Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 17:33:11 -0400
Reply-To: Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Alternator not putting out volts 88 GL
In-Reply-To: <10067eb80908012140u1a82622bj4498bce343e54af4@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Alternator still not putting out volts to the system.
Battery light on the dash just stays on, indicating a charging problem.
More checking, I guess.
Bobby
On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 12:40 AM, Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@gmail.com> wrote:
> Gregory,
> That's a BIG 10-4 on the little blue wire. I am about the 4th owner of this
> van and I steady trying to rectify Previous Owners duct tape, hot-wire &
> lazy repairs and maintenance.
>
> The little blue wire on my van has NO terminal. And I dang sure don't
> remember it being connected to JACK previously.
>
> So for a quick test after midnight...I stripped some of the wire off,
> loosened the nut off the small stud to the right of the proper "Red" wire
> connectors and wrapped the blue wire round and tightened her up.
>
> At this point, the van does NOW have the "battery" light indicating with
> key "on".
>
> So....maybe a trip back to the FLAPS and have them test again. Gotta go
> there tomorrow anyway to get some new ring connectors.
>
> Gregory...BIG THANKS my man. BIG THANKS to all the list members. Y'all are
> bringing me along like a new baby calf in the herd.
>
> Bobby
>
> On Sat, Aug 1, 2009 at 10:28 PM, Gregory Smith <gfs@gregoryfsmith.com>wrote:
>
>> A couple of things:
>>
>> • Always disconnect the battery ground wire from the (-) battery terminal
>> before working on your alternator or starter. This wil prevent the arcing
>> which can cause a fair amount of damage or a fire.
>> • The big red wire(s) to the alternator goes to the starter (sometimes 2
>> wires and another to the A/C toward the left side) and therefore on to the
>> battery, it will be live with (+) any time the battery is hooked up.
>> • The smaller light blue wire should have a ring terminal connector, it
>> goes to the small stud on the right on the alt. This is the "exciter" wire
>> and if it's disconnected, the dash light won't, and the alt. won't charge.
>> Check to make sure this smaller wire is connected and doesn't have a break
>> in it.
>> • You mentioned your voltage regulator is missing a screw, and so it could
>> be installed incorrectly (brushes not making contact) or some regulators
>> have a ground ring/tab under one of the screws that could be missing on
>> yours. So find a screw that matches and install it. Remember to disconnect
>> the (-) battery cable before doing this.
>> • The big red wires connect to a stud on the starter, where a larger red
>> wire then connects to the battery, this is how the voltage from the
>> alternator gets to the battery. Make sure these connections are tight.
>>
>> If all else fails, take the alternator to a shop and have it tested.
>> Usually if it doesn;t work it's the regulator/brush pack. The brushes have
>> a minimum length, I think it's about 5mm. They should be the same length if
>> you check this.
>>
>> Hope this helps, mine is also an '88.
>>
>> Gregory Smith
>>
>> Smith Design Studio
>> Small Building Company
>> Olympia, WA
>> 360-239-0429
>> gregoryfsmith.com
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: Alternator not putting out volts 88 GL
>> From: Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@gmail.com>
>> Date: Sat, August 01, 2009 6:13 pm
>> To: "Geo & Kathleen Hahn" <ahwahnee@cybertrails.com>, Scott Daniel -
>> Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>, pdooley <psdooley@verizon.net>,
>> Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com>, Gregory Smith <gfs@gregoryfsmith.com>
>> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
>>
>> First of all...thanks to you all for your responses and encouragement. I
>> am trying to maintain my cool, because I am also unexpectedly having a "no
>> fuel" problem in my ROCK STEADY STABLE 84' MK1 Rabbit GTi...SAME DAY! He
>> won't crank...but anyway.
>> To answer some questions. The van does not light the "Alt" or "Battery" or
>> "Charging" light with the key "ON" and no cranking. The cable that comes
>> from the left side of the engine bay and presumably comes from the fuse
>> panel also does not show any voltage when removed from the alternator and
>> the key "on". I guess those two make sense?
>>
>> The van cranks and runs "fine" otherwise. But I guess that's because I
>> have a brand new battery in there. I will take the advice of a battery
>> charger, because I have always wanted one anyway and now have a good excuse.
>> Until I get this problem resolved, I could trickle charge the battery
>> overnight to maintain it's good status.
>>
>> I guess I should also simply double check all my ground straps, although,
>> I have to admit I really don't know what that means. I guess I will remove
>> them, clean them and replace?
>>
>> Thanks for all the support and if anybody ever gets stranded near Hickory,
>> NC and I mean anybody...even those who have not posted on my issue, please
>> don't hesitate to contact me. I will help in any way I can.
>>
>> Thanks, Bobby.
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 1, 2009 at 4:56 PM, Geo & Kathleen Hahn <
>> ahwahnee@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>>
>>> This is really basic, but just to be sure you're not missing something --
>>> did you blip the idle to raise RPMs before you checked the voltage? i.e.
>>> simply starting the engine and measuring the voltage at idle won't do it.
>>>
>>> Geo
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bobby Brown" <bobbybrown1@GMAIL.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 9:45 AM
>>> Subject: Alternator not putting out volts 88 GL
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Sorry folks, but my Bentley is with a friend as he rebuilds his WBXer.
>>>> New Battery. New Alternator. Both test out good. Bench tested the
>>>> alternator
>>>> at the parts store from where it came.
>>>>
>>>> But, with everything hooked back up and the vehicle running, the
>>>> battery/alternator tester says the alternator is not putting out volts.
>>>> None.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bobby Brown
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Bobby Brown
>
--
Bobby Brown
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