Date:         Mon, 8 Dec 1997 09:07:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Bob O'Shaughnessy <oshaug@INFINET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         Bob O'Shaughnessy <oshaug@INFINET.COM>
Subject:      Alternator out at *high* rpms?
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     Took two nice little trips this weekend in the snow and in the dark
and had a weird electrical glitch.

     At whatever rpms translates in to @50mph in 3rd and @70 in fourth,
my alternator and oxygen sensor lights flickered on.
     I'm a bit worried about electrical output at all rpms, as I noticed
that while cruising at 65 the dash lights were dim, and the fuel and temp
gauges were reading a bit low (note to self on road:  get electrical
gauges for project van).  Oddly enough, if I let the engine cycle down
towards idle (clutch in, foot off of gas pedal, goin' downhill) something
went right, and the dash lights got a notch brighter and the temp gauge
moved back to its normal range.  When I took the engine back up to speed
to maintain 65, it all dims again.

     The belt is okay (I checked and re-tensioned it before the trip)  so
I'm going to take the brushes/volt regulator out to have a look later on
tonight, am I headed in the right direction?

_________________________________________________________

Bob O'Shaughnessy
84GL, 85GL project (Now Running!!! Waiting for tags!) (Mine)
82 Diesel L with carbed Rabbit engine (belongs to friend)
74 Bus (Dad's)
72 Wife, 94 Rabbit, 95 Cat, 96 cat.