While driving the squareback today, the generator light came on and stayed lit for about one minute of driving, then went off and was never heard from again. I had the lights, wipers, turn signal, and defroster on when the light came on. Car has been running fine (other than some occasional hiccuping) and starting easily. Belt seemed tight when I checked it.
Thoughts?
'73 Squareback Generator Light On
-
fancy pants
- Old School!
- Location: Portland
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
'73 Squareback Generator Light On
John
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
-
hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
If it's a generator, check the brushes. Alternator you can't tell visually, you'll have to put a volt meter on it and check for 12v.
Could be your voltage regulator going bad. Check all electrical contacts in that area too. Shiny shiny no excuses. "Bad wires stoke the fires of ill-willed electricians"
Could be your voltage regulator going bad. Check all electrical contacts in that area too. Shiny shiny no excuses. "Bad wires stoke the fires of ill-willed electricians"
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
-
whc03grady
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Livingston Montana
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Loose connection somewhere? (I guess hambone said it better.)
In the event of a loose belt (which it sounds like it wasn't), an upside of the Type III (and Type IV) set up is that cooling isn't affected. I drove across South Dakota and part of Nebraska back in the Summer of '92 with no belt at all--had to buy a couple batteries along the way though.
In the event of a loose belt (which it sounds like it wasn't), an upside of the Type III (and Type IV) set up is that cooling isn't affected. I drove across South Dakota and part of Nebraska back in the Summer of '92 with no belt at all--had to buy a couple batteries along the way though.
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com
-
fancy pants
- Old School!
- Location: Portland
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
It is a generator, and I've read the procedure in the Muir book for checking it. I guess I just need to get over my fear - sticking something in the generator with it running scares the crap out of me! 
John
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
76 Bus - Riviera
81 Mercedes 300TD
05 Golf TDI
Gone but not forgotten:
1972 Bus
1973 Squareback
We are not going to stick anything that dirty down in your hole - Colin, 6/30/2010
-
Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
If the light came on during high-demand only, don't worry about it. Do make sure the battery has had a full all-night 2 amp trickle charge so the generator doesn't feel so overwhelmed. If after you have a verifiably fully-charged battery and low demand, if the generator lamp comes on, ask yourself, "is this because demand just hit, or is this random?" If demand-based, cleaning the commutator and brushes is called for. If random, the voltage regulator may have taken a dousing under the back seat nestled down there low and is feeling creaky. You can carefully take the regulator out, take the cover off the VR, and clean its contacts.fancy pants wrote:It is a generator, and I've read the procedure in the Muir book for checking it. I guess I just need to get over my fear - sticking something in the generator with it running scares the crap out of me!
Colin