[Vwdiesel] Flashing alternator light and windshield washer

[Nate Wall]

If your lucky, the parts jobber will have a listing for them.

How about a little help from those here that have bought them before? Where did
you get them? They are hard to locate for some reason. VW may have a listing,
check. It might not be too much $.

You can actually R & R the regulator w/ just a screwdriver in the parkinglot. It
takes only a couple minutes. Then, the parts can try to match them up. The best
way, if there is no listing, is to unsolder them for a better sizing. Once, I
actually had to sand some that were close, but a little too wide. Just make sure
the leads are out the back and not out the sides of the brushes. Borg Warner is a
US maker. One thing you can do is call Bosch and order some, but that will take
some time. Also, for about $30, you can buy the regulator if you absolutely can't
get the brushes.

Use a 25 Watt soldering iron and thin rosin core solder to solder in the new
ones. Sometimes you get new brush springs in the box, sometimes you don't.

--Nate

Bill Truesdell wrote:

> Nate Wall wrote:
>
> >For the alternator, remove the external voltage regulator (2 screws on the
> >back) and look at the brushes. I bet they wore too short. For about $4, you
> >can get a set and solder them in. Check the condition of the copper slip
> >rings they ride against for smoothness. These brushes seem to go about every
> >100,000 miles, or so.
> >
> >By "Wiper arm", I take it you mean the "stalk" on the steering column, not
> >the arm the blade is attached to. There is a set of contacts that "contact"
> >each other as the lever is pulled back. Take a close look as you pull on it.
> >You nay have to remove the steering wheel (24 MM socket, I think). No puller
> >is needed, the wheel just lifts off. Remember to do it w/ it straight, so
> >you install it on the same splines. You then may have to remove the wiper
> >switch. If its BEHIND the turn signal switch, that has to come out first.
> >You may be able to repair it.
> >
> >There may be a relay to check if that does not fix it.
> >
> >--Nate
> >
> >Bill Truesdell wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>1991 jetta diesel (220kmiles) - German made
> >>
> >>Yesterday, temps well below freezing in the day, the alternator warning
> >>light started flashing. The flashes were rapid and weak. They came on
> >>suddenly and then faded, still flashing rapidly, and went out. Later in
> >>the trip I turned on the windshield washer and it would not go off until
> >>I shut off the ignition and moved the wiper arm around.
> >>
> >>Alternator light never came on again. Battery is a couple of years old
> >>but starts car with no heating at 10F.
> >>
> >>My guess is both are unrelated, but it was interesting that both
> >>happened on the same trip.
> >>
> >>After I refilled the washer fluid, I found I could stop the flow if I
> >>moved the lever around. I am going to check out the wiper switch clean
> >>it up and give it a good shot of WD-40 in case any water or moisture is
> >>in the switch and to loosen it up. If that does not work, probably have
> >>to replace the switch.
> >>
> >>Not sure about the alternator flashing. If it is a belt slipping
> >>problem, I would have expected a more steady light. I have had some belt
> >>slipping (squealing) but usually it is the lower steering pump belt and
> >>is definitely moisture related.
> >>
> >>Would appreciate any insight on both problems.
> >>
> >>Bill T
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>vwdiesel mailing list
> >>vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> >>http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> Nate,
> What is the size of the brushes? Problem is this is our only car and
> cannot remove the brushes to take with me to get new ones. Does sound
> like the fix for the problem.
>
> Bill T