I also installed a Bosch "factory rebuilt" alternator and the GW wiring upgrade. The blue alternator wire is a much larger gauge than the stock wire:  http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23762&category_id=&category_parent_id=

I may pull out the GW alternator light fix and see if the light stays on.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Max Wellhouse [mailto:dimwittedmoose@cfu.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:20 AM
To: Stuart MacMillan; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: alternator charge initiation

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