[Vwdiesel] blinking alternator light ??

[Terry Briggs]

One old trick I use to determine if an alternator is bad is taking a 
screwdriver and VERY carefully touching the alternator pulley when the 
car is running, if the pulley is magnetized, the alternator is 
generating electricty, atested to by the magnetic field.  if it isn't, 
the alternator is bad. At least this has worked for me in the past, as 
well as when the subaru's alternator took a dump this fall.
On Dec 10, 2006, at 2:09 PM, Rolf Pechukas wrote:

> update:
>
> so got a jump from a friend, drove out to get a battery charger
>
> (NB: I picked up a Black & Decker 110v charger at WalMart for $35 - I
> think they're supposed to be over $100, so if anyone's interested...
> I don't know if it's a local special, store-wide, or just clerical
> error - but I wasn't going to ask)
>
> anyway, on the way back the alt started charging normally again
> warmer here now than last 2 days
>
> here's my theory:
> brushes shrink in the cold
> so they were making intermittent-to-no contact last couple days when
> it was FREEZING
> but the combination of warmer temps today, sun, and leaving the car
> idling when I went into WalMart may have allowed them to lengthen to
> where they're making contact again
>
> just a guess
> I'm going to go pull them and check
> (no idea what I'm looking for, but I'll post a picture somewhere -
> maybe someone can tell me)
>
> peace
> -- 
>
> Rolf in MA
>
>
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Third Wheel engineering
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