I went out and started my bug and let it run for a while. It has been sitting for a couple weeks. As I was sitting there listening to the sweet purrrr of the flat four, I notice that my inside lights were blinking slightly. Then I notices a soft ticking sound coming from the battery area. I thought it might be the rear seat springs making contact with the battery post, so I lifted the rear seat and this did not stop the sound or the flickering lights. I suspect that the regulator is having problems. I still have the generator on my bug not an alternator.
If the regulator is going bad, and will need to be replaced, do the regulators for alternators cost about the same? I have a alternator in my parts stash that I believe requires an external regulator. Should I go ahead and make the leap to an alternator? I do not know for sure if the alt works properly as I have not had it checked. But having it checked out should be no problem, I would think.