Well, after my last email, which was at a gas station, got back on the road and it started acting up about 2400 rpm. Ok, getting worse. 

Limped at 45 mph to the next exit and checked grounds (not bad, but not great), belt tension still good, alternator brackets firm. 

Pulled the alternator and took out the regulator. Sure enough, one of the brushes is only about 3/8” long and the housing melted enough to just hold it in. Of course, no chance this is going back in (tried) to limp it along any further. 

Looks like some scoring on one of the bearing race (the short bushing one). Time for a new alternator time.

Anyone near Doswell, VA with a spare alternator or regulator?

Time to pack it in for the night and regroup in the morning.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Narrowed it down pretty quickly.

Gregg

> On Apr 8, 2020, at 12:33 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> If you need an alternator this one works very well. 
> 
> https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Gear-PG-14778-Professional-Alternator/dp/B00KY0CWPC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=vanagon+alternator&qid=1586320319&sr=8-2
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Gene P
> Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 11:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Battery light comes on above 3200 rpm
> 
>> On Apr 7, 2020, at 7:31 PM, Gregg Carlen <gricha@verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
> The belt was just recently replaced. Had about 0.5 - 1” flex in it. Could it be too tight?
> 
> I favor the easy and the cheap.  New belt run in, stretched, so it’s too loose and slips at high RPM?