Check first to see if the blue wire (field) is connected to the alternator. If this is loose or disconnected the alternator won't charge. If you can get it running, connect a voltmeter to the positive terminal of the alternator- reading should be about 14 volts.  

Robert

1982 Westfalia
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender

----- Original Message -----
Wrom: OWCONEUQZAAFXISHJ
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 6:28 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
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)Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com