I'll try my hand at this:  A gas engine with a good battery will idle
(even run) with no alternator until the battery runs out of juice to
power the plugs.  I have started and idled my gas westy with no alt
belt (just for a minute or so).  Ordinary diesel engines will run with
no alternator till it runs out of fuel.  So I'm guessing your idle
problem is NOT the alternator or alt wires.  malcolm

On 22 Jan 2002 at 11:21, Dion Cooze wrote:

> Hi all,
> When I recently replaced my v-belt for my 81 Westy, my
> alternator light was continuously on. I inspected the
> alternator only to find that I had pinched and cut the
> ground wire from the alternator to the frame. After splicing
> it back together my alt. lamp is working normal, but my van
> insists on stalling when I let it fall to idle. To eliminate
> the possibility I replaced the fuel filter only to have the
> problem continue. Could this have something to do with the
> damaged ground or the voltage regulator on the alternator?
> Any suggestions or previous experience with such a
> situation?
>
> Thanks,
> Cooze