumed that when the alternator was
> thoroughly heat soaked from a good high speed run, the alternator case
> expanded just enough to cause the brushes to contact the slip rings with
> inadequate pressure.
>
> As with most things, a bench test proves very little.  My suggestion would
be
> to pull the alternator again and replace the brushes and bearings.
>
> George
>