Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 16:38:19 -0600
Reply-To: Paul & Becky Oliver <oliver8@TDS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Paul & Becky Oliver <oliver8@TDS.NET>
Subject: Re: Can a bad alternator drain the battery.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Take care to be safe while doing any of these suggestions!
Simple ways to check things out without :
Start engine and remove vehicle's positive lead from battery. DON'T short to
frame or let lead touch frame!
If it continues to run alternator is working. Increase draw by turning on
additional electrical units, headlights on high, a/c blower on high,
continue with other things, if it kills the engine. Voltage regulator is not
working properly.
If you believe you have a short in a system somewhere. Turn everything
(lights, radio, etc) off first. In the dark unplug your fuses and replace
them while watching for any sparks (do this with the engine running, then
with it off but the key on and last with key off).
Radio's, clock's and such, usually only give a little spark, shorts that are
draining your battery should be brighter. However don't put it past them to
be the problem. If you don't find any other sparks, leave their fuse out and
see if the battery still dies.
The same thing with the alternator, with the engine OFF! Removing or
replacing the battery terminal on the alternator, should NOT spark.
Last year I worked on a (16 year old, know-it-all) kids pickup. After HE
installed a new starter, the truck began to stall but would start right back
up. This would happen when he'd make sharp turns, hit large bumps or take
off fast. So he decided the truck needed a new battery. I offered to check
it out but he (bosses live-in's boy) knew that it just needed a new battery,
fine...The problem continued the next day but this time it left him stranded
on the road. He had it towed home, where it sat for a few days (he was the
only one smart enough to work on it).
My boss grew tired of dropping him off at school and told me to check it
out, but the kid would do all the repairs himself.
Lifting the hood, I saw the bulging NEW ($102.00 only the best for his
truck) frozen(mid November) battery. I pulled the positive lead (battery out
of circuit) off the battery and was connecting the cables. They sparked as
if I was welding. Yanking them off. I traced the positive wire down and
under the manifold but could not see it. So sliding my hand along the wire I
felt it welded to the manifold.
Don't be afraid to ask, take the time to do it right and save yourself a lot
of trouble later.
So, if you can't check out your alternator take it to someone who can.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Zeno" <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: Can a bad alternator drain the battery.
> Simple. Disconnect, or unplug the offending item, and see if it goes
> dead again. If you want to get into details, Get a amp meter, and put
> it in series witht the battery. Then start disconnecting things, until
> the meter goes to zero. Keep in mine the clock and radio, are
> always going to draw some small amount of current.
> BTW I have the same problem in a gold Syncro... runs in the paint
> color.....LOL, so when you find the problem let me know.
> I've just been to busy to look at it.
>
> ERic
>
> VWNut Hawk wrote:
>
> >I have a gold 85 that willd drain the battery dead if it isn't ran or
> >charged constantly.
> >Someone told me that the regulator in the alternator could be bad.
> >Is there a test I can do?
> >
> >
> >
> >
