At 12:01 AM 2/23/2009, Matthew Snook wrote:
>When those lights come on, is that likely to mean a new alternator or...?  I
>don't have any experience or an electrical test kit, so I'd probably need
>the mechanic to tell me which part is bad anyway.  But it would be nice to
>save money.

Could be alternator or just the brushes and regulator.  If your belt
was broken and you kept on driving you would have cooked the engine
in short order, as the belt also drives the water pump.  So next time
you see those lights, stop *right away* and check the belt, unless
you like changing engines.

Your temp gauge went down because it wasn't getting enough
voltage.  Fuel gauge should have gone down for same reason.

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'89 Whitestar "Scamp"