[Vwdiesel] Alternator Issues

[Val Christian]

If it were brushes, you'd see intermittent operation, and 
you might also see a dim or glowing ALT light.

The issues that other posters have mentioned, which include 
grounding, contacts, etc. could be your problem as well.

My experience has been that 90% of the time, it's the brushes.  I
seem to go through a set of brushes about every 30K miles.
On one car, I just got a "lifetime" warranty alt.  I then get the 
warranty alt, and pull off the regulator/brushholder and swap
that only.

To answer your question...failing brushes will give you varying 
voltage, or simply low voltage.  In my experience, adding load 
to the system, increases the dim glow of the ALT light most of the 
time.

Good luck.

Val


> 
> 
> I to am having charging issues and wondered if the stator wire could be losing contact
> somewhere other that the alt, which I resoildered as i go through and eliminate
> possiblities. 
> If it were brushes, what voltages could we expect, something around 12 (battery only).
> ray> From: val at mongo.mongobird.com> To: vwdieselbunny at yahoo.com; vwdiesel at vwfans.com> Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:59:38 -0400> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Alternator Issues> > Check the brushes on the ALT. I've been able to get replacement > brushes at places like AutoZone, and if you have equipment on hand> to solder, you're in luck. In a pinch, I once shimmed the brush> to spring with a 4x folded soda can fragment, and that extended the> brush enough to get me back on a trip, and keep the AC running (grin).> > Val> > > > > > Hey all-> > > > On my way to San Fransisco today, the alternator> > started acting goofy.> > > > Sometimes it will charge, sometimes it won't. Usually> > if I'm driving, the tach will work and give a reading> > that looks to be normal, though if I push in the> > clutch, the needle will drop to 0 until the clutch is> > released again.> > > > The dash light is on when it isn't charging. I> > noticed that if I just turn the key to the on position> > before st!
 art
>  ing it, that the dash light is on but> > dimmer than normal.> > > > It would eventually start charging, but I think it has> > to be revved pretty high, like over 3500 before it'll> > start charging. > > > > I tried unplugging and plugging in the connector a> > couple times, hoping it would clean up the connection> > and fix it, but no avail.> > > > Any ideas? I am here to deliver the car after just> > selling it and I feel like I should probably deliver> > it in the condition that it was described. > > > > Please say it is something cheap and easy to fix. > > > > Also, the vacuum pump crapped out on the way here, but> > I know how that is fixed... I think the car is pissed> > at me!> > > > Thanks,> > > > David> > > > > > VW Parts for sale!> > http://community.webshots.com/user/superdave5599> > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> > Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay i!
 t o
>  n us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 > > > > _______________________________________________> > Vwdiesel mailing list> > Vwdiesel at vwfans.com> > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel> > > > _______________________________________________> Vwdiesel mailing list> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
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