Upon initial startup the engine must be revved to make the battery light go
out. If the vehicle has been started and the battery light has not been
turned off the alternator has not been excited and therefore the alternator
will not start charging. HTH

Chris DeLong
ICQ#45030867
Seattle, WA USA
'80 16V 'Rocco ragtop
'91 GLi 2.0 16V
'77 Rabbit 16V
'80 'Vert (parting out!)
'61 17 Window type II
'91 Vanagon
'78 Rabbit
'84 Jetta

>From: Steve Firebaugh <firebaugh@RAINCITY.COM>
>Reply-To: Steve Firebaugh <firebaugh@RAINCITY.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Camping in cold & battery
>Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 19:47:02 -0800
>
>I was out this past weekend to Eastern Oregon, in 87 Westy with Tiico
>conversion with 2500 miles. Lows at night were 15 to 20. One morning, in
>order to start melting the frost off the windows, I started her up, and
>let her idle for 30 minutes or so, with heaters going, then turned her
>off after the windows were clear and interior warm.
>
>An hour later, when we were ready to go, the battery was dead. A push
>start was needed. Clearly the alternator at idle rate was not charging
>the battery while running the heaters (front and rear).
>
>Is this normal? Advice to keep charged up when idling?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Steve Firebaugh

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