On Mon, 21 Feb 2000 19:23:57 -0500, David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET> wrote:

>If the light doesn't light when you turn on the ignition, the alternator is
>not going to charge.  The alternator needs to be supplied a tiny current
>through this circuit in order to begin charging.
>
>According to Bentley, a thin black wire runs from the D+ terminal on the
>alternator
> [snip]

David, I think you are confusing the Vanagon alternator D+ terminal with
the field winding terminal used on some other alternators.  D+ is an
output from the alternator, not an input to it.  It runs the idiot light
and the fridge relay.  My van's alternator charges normally with the D+
wire unplugged.

As I recall, some F*rds ran the "W" terminal circuit through the idiot light
on the dash, and were notorious for obscure charging system problems.  AFIK,
this is not the case with Vanagons.

Steve Green -- Chico, CA
Zefram -- 1984 Wolfsburg Westfalia