[Vwdiesel] Alt. light on dim at idle, 1.9na motor in vanagon

[Tad]

Bryan - the field wire is the smaller wire going to the alt- it provides
power to 'excite' the alt and allow it to generate.  I'm thinking that if
this is not a solid connection it might behave similar to bad brushes.

If you just cleaned up the motor-to-chassis strap, what about the
battery-to-chassis?  Wouldn't it also be in bad shape?

In my experience a weak alt light is all you'll get (if you're lucky) when
the alt isn't charging.  If you check the voltage across the battery (direct
from one post to the other) that will tell you if the battery is getting
enough juice from the alt - it should read about 14V when running.

On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 1:12 PM, Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com> wrote:

>  thanks, I will check these.  Just removed and cleaned up my ground strap
> from motor to chassis, so that is good.
> what it the fields wire to battery.  on the vanagon diesel, it has 2 thick
> red wires that go from the Alt. back to the positive battery terminal and a
> smaller 18g wire that goes ???, maybe to alt. light in dash.
> Are these 2 think wires the 'field' wire on the alt?
>
>
> I have a volt meter that connects directly to the positive battery terminal
> and groud to get its reading.
>
>
>
> Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :}
> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :)
> 70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :(
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* Tad <tadc at europa.com>
> *To:* Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> *Sent:* Mon, April 5, 2010 3:43:36 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Vwdiesel] Alt. light on dim at idle, 1.9na motor in
> vanagon
>
> Bryan - how did you check the ground?
>
> Also, what about the ground to the chassis?
>
> What's the voltage across the battery at idle?  Off idle?  With lights on?
>
> Maybe a weak/dirty connection to the 'field' wire on the alt?
>
> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 12:37 PM, Bryan Belman <dieselwesty at yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>> I have noticed this recently, the alt. light on dim at idle only.
>>
>> I now found that if I turn on my running lights or all lights, it goes
>> away when sitting in the driveway?
>>
>> I have a good ground from the body of the alt. housing back to the neg. on
>> the battery, so that is not it.
>>
>> Any idea's where to look for this little bugger.
>>
>>  Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
>> 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
>> 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :}
>> 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :)
>> 70 Type 1 stock Beetle -- Not running :(
>> _______________________________________________
>> Vwdiesel mailing list
>> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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>>
>
>