Driving my Syncro to the ferry, headed to work, I was activating my windshield wipers every minute or so to clear the light rain. About the third time the wipers swept my windshield they seemed to be moving very slightly slower than normal. Made me suspicious that they might be operating off battery voltage, despite the absence of an alternator warning light. At the ferry I shut the engine off and turned the ignition back on - sure enough no alternator light.

I knew there was value to the Seattle area's frequent rain this spring. My windshield wiper speed makes a pretty good voltmeter!

Angus

Postscript: The obvious suspect was the blue wire at the alternator, so I decided to fix it once I was loaded on the ferry. Cars were packed pretty tightly nose-to-tail so I laid the bed flat, hauled all the stuff off the engine hatch, and worked indoors repairing the broken wire. Another Vanagon advantage!

Angus Gordon
Bainbridge Island WA