Date:         Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:50:10 -0400
Reply-To:     John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      88 Vanagon alternator light problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Dear list,

Well, I titled this 'alternator light problem' because that's what happened
first.  Here's what has happened so far.

I was coming back from the campout at Hunting Island when I noticed that my
alternator light was on!  At first it was Oh Sh...t as I was driving along a
two lane road with NO shoulder, but the temp guage was right where it should
be and I had no other indications that anything was wrong.  I stopped for
gas several miles later and found no missing belts or loose connections in
the engine compartment. AND there appeared to be no reduction in battery
power when I restarted, so I'm thinking something other than a gross failure
of the charging system.

While I was sitting in the gas station pondering my situation, the only
thing that I noticed that was further info was that when I shifted the
automatic from park down to drive and back, the alternator light flickered a
little.  I tried clicking on the headlights and there was no flicker at all
and the lights seemed to come on full.  So with my tank full of gas and only
3 more hours of interstate travel to get me back home, I set off.

During my remaining trip, I noticed that the light would go off for long
periods of time and then come back on.  It stayed mostly on during the
trip.  I didn't try wiggling any of the instrument panel connections, but it
occurred to me.

I just went out and checked to see the specifics of details as I moved that
auto trans lever.  The light is on full bright in Park and Neutral, but is
slighty dimmer in Reverse and the Drive settings

Any ideas of where I might look next?

Thanks,

John Graham
88 Westy
Charlotte, NC

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