Date:         Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:07:42 -0500
Reply-To:     John Meeks <jmeeks@GASLIGHTMEDIA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Meeks <jmeeks@GASLIGHTMEDIA.COM>
Subject:      Re: Flickering alternator light at higher RPM's
Comments: To: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BC20F556.190F%steeles@horizonview.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Stephen,
>I know it's cold out, but did you pop the back lid and check the
  >condition of your alt drive belt?

Yes, I tightened it more than the water pump likes and still had the same
condition, battery light on at >2800 RPM. The brushes have good spring
tension, but I couldn't get the bottom screw of the regulator to move so I
don't know the brushes condition. The wires are solid.

By the time the engine warmed up the light was flickering at idle.
I'm wondering if a bad battery (5+ years old) could cause this.

John Meeks
Top of Lower Michigan
91 Westfalia MultiVan
Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com?catid=74

  >-----Original Message-----
  >From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
  >Of Stephen Steele
  >Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 11:29 PM
  >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
  >Subject: Re: Flickering alternator light at higher RPM's
  >
  >
  >on 1/6/04 22:13, John Meeks at jmeeks@GASLIGHTMEDIA.COM wrote:
  >> On my way home tonight, my alt light suddenly came on and flickered
  >> steadily. By the time I got home, it was just on no flicker.
  >But the light
  >> went off at idle. I figure it's my regulator/brushes. They
  >only have 3 years
  >> of use, so I wondered if the weather could have any effect on the
  >> alternator's performance. It was +7F with a -30F wind chill with heavy
  >> almost blizzard snow in 35 mph gusts.
  >> Am I wacky or could this be a factor?
  >John:
  >I know it's cold out, but did you pop the back lid and check the
  >condition
  >of your alt drive belt?
  >Here's a hypothesis: At speeds in your weather the belt may slip
  >if worn or
  >misadjusted; at idle, following a drive, the ambient temps can
  >climb in the
  >engine compartment. The belt may dry off/heat up a little and regain the
  >necessary friction to drive the pulley properly.
  >It may be worth looking at before you go to the trouble of checking the
  >alternator's output.
  >--
  >Stephen
  >Chillicothe OH
  >