Annoying Generator Light

Harry Smith · 2007-03-07T04:29:35+00:00

Hi,Since I've had my Bug, the generator light has been steady on. Thewiring harness is a nightmare and since the battery has been gettingcharged....simpler just to not get involved. It's always made menervous though, and sure enough I recently had the belt come off dueto an under-tight alternator pulley nut. The engine overheated beforeI realized anything was wrong, though thankfully it was just aroundtown and not on the highway where some serious damage would have beendone.Realizing the error of my ways, I set out to fix that damn light. Thecar (a '74 standard) has had an alternator conversion, but whoever didit used some creative wiring. At the alternator, there is a large red/white [1] AND a mysterious black wire [2] connected to the B+terminal, and a mysterious red wire [3] connected to the D+ terminal.I tried connecting the hacked-off remains of the green wire to thealternator, but it did nothing.Today I started monkeying with it some more and only after findingSpeedy Jim's pages on the subject (highly informative, kudos to Jim)did things finally make sense. So, I spliced the blue and greenwires from the regulator together and replaced the mysterious red wireon the D+ terminal with the green wire. Unfortunately, the lightSTILL doesn't work as it should.I am fairly certain it is wired correctly, and the light does come onwith the key, but stays on while the engine is running (however, itsbrightness is now directly related to engine speed, whereas before itwas inversely related). I believe the problem is that with ignitionon and engine not running, the voltage at the green wire is a measly9-10 volts. The D+ terminal puts out 14-15 volts when running. Ifigure the wiring on the ignition side of the light is just so shoddythat there is enough "backflow" though the warning light to keep iton. The voltage at the red wire (that was previously connected to D+)is more like 11-12 volts, still not equal to the battery voltage butcloser. Now that I'm thinking...

J

Juper Wort 19 years ago

gets better...

formatting link

Vote

S

Speedy Jim 19 years ago

HaHaHa!!

Colour me shocked...

Vote

H

Harry Smith 19 years ago

Thanks. Apparently Jus Bugs is the place to go on the Coast...

I stopped by a Chopper Shop up on Hewes Ave. earlier to ask about powdercoating my roof rack. Mostly Harley stuff, but theres a flat black flat-screen Super parked out front. Turns out they were really into VW's and offered a '71 Van for sale for $800. Says its rusty but running. Also mentioned the Super might be for sale. Anyway, they too mentioned Jus Bugs as the place to go.

Peace, Harry

Vote

H

Harry Smith 19 years ago

Thanks. Apparently Jus Bugs is the place to go on the Coast...

I stopped by a Chopper Shop up on Hewes Ave. earlier to ask about powdercoating my roof rack. Mostly Harley stuff, but theres a flat black flat-screen Super parked out front. Turns out they were really into VW's and offered a '71 Van for sale for $800. Says its rusty but running. Also mentioned the Super might be for sale. Anyway, they too mentioned Jus Bugs as the place to go.

Peace, Harry

Vote

D

dragenwagen 19 years ago

This is the flat black super you speak of.....

formatting link

But yeah Doug seems to have the market on the Gulf Coast as far as VW parts are concerned... havent really found any other VW parts houses locally...

Vote

Annoying Generator Light

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?