[Vwdiesel] Wiring Voltage Gauge FOLLOW-UP

[Roger Brown]

sorrentino2 at excite.com wrote:
> 
>  Installed the gauge today along with an old GTI triple panel console shifter housing. Fused the voltage and light feed with a 5-amp inline fuse. Is this about right size wise? 

Fuse should be sized to protect the wire that is attached to it.  THe idea is you want the fuse to blow before the wire burns up
under short circuit.


> The car has a/c and a 65-amp alternator. The car has a gas cluster with tach, which isn't hooked-up. For some reason the alternator wil not energize (kick-in) until you rev the engine a little. Volt gauge stays at 12 or slightly below before alternator is energized. The way I can tell when the alternator is energized is the tach starts to swing over to the 4000 rpm range. Then the volt gauge reads above 13, usually around 13 when car is in motion. At idle, falls to 12. May need to change belt as it's a little loose and it's adjusted as far as it can be. Any ideas on why the alternator won't energize? The car is a diesel. 

Souncs somewhat normal, mine needs to rev to about 2400 RPM before the alt. self-excites.  Voltage should swing up to nearly 14
(13.6 - 13.8 is normal charging voltage).  But the voltage should stay at that value when you drop back to idle unless the load
on the alt. is more than it can handle.

 
> Also, any suggestions to painting the blue GTI console to tan to match the interior. I know there is Krylon Fusion, but I don't believe they have a color match. Appliance epoxy paint?
>  Finally, the light on the gauge is pretty poor, can this be swapped for a brighter bulb, and if so, what type, kind and rating? Thanks!--- 

Problem is the gauge face, not the bulb, the face is opaque, only a bit of light leaks around the periphery.  My fix was to
remove the face, scan it into my computer then print ouf a B/W copy on paper or frosted plastic then cut out out and put it back
in the gauge.  The light can now shine through the white marks and letters and a little comes through the black background.  

--
   Roger