Date:         Sun, 8 May 2005 09:24:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Alternator Light Still On After Replacing Broken Belt - 87
              Westy w. AC
Comments: To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY2-F3AE167B324D6045499FF2CF1C0@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

A small blue wire has to be connected to the alternator. It is the
trigger terminal. If you have a camper, the indicator lights will remain
on as the refrigerator control relay provides enough of a ground for
them. Either that wire is disconnected, connected to the wrong place, or
maybe the alternator does have a problem.

13.2 volts is not proper. It should be ~13.8 except if when there is a
heavy load. Most likely you have grounding problem. I've seen this a
number of times. Install another ground wire from the alternator case
itself to the body. I usually go from one of the small studs on the back
of the alternator to the shelf under the air filter to keep the wire
short.

Driving a few blocks with the alternator/water pump belt broken is not a
good thing. No belt = no water flow = uneven head temps = future head
and gasket problems. As the water flow stopped, so did the temperature
gauge until such time that you make steam.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Mike Finkbiner
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 12:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Alternator Light Still On After Replacing Broken Belt - 87
Westy w. AC

A couple of weeks ago I replaced my alternator with a Bosch rebuilt.  It
was
working fine, putting out 13-2-4 volts according to my Digitool.

Last Sunday the alternator and O2 lights came on while driving, and the
voltage dropped to 11.5.  It was only a couple of blocks from home so I
drove back and found the belt had broken.

As it is on the inside, I replaced all three belts.  (The PS belt is a
pain!)  In the process I removed and replaced the alternator to get at
the
coolant hose underneath it when I couldn't break the other end loose.

Now the digitool shows  13.2 -3 volts, but the alternator and O2 lights
won't go out.  I have revved up the engine a couple of times, with no
results.

The alternator wires all look correct.  The archives refet to a little
blue
wire, but I don't see one that color.

Any thoughts?

Mike


Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, ID
mike_l_f@hotmail.com

"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look
upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."

        -- Mahatma Gandhi