Date:         Sat, 11 Oct 2003 08:35:41 -0400
Reply-To:     Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Help-Alternator bad, battery boiling
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi folks,
    On the way back to NYC from providence RI, my newly installed
remanufactured alternator started putting out way to much voltage, sometimes
as high as 16-17 volts. Unfortunately, I didn't find out until the battery
started boiling (it may have blown out one of the headlights the night
before as well). We made it the remaining 2 hours home with the alt.
disconnected; probably thanks to the overcharged battery. All electrics
off/disconnected, of course, including the radiator fan.
    The installer (in ohio) says he'll send a replacement, though I may be
able to take advantage of the Bosch warrantee locally. My questions are:
Should I assume that this is just a bad voltage regulator, and try replacing
that? should I consider this alternator to be a lemon, and try my luck with
another remman'ed part? Are there any multi-tester tests I can do to find
out? the bentley's a little vague on this.
    Also: I'm assuming that the fluid boiling out of the battery is dilute
sulfuric acid. Any cleanup tips?

Thanks in adavnce,

Matt Sutton
88 GL
Brooklyn NY