Our TiiCo was developing charging problems too; with a new alternator.
Discovered that the TiiCo alt. mount and the bushings that I had installed
were not grounding the alternator case effectively.  Run a ground wire from
the case to the engine block and see if that changes things.

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Blackburn" <blackburn@CODENET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 5:14 PM
Subject: 1990 Syncro GTI w/ Dead Battery

> Hello All,
>
> Well, I knew it wouldn't be long before I had something to fix...  I just
> bought a 1990 Syncro Adventurewagen with a Eurospec GTI engine conversion.
> I was driving along today for work to visit a construction site and
noticed
> the battery light would flash on and off every now and then.  I then after
a
> while the light just went completely red and stay on.  I then turned of
the
> stereo and the light went back to its intermittent flashing.  I was hoping
> that this was only a loose wire or the like but I don't think this is the
> case.
>
> After my meeting I jumped back in the van to run to the next meeting
and....
> Nothing, the battery was dead.  Oh, #@$%!  Luckily I was at a construction
> site and borrowed some jumper cables.  (I had mine in the garage still,
> duh!)  Anyway, I just jumped myself from the second battery and was on my
> way.
>
> Now, is would appreciate some list knowledge...  It seems to me that this
> means the alternator is not charging my battery.  Since even a fairly bad
> battery would not make the light go off while running unless the
alternator
> was not putting out enough juice.  Anyone have any thoughts...  How can I
> test the alternator to see if it is cranking out enough amps?  Thanks for
> any thoughts or ideas.
>
> Michael Blackburn
> 1990 Syncro Adventurewagen (GTI)