I read somewhere that the ICU is supposed to provide that initial blip on
startup.

On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 11:20 AM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>
wrote:

> On 1/20/2015 1:00 PM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
>> My son's van came with that installed, and I'm tempted to cut it open to
>> find out what's in it.  It feels like a large resistor, and somehow it
>> routes extra voltage or current to activate the alternator quicker.
>>
>> Stuart
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of Edward Maglott
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:43 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: alternator charge initiation
>>
>> Interesting.  I've seen that symptom on VWs for years, maybe decades.  I
>> wonder what that GoWesty device has in it, if anything?  If I were more
>> annoyed by needing to blip the throttle I would figure it out and make my
>> own.  Maybe it just connects the blue and black wires?
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 12:54 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Interesting. Looking at the installation drawings on the GoWesty site, it
>>> looks like this product is made to work with the Waterboxer motors (the
>>> article on the product specifically states that it won't work with
>>> air-cooled vanagons). But what about diesels? I think they all have that
>>> "need to blip" issue--my certainly always has--but if I recall correctly,
>>> the diesels need an adjustable output voltage regulator. At least that
>>> has
>>> been mentioned.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 10:20 AM, Mark McCulley <markmcculley@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Ever since I replaced my alternator I've needed to blip the throttle
>>>>
>>> after
>>>
>>>> starting to get the Alt light to go out. This happens about 50% of time.
>>>>
>>> I
>>>
>>>> never had to do this with the old alternator. The new one was a Bosch
>>>> rebuild. I do have a solenoid in the circuit for cabin battery charging
>>>>
>>> but
>>>
>>>> the problem persists even if I switch out that solenoid.
>>>>
>>>> Did I get a bum alternator? I see GoWesty makes a little harness to fix
>>>> this problem (http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=24031) but
>>>> would like to understand why I have a problem that never existed before
>>>> replacing the alternator.
>>>>
>>>> -Mark
>>>>
>>>> '87 Syncro Westy
>>>> FUNHAUS
>>>>
>>>>  I
> 've wondered why my 90GL has developed that problem as well, and was
> wondeirng if a weaky attached alternator bracket would keep belt tension
> from being as it should and blipping the throttle would torque the motor
> enough to get the belt to stick a bit better.  Also thought maybe the
> voltage regulator might be going south.....cheaper than a full
> alternator replacement i guess.....
>
> DM&FS
>