Date:         Mon, 5 Dec 2011 09:59:26 -0800
Reply-To:     Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Voltage regulator or some other electrical issue??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello Fine Folks,

I have a 1985 Vanagon GL that has a newish (purchased around January 2010)
battery and a new alternator installed May 2011.

About a week and a half ago, I started having problems with the dash lights
going out if I had a the front fan on high for longer than about 5 minutes.
Turn the fan off, wait 10 minutes, dash lights come back on. This includes
high beam indicator and turn signal indicator lights.

Last week, it started not only losing dash lights when the front fan is on
for 5+ minutes but also losing gauges - tach, gas gauge, water temp gauge.
Speedo working fine through it all.

Today, it's *very* frosty and cold so I started the van up, defrosters on
full blow and let it warm up while I scrape the windows. Got finished
clearing windows, turned on headlights, left fan on high 'cause it's
freezing cold, drive kids to school. Get half a block from school, van
dies. Will not start. No seatbelt warning lights, no seatbelt buzzer -
nothing. I figure it's battery/alternator related somehow. The van is
blocking traffic in front of the school and fortunately - much to my sheer
appreciation and delight - a Sheriff comes 'round the corner. (Not usually
so happy to see a cop, LOL.)

We determine it's definitely a battery issue. I've been sitting for a good
10 minutes now and when I try to turn the key over, I am getting the buzzer
and seatbelt lights. He grabs the quick charge thing from his trunk and
hooks it up to the battery. We wait a few and it starts right up.

So, like I said - newish battery that I had tested when I put the new
alternator in last May, plus of course, the new alternator.

Why is it doing this? Could it be the voltage regulator?

Or something else? If something else, what? And how do I determine?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 *Wishing you success, love + fire in your belly*
*Annie Anderson* ~ Blogger, Designer, Thinker + Mom
Lover of cats, Apple, coffee, old VW's and biking.
Driver of Bartok ~ 1985 VW Vanagon GL
web: Bartok's Adventures <local.annieandersonblog.com/wp> email:
lsandrsn@gmail.com
*Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*