Just to follow up on my '84 Wolfsburg Westy with the anemic alternator ... I bought an alternator at an AutoZone in Flagstaff, just so I would get completely stuck over the holiday weekend. I left it in the box, and in the end I didn't have any trouble reaching Napa, where I have family. I just let the Promariner charge the batteries overnight and tried not to use the headlights. Today, I finally got around to fiddling with it. First, I started the engine and measured the voltage at the starter battery at idle and 2,000 rpm: 13.1V with the headlights off. I pulled the regulator out of the Autozone alternator. Interestingly, its regulator was installed with self-tapping hex-head screws. Those sure look easier than the straight-slot screws on my old alternator. With some difficulty, I removed the regulator from my old alternator. The regulator is stamped "Made in Germany," if that means anything. The brushes in the old regulator look OK. They're still pretty long and have plenty of spring. But I don't know how to measure the wear or what the wear limit is. I cleaned up the spring contact under the regulator with a piece of scotchbrite. It was looking a little tired. Now it's shiny again. I tried installing the new regulator on the old alternator with the hex-head screws, but they're about 1/8 inch longer than the old screws, and I could feel them bottom out as I carefully turned them. Evidently there's less room behind the threads in the old alternator. So I went back to the straight-slot screws. What a pain. But I got it installed. I started the engine and measured 13.75V at the battery at idle and 2,000 rpm with the headlights off. With the high beams on, it dropped to about 13.5V. I haven't driven anywhere yet, so I can't declare the problem fixed. But the initial results look very promising. Again, thanks for everyone's advice on this. |
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