Wes,

To answer you question that is only a 6% voltage drop and within permissible
limits.

I bought a gizmo a couple years back for $40 that is a battery computer
tester. Tells if there are bad cells and the condition of the battery simply
by letting it test for 30 secs. Worth it's wait in gold after you make the
mistake of buying a new alternator or VR when it was just a bad battery!

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Wesley Pegden
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 6:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: FIXED? (and, advice needed...) (was: Re: low voltage, starter
running intermittently, but alternator is okay?)

So...
It seems my starting problems have been resolved... after changing the
alternator and letting the battery get a good charge.  I'm still
wondering about changing the wire between the alternator and the
battery, to avoid future problems like this.  My voltage at the
alternator is 14.0 volts, and at the battery is 13.25.  What do people
think?

Wesley Alden Pegden wrote:
> Hi guys,
> I'm having frustrating electrical (I think) problems.
>
> First, my van ('84 manual) wouldn't start.  Headlights would come on
(battery okay) and they would dim when I turned the ignition (so power was
getting to the starter), but it wouldn't turn.  I heard a click when I would
turn the key, and again when I would release it.
>
> I ordered a rebuilt starter, and finally got around to installing it
today.  It started twice in a row, so I thought it was okay, but then the
third time it didn't, and I realized I was back where I started.  It starts
maybe one out of 5 times, and when it starts, it starts right away.
>
> The battery is right at 12.0 volts with the car off.  With the key turned
all the way (but when it fails to start) it drops to 11.4.  If it starts, it
sits at 11.6.  So now I figure maybe my alternator is bad.  I had an extra
alternator, so I put it in, but absolutely nothing has changed, and so  now
I'm stumped.
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
>
> -Wes
>
>