Thanks for the additional explanation Mark.  I did tighten the belts a
couple of weeks ago.  They had been a bit too loose, making squeals at
startup, and the battery wasn't being charged properly.  I haven't driven
much since then (meaning I haven't paid attention to the led's for some
reason).  But, I have had no charging problems sinc tightening the blets
nor has the squealing returned.   I have driven enough such that if I  had
had a charging problem starting at that time, I would have noticed by now.
I'm aware of problems stemming from over tightening the belts, and I'm
wondering if this may have caused anything.  I don't that that I over
tightened though.  If the rain stops for a little while tomorrow, I'll go
have a look under the hood.  (to make one correction, I replaced the belts
rather than tightening the old ones)

Thanks,
David

On Wed, 10 Jan 2001, Mark Drillock wrote:

> The 2 leds in question, OX and ALT, have multiple functions. The most
> critical is as a warning of drive belt failure for the water pump. The
> OX led also comes on separately as a service reminder for the OX sensor.
> It does this every so many miles as counted by a separate odometer in
> the speedo cable under the drivers floor. It has no direct connection to
> the oxygen sensor and means nothing with respect to the oxygen sensor
> functioning or malfunctioning. The ALT led also warns of some charging
> failures in the alternator but it is possible for the alternator to fail
> and this led not come on.
>
> It is never safe to drive with the ALT/BAT warning led inoperative or
> always on. This is because this is the only warning you will likely get
> if the water pump seizes or the water pump belt fails. (Other than the
> flashing coolant temp led and clouds of steam from the blown heads but
> that will be too late).
>
> I have often thought that instead of the lame little icon of a battery
> for the ALT led car companies should show a stack of hundred dollar
> bills going up in flames. This would give a more urgent sense of the
> true situation if this led should come on while you are driving. I have
> seen more than one Vanagon get junked because the driver decided it was
> ok to drive on for a short distance after this warning came on. A
> similar flaming stack of currency could be used for the oil led but the
> buzzer on the 2.1 models at least gets your attention.
>
> Mark
>
> "MOST,DAVID" wrote:
> >
> > What does it mean if the two red dash lights that normally stay on when
> > starting (until the engine is revved) aren't coming on at all?  I'm
> > assuming that the bulbs and associated fuses are good, but I'll admit to
> > having done no checking yet.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > David
>