Alternator is taking a while to kick in

[Andrew Duane USG]

Hairy green toads from Mars made passat TS say:
> [ Converted text/html to text/plain ]
> Lately, every time I start my 2.2l CGT, the voltmeter shows either 12V or one
> led lower for an unreasonable long time, then jumps to the normal 14.5V.
>
> I noticed that when I rev(4k+ rpm) the engine for a while it goes back to the
> 14.V.
>
> I have my panel rewired (I have a custom panel), and about 2 weeks ago the D+
> wire got a bad connection and the alternator wasn't working until I fixed the
> D+.

This is usually a sign of a bad connection on the field exciter wire.
Is this the D+ wire? If so, you didn't fix it "enough".
It's the small blue wire on the back of the alternator, in exactly
the right spot to pick up water and road salt and corrode to nothing.

I just found it easiest to snip half an inch of wire and crimp a
new water-resistant connector on it.

--

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane at zk3.dec.com
HP/Compaq Corporation			Andrew.Duane at compaq.com
110 Spit Brook Road			Andrew.Duane at hp.com
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698		(603)-884-1294