Date:         Tue, 16 Nov 1999 10:06:55 -0600
Reply-To:     arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alan Bosch <arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM>
Subject:      Electrical gremlins...
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On a cold day last week, my '88 Wolfie was a little slow to crank when I
attempted to start it in morning.  Kinda like the symptons of a
not-fully-charged battery.  Saturday, I replaced the 20W-50 Castrol Synthec oil
in the crankcase (and the filter) with Mobil1 10W-30, disconnected and cleaned
the grounds that go from the head to the frame and the transmission to the motor
mount (?), and disconnected the bettery and cleaned the posts.  All or part of
this seemed to clear up the slow cranking.  Last night, I had the front and rear
heater fans on (#2 position), headlights on, and the tape deck turning.  Flicked
on the high beams and the tape deck stopped, cluncked a few times, then resumed
playing "More Songs About Buildings and Food" by Talking Heads :o)

Anyway, this morning, jumped in to drive to work and got a slow crank again.
Driving to work - headlights on, fans on, radio playing - the radio went kaput
again when brakes were applied.

Anyone have any idea what I'm missing?  I have not put a VOM on the alternator
or battery yet - just no time until the weekend.  Is there a few grounds I've
missed?  Is an alternator replacement in the cards for the weekend?  Voltage
regulator?  BTW, battery was new in May of this year.

Alan Bosch
& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
Rochester, NY