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Date:         Thu, 3 Mar 2011 14:28:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cold weather
Comments: To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

This response can be confusing. At less than 12 volts either the alternator is not working or there is a wiring problem.

Replacing the brushes or regulator assembly is a repair of a defective alternator. If she has to pay for that it is not worth doing. It also cam be a temporary fix. Worn brushes also go with other things wearing including the rotor slip rings and more likely the bearings. The rear bearing and insulator bushing rarely lasts much longer then the brushes. A bearing failure and resulting belt loss can make for a real bad day. Especially if that event causes engine damage. This is a very common part readily available locally. Change it once. Warranty. And be on your way.

Dennis

Sent from my Windows Phone

-----Original Message----- From: Richard Koerner Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 9:15 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Cold weather

Annie,

It's probably not "the alternator"...it's the carbon brushes INSIDE the alternator; they are part of the voltage regulator, about $45 or so, who knows how much a new alternator is, and a used one from the junkyard would probably have the same problem in a few years...worn brushes.� The brushes, the diodes, the bearings....those are the 3 things that wear out in an alternator.� I replaced my brushes (voltage regulator assembly) at 175,000 miles...they only had about 1/16 inch of travel left...when new, they have about 6/16" travel.� So what's happening is that your battery is not getting recharged because the brushes in the alternator are too short to make good contact.

Replacing is not too hard....I used heavy thread to "compress" the brushes when inserting into the alternator (you'll understand this when you are holding the old or new voltage regulator in your hand), then slid the thread out to allow the brushes to contact the rotary part.� I think there are 2 screws that hold the voltage regulator assembly in place....guys on The List have recommended a 90� Phillips screwdriver to loosen/tighten those.� I'm sure lots of people can elaborate better on the removal/replacement procedure for brushes.

But your alternator isn't "dead"...just the brushes are worn out I think...not a hard job at all, probably 20 minutes total or less, and you do it standing up!

Rich San Diego

--- On Wed, 3/2/11, Annie Anderson <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Annie Anderson <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM> Subject: Re: Cold weather To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 5:47 PM

Took the van to Interstate Batteries today after jumping it. The guy used the tester thing and determined it's the alternator.

The tester said the alternator has low voltage and so it's not charging the battery. The battery tests at only 11.8.

So, what's the best option for replacing the alternator? Used, new or rebuilt? And where is the best place to buy?

Thanks!

~Annie Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 1, 2011, at 1:45 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Annie, > > I was having the same issues. I realized my van had an undersized battery in > it - PO used it in summer only. > > So I bought a new battery from WallyWorld. I didn't realize that the sticker > on the "new" battery said 11/09 on it. When I got home and put the battery > in I still had to jump the darn thing to get it going. I then trickle > charged the battery over night. Things were fine until it got real cold > again and then it wouldn't start again. > > Long story short I took that darn battery back and sure enough it was bad > off the shelf. So what I am getting at is your battery may only be a year > old to you but how long did it sit on the shelf before you purchased? Most > places I am familiar with have a year replacement and even a significant > discount on a new battery after a year. You may want to check into that. > > That being said another thing that occured to me - and I could be WAY off on > this so hopefully others will chime in - but many of us run a thincker > (20/50) weight oil in the summer and then something lighter int he winter > months. It seems to me that if the thicker oil is being used at real cold > temps it could take a significant amount more *Ompf *to crank the engine - > thus causing the battery to work harder on that initial morning start up. > Again I could be talking out my wazoo here so I'll leave it to those more > knowledgable than I to confirm or bust that idea. > > -- > Thanks, > > Jeff > '85 GL (Gertie) > '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor) > '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus


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