On Tue, 3 Feb 2004, mark drillock wrote:

> MANY premium brand manufacturers use the same basic alternator with
> integrated regulator as the Vanagon. Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Saab,
> etc..... Hard to accept that these all would use something "truly
> pathetic" to only save a buck

I think these alternators are fine in cars with short battery cable runs
and relatively small battery capacities.  My Volvo's charging voltage
stays nicely at 14V no matter how many accessories I turn on.  But in the
Vanagon it's just not a good design.

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Volkswagen Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon