that's not my first guess,
as long as we can trust that the people measuring charging voltage at the
battery know how to use a volt meter,
and are seeing at least 13.8 volts there, with engine running and alternator
charging.
   I have seen fine charging,  yet with alternator light on - but only very
rarely.

Something is not right somewhere.
I would never trust a common FLAPS-supplied alternator myself - though I
realize that's probably all that was redily avaiable at the time.

and,.................I sure don't rule out the new alternator, just because
it is new.
one of my 'rules' ............whatever was last worked on, that's where you
go first, because that's where there is most likely to be 'the thing' that's
causing the mis-working.

the absolute LAST place I would EVER buy ANY vanagon part, is a common FLAPS
or NAPA store, not even an oil filter.
Brand name oil or anti-frz,  - of course.
but parts - no, especially electrical parts.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Dearing" <VWBrain@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 6:17 AM
Subject: Re: alternator / battery light on question

> In a message dated 10/14/2009 12:13:12 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM writes:
>
> have you  any ideas what might be causing the battery
> light to stay lit even though  it is charging fine?
>
>
> hey karl  my guess is that it isn't really charging fine.  :)   LATER
> MARK
> D