Date:         Mon, 5 Jul 2004 12:21:45 -0500
Reply-To:     Alan Watts <alan@DATAX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alan Watts <alan@DATAX.COM>
Subject:      funky electric
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

hi all,

I'm having electrical issues with my 85 Westy and I'm unsure if they are
all related or if it is multiple problems.

After replacing my spark plugs, rotor and cap, I began to have starter
problems -- at first, it was a few clicks and clatters as it cranked, but
it would start.  After a few days and some flawless starting, it slowly
progressed to louder clickings and rougher starts to sometimes no starter
activity at all (when this would happen, my tach would get wacky and flip
around).  At the same time, when I was driving, both my alternator and OXS
light would blink almost unnoticeably every 30 seconds or so.  Later on,
when I turned my lights on, the whole electrical system would have lulls
and spikes.  My temp light would erratically blink and sometimes at idle,
my tach would undulate.  My battery reads strong voltage and my alternator
is only a few months old.  I checked all battery and related wire
connections, but still the same thing.  To me, it seems like a voltage
regulator problem, but would it be involved in starting process?  Also,
I'm not sure if it has any significance, but for the sake of complete
disclosure, when I replaced the spark plugs, I had misconnected the cables
in the wrong order and tried to start the van a couple of times before
realizing the firing order was wrong.

If anyone can provide any sort of insight, I would greatly appreciate it!

thanks!
Alan