Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 10:29:39 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Electrical problem?
In-Reply-To: <CAEwp_cS95w5sK7nErihkUZ4uxF4XbyqptRg5wFW9=4tcB6fj+Q@mail.gmail.com>
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If the alternator belt is loose/slipping output can be reduced especially at idle. The set voltage with stock regulator is 13.8v. With a heavy load or low battery the engine may need to be revved to reach this voltage.
I am curios how/where they measured that .5 amp drain. If in fact you are draining that much the battery will only hold it a couple/few days. Power locks and a stereo can do this. So can USB chargers and other stuff plugged in even when they are not actually being used.
The alternator belt layout on the Waterboxer is a real bad after though. Belt tension is critical due to the fact that the belt does not wrap around the drive pulley. New belts will stretch and wear into the pulley so they will have to be readjusted shortly after install. Also, the original belt was a custom material for this job. The aftermarket stuff just doesn’t seem to have the durability needed here.
Adjust the belt, get rid of that parasitic load and see what happens.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Marc Perdue
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2014 10:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Electrical problem?
Hi all,
I've been experiencing what may or may not be a problem on my '87 Westy.
For reasons tied to it running rough, possibly injectors, and its impending painting, I haven't been driving it much. It might sit a week or two without being driven. When I do go to drive it, usually the battery's much too weak to get it started. I plug in the charger, set it to 10 Amps, and let it charge for a few hours, after which I can usually get it started.
Once it starts, there's usually a lot of belt squeal. This is odd because I had both belts replaced and adjusted by a reputable Vanagon mechanic in Staunton about 1,000 miles ago. The battery is a Diehard and was replaced within the last year. Thinking I might have an alternator problem, I took it to Advance Auto and had the alternator tested, in the van. It passed, but just barely. Under full load, it was putting out just over 12 volts.
With everything turned off, there was still a current draw of about half an amp. Is this normal? I've been going through the van cleaning all the grounds and repairing any connections that look at all iffy.
I'm going to tighten up the alternator belt tomorrow and thought I would give the alternator a spin and see if I could tell anything. Thoughts on what to look for?
Should the battery normally run down to 7 volts or so in a week or two?
Any thoughts on other things to look for? I don't have a way of measuring current draw at home, or else I would start disconnecting things and see if that half amp draw changed.
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this!
Marc Perdue
