Date:         Fri, 4 Apr 2008 10:00:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: air cooled alternator not charging
Comments: To: JM060356@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <d31.29f3608e.3527a91c@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

How is your ALT led on the dash behaving?

The instrument cluster is a critical part of the Vanagon charging
system. It provides the voltage to the field winding of the alternator
to get charging started. It does this over the blue wire that is also
used to indicate charging status. The alternator needs the instrument
cluster to be there and working to some extent.

Mark


Jim Morgan wrote:
> Happy Friday all.
>
> I have tried to search the archive but it just times out.
>
> I am trying to track down a non-charging alternator on my 80 air cooled
> vanagon.
> I get battery voltage to the alternator (bat) on the plug but no output. I
> am thinking that
> there should also be voltage at the (field) side of the plug but there is
> none. would i get
> Voltage when the engine is running and or when the key is just on?
>
> I had the alternator checked and it passed..is it wrong to expect some
> Voltage output at the alternator regardless of load/battery  condition?
>
> All was working fine then I had to pull the engine for a rebuild and
> reinstall. It was working O.K.
>
> I then started to have a hot start issue so i was measuring the voltage
> output when i noticed that
> I would only have battery voltage. If I accelerated then I would get 14
> volts. I removed the plug
> and found some bad connectors and replaced them (destroying the plastic
> plug) I have it connected but
>  Now no output.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Jim Morgan 80 "stink bomb"
>
>
>
>
> **************Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.
>   (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)
>