In a message dated 16/12/2005 6:43:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Where  does the tan ground to on the alternator?

Chris, the tan wire from the harness to the  alternator does not go to the
alternator.  It goes to the power steering  pump sensor switch.  That sensor has
two contacts.  One contact, does  not matter which one, is for that wire from
the harness, the other contact is  for another tan wire which goes to the
alternator body on one of the small studs  around the perimeter usually the one
closest to the switch and also has the  receptacle for the flywheel timing
indicator, that no one uses, bolted to  it.  That is the ground source for the
power steering pump switch.   That switch is what tells the idle control unit,
ICU, that the power  steering is being used at idle and the idle needs to be
stabilized due to  an increase demand of HP.  The blue wire which you may have
already been  told goes to the alternator exciter pin, usually a spade connector
very close to  the main positive terminal on the alternator.  That blue wire
is ALWAYS  breaking off due to it's small size.  I like to splice in a new
piece of  wire back down into the harness and cover it with a piece of heat
shrink for  improved durability.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11,  2006