Date:         Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:14:17 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Strange Blinking Light on my battery light indicator - seems
              erratic
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4db71d8f.52a3e60a.6b5c.013d@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Thanks for replying David.

Yes "Goes Off' means the light actually turns on next the battery indicator light in the center of the dash.

I had the alternator check with the battery at autozone where they connected a what looked like a giant volt meeter. We checked the battery with out the van on and with it on to see of the difference and to make the sure the alternator was providing juice. He said all was good.

The light does not go on when the car is stationary, only when on and typically moving and on rough roads. I too think its a short somewhere just not sure where.

I went back to the alternator which is only a couple of years old. I checked all the connections on the alternator itself and they were all on tight. All the wires are new since I just had the engine rebuilt a year ago and only have 6,000 miles on it.  Could it be a ground wire in the engine bay? I checked the grounds there and it seemed fastened tight with no rust.

I am wondering if it's a connection in the front, under maybe a ground under the left of the dash?

I can't put a volt meter on it since it only happens when I am on the road.

Other ideas?

Thanks again,
Robert
NY
88 Wolfsburg Automatic

On Apr 26, 2011, at 3:31 PM, David Beierl wrote:

> At 02:36 PM 4/26/2011, Robert Stewart wrote:
>> I am having a Strange Erratic Blinking Light on my battery light
>> indicator in the center of the dash. I am not sure why...
>>
>> It started about 2 weeks ago and last week I had my alternator and
>> battery checked just to be sure it was not that, both are just fine.
>>
>> Sometimes it goes off and is flashing in a highly erratic way, other
>> times it goes off when I hit a bump.
>
> When you say "goes off" do you really mean "lights up?"
>
>
>> I recently changed my "bright" high beam indicator bulb, could I
>> have possibly damaged or loosened something I shouldn't have?
>
> If the sympton is as I believe, it indicates a short to ground in the
> D+ line going to the alternator, or the alternator ceasing to
> charge.  Suggest put a voltmeter on the system while the blinking is
> happening, and then same voltmeter on D+ to verify that it's going to ground.
>
> All I have time for just now.
>
> d