Bruce

        Just in case Dennis is busy doing other stuff & not able to respond soon >

ReRead Denniss Post ~ The 3.5VDC on Blue Wire indicates that there is a Prob'

on that Circuit & the Alt' is unlikely @ Fault but check it by Jumping 12VDC to

Blue Wire Connector to see if it Wakes Up ~

On 5 Jul , 2020, at 2:41 PM, Bruce Todd wrote:

> Voltage  on blue wire disconnected from alternator with key on = 3.5
> volts.  Voltage at alternator engine idling - blue wire off or on - 11.5
> volts.
> 
> Will go see alternator repair shop tomorrow morning.
> 
> Bruce
> 
> On Sunday, July 5, 2020, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> The campers add a bit of bewilderment to the alternator activation and
>> warning light circuit. Yes, that is not just there for the warning light.
>> The alternator needs a little bit of activation current to get the magnetic
>> field from the rotor going.
>> For the campers this circuit is also used to operate the refrigerator
>> relay. That is why the light remains on when the blue wire is taken off the
>> alternator. To make things a bit more difficult the ground for the fridge
>> relay is through the starter solenoid. Combination of disable the fridge
>> during cranking and take the load off the activation circuit so that maybe
>> as soon as it starts the alternator will kick in.
>> 
>> You would hope the shop actually tested the alternator including under
>> load. Check the blue wire discounted that you have close to battery voltage
>> on it key on. If not that is a problem. With the engine running you can
>> jump power to that terminal and see if the alternator starts. Rev it a
>> little. If not you likely have a problem with the alternator.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Bruce
>> Todd
>> Sent: Saturday, July 4, 2020 8:48 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Seeing Red
>> 
>> Okay - First off - Happy 4th of July to all of you folks south of the
>> border.
>> 
>> So I've been going hard on a number of repairs since posting about a
>> vibrating alternator and discovering a broken cradle bracket.  You may
>> recall I upgraded the bracket and installed an additional supporting
>> bracket and then also took my alternator into a repair shop for inspection
>> and service.  Put everything back together - started everything up, admired
>> the belts and the stability of the new bracket -  but didn't travel
>> anywhere as I immediately began working on replacing the manifold intake
>> hose / boots.  This included repainting the manifold, cleaning the top of
>> the block, inspecting fuel lines and installing protective sheathing over
>> the fuel lines which circulate  fuel to the rails and injectors and
>> replaced the fuel hose that returns fuel from the fuel ring back to the
>> tank - and since I was in the neighbourhood - I also replaced the fuel
>> filter.  I also renewed all the grommets on the injectors and injector
>> bracket.
>> 
>> I also changed a small coolant hose - the upper most small elbow on the
>> expansion tank.  So finally got everything back together - no more leaks
>> everything looking good...and went for a test drive.  Quickly discovered
>> the battery indicator led is on...seeing red!  Checked the voltage - via a
>> battery tester, the type you plug into a cigarette outlet and saw
>> immediately the battery was not charging -  I did not check voltage at the
>> alternator because I no longer have an actual volt meter...(need to buy a
>> new one).  So checked the Bentley where it discusses trouble shooting
>> - and so I removed the wires from the alternator and then turned the
>> ignition switch to the on position and noted that the red battery indicator
>> light stays on.
>> 
>> What is the likelihood the alternator needs to go back to the repair shop?
>> Seems odd but possibly something overlooked there - or could I have a
>> short somewhere?
>> 
>> Bruce - 86 Westy Syncro (2.1)
>>