[Vwdiesel] '82 Jetta charging issue

[Val Christian]

You need to look at your wiring and your grounding.  

I took an entire vacation without an alternator, in the backwoods
of Maine one year.  It's doable.  Pull the solenoid on the IP
so that you don't need power for that. 

The MOT and BOS alternators I've had on Rabbits are all removable 
brushes.  They need to be unsoldered from the brush holder.
If you can solder, it's a 20 minute job.

Again, in your case, you need to look at your wiring.  What
kind of voltage drop from the ALT to the BAT, at full charge?

Sorry, I didnt see any spare brush holders in the garage, although
I have a few various alternators. 

> 
> I thought the brushes on a Motorola are not removable? Or is that the
> regulator... I don't remember.
> 
> Related question, because I continue to have the same problems that
> are being brought up here. I had a string of alternator problems on my
> '81 Rabbit D over the summer, which ended with me having to drive from
> central Utah to Los Angeles with the alt unplugged (yes, driving
> during the day in an old all-mechanical diesel, it can be done!!).
> I've now had 3 alternators in the car (original old Motorola, and then
> two rebuilt Bosches from NAPA, the first of which literally exploded
> under the hood on the highway). None of them has ever charged at more
> than about 13.6v, measured at the battery while running with no other
> current consumers turned on. Is that characteristic of VW diesels?
> Every other car I've ever owned was further up in the 14.5 range or
> thereabouts. If that was too low, what would cause it to be
> continually like that -- bad connections? Would that kill the
> alternators as well?
> 
> Sorry to jack this thread, but maybe the answers to these will help
> with the original question...
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> George
> 
> On 1/26/08, Val Christian <val at mongo.mongobird.com> wrote:
> > Look at the brushes.  They may be marginal.  Greater problem in
> > colder months, and current limits the alternator output by affecting
> > the field current.
> >
> > Remove the brush / regulator assembly.  Check the brush length against
> > the bentley spec (13mm??)
> >
> > If that's the problem, you can get replacement brushes and solder them
> > into the holder.  If you're handy, the whole job is 45 minutes.
> >
> > I've been through this a dozen or more times on various Rabbits.
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > My old diesel Jetta runs the battery down if I use the
> > > headlights and heater and wipers, etc. It's OK during
> > > the warmer, lighter months. Has the 65-amp Motorola
> > > alternator, which tests out just fine. - Where do I
> > > start to look for the charging problem?
> > > Thanks, David
> > >
> > >
> > >
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