Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:38:11 -0500
Reply-To: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
Subject: Update (not fixed...) Re: FIXED? (and,
advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage,
starter running intermittently, but alternator is okay?)
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2006012322064904@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
So, my van still has the same problems. My success was a false alarm.
It starts 1 out of 5-10 times, but never turns over slowly. I've
replaced the ground strap on the battery.
I had the battery tested at an Autozone today (where I hope it's on
warranty), and it checked out. Also, keep in mind that throughout this
whole ordeal, I've never jumped the car....
Without any electrical running, I show between 13.25 and 13.5volts at
the battery, and 13.8 or so volts at the alternator.If I add electrical,
it can easily drop to 13 volts at the battery, or even a bit less. The
crimp on the alternator wire does indeed look worn, but not at all
loose. There are two wires going into the crimp. What two wires are
these? To the starter and the battery?
Is the bonding strap you're talking about here different from the ground
cable from the transmission to the frame? Most of this stuff looks old,
but not actually loose.
I would really appreciate people's suggestions. When I tried grounding
the alternator directly, it only added something like .04 volts at the
battery, which hardly seemed worth it.
Thanks!
Wes
'84 manual 1.9l
Daniel L. Katz wrote:
> wes:
>
> it would be reasonable to check for a voltage drop across the crimp on the
> connector at the alternator output, and also between the battery posts and
> cable clamps. check also for star washers and tight, clean, crimps and
> connections at all grounds.
>
> the wire at the alternator output may a bit short on an '84, and the
> resulting stress and strain can loosen the crimp. fix could be a new
> connector crimped and soldered onto #10 wire, then a big wire nut and 3m
> scotchkote to pot and make a weathertight, strain-free splice into the
> van's wiring. likelwise, the crimps on the bonding strap that goes between
> the driver side of the engine and body (near the coil) may also degrade
> due to stress and strain, causing a resistance, and can be repaired
> similarly.
>
> sounds as if the battery has been run down pretty badly during this
> episode, and if so, that will shorten its useful life.
>
> obviously, the greater the current, the greater the voltage drop across a
> given resistance, and it might be useful to experiment with various loads
> and rpms.
>
> dan
>
> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:29:55 -0500, Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
> wrote:
>
>
>> So...
>> It seems my starting problems have been resolved... after changing the
>> alternator and letting the battery get a good charge. I'm still
>> wondering about changing the wire between the alternator and the
>> battery, to avoid future problems like this. My voltage at the
>> alternator is 14.0 volts, and at the battery is 13.25. What do people
>> think?
>>
>> Wesley Alden Pegden wrote:
>>
>>> Hi guys,
>>> I'm having frustrating electrical (I think) problems.
>>>
>>> First, my van ('84 manual) wouldn't start. Headlights would come on
>>>
> (battery okay) and they would dim when I turned the ignition (so power was
> getting to the starter), but it wouldn't turn. I heard a click when I
> would turn the key, and again when I would release it.
>
>>> I ordered a rebuilt starter, and finally got around to installing it
>>>
> today. It started twice in a row, so I thought it was okay, but then the
> third time it didn't, and I realized I was back where I started. It
> starts maybe one out of 5 times, and when it starts, it starts right away.
>
>>> The battery is right at 12.0 volts with the car off. With the key
>>>
> turned all the way (but when it fails to start) it drops to 11.4. If it
> starts, it sits at 11.6. So now I figure maybe my alternator is bad. I
> had an extra alternator, so I put it in, but absolutely nothing has
> changed, and so now I'm stumped.
>
>>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
>>>
>>> -Wes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
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