On our TD Jetta, I replaced the positive cable from the Battery to the
starter with a 2 gauge cable (very fat).  Also cleaned the negative main
ground...made a BIG difference in starter speed when it was cold.
G. Matthew Bulley
Director
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   kenneth d lewis [SMTP:kdlewis@JUNO.COM]
Sent:   Tuesday, November 16, 1999 5:49 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Electrical gremlins...

Alan;
        I beefed up the cable between the alternator and the starter on
our 85. I found an unacceptable voltage drop there when using the air
conditioner. This link is the charging path to the battery. Maintenance
to these connectors might have helped but I thought; if I have to take
them loose to clean them, I might as well add another cable to increase
the current capacity.
        I would take your VOM and clip the positive lead to the
alternator post . then clip the negative lead to the positive battery
post. Start the car and turn on all electrical consumers. The voltage you
read is lost i.e. not getting to where it's needed. Less than .25 volts
is OK. If more, clean connectors and retest. Do not forget to disconnect
the positive battery post before performing maintenance. You could check
voltage drops all along the path.

Drive Safely & Good Luck
Ken Lewis<Kernersville,NC>86 VW crewcab;60 T-5 Coupe

On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 10:06:55 -0600 Alan Bosch <arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM>
writes:
>On a cold day last week, my '88 Wolfie was a little slow to crank.....
>Anyone have any idea what I'm missing?  I have not put a VOM on the
>alternator or battery yet......
>Alan Bosch
>& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>Rochester, NY

___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.