>From your description it does sound like a circuit is opening up (failing) in >the charging system when everything is warmed up and under load (lights on). >The trick is going to be getting the problem to recur, then testing your >charging system before things cool back down. Rob and Dave’s VW page has this >write-up on testing:
Rob and Dave’s VW page http://www.vw-resource.com/generator.html Be real careful of the spinning pulleys/belts while measuring voltages. If you do further web searches you will find tips on testing the generator brushes by sticking your finger through the vent holes, I’d suggest using a stick or another expendable item instead… Let us know what you find. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Morehouse Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2015 2:07 PM To: VintagVW Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Re: Generator Light Issue on 72 Bug John, thanks. Do you have alink to the article about gen light on at highway speeds? Mike On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 3:13 PM, John Sroka <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Mike. The charging system could work fine when cool and then fail when warmed up. A Google search shows that the gen light coming on at highway speeds is not an uncommon problem, these same articles have good information on diagnosis and correction. Maybe plan a 20 mile round trip on the interstate in daylight (headlights on to provide a load) and see if you can reproduce the symptom. You can then isolate the problem to regulator, generator or wiring. On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 12:19 PM, Mike Morehouse <[email protected]> wrote: After trickle charging the battery over the last few days till I got a green light indicating it was charged, the battery output with the engine off is 12.65. I started the bug and let it idle. No gen light. Revved up the engine and checked the voltage at the battery and it was reading about 14.3 vdc. Wouldn't this indicate that the generator is ok? What to check next? Thanks Mike Mike Morehouse On Dec 12, 2015 1:30 PM, "stokester" <[email protected]> wrote: The first thing I would do is use a meter on it to see the actual output voltage of the generator. Nick On Friday, December 11, 2015 at 9:54:34 AM UTC-5, mike morehouse wrote: Good morning. I need a little advice with a generator light issue on my stock 72 Bug with generator. I drive my Bug mostly short trips in town - errands, church, work, etc...both day and night driving. Car is stock with OEM generator. No added accessories. Battery was replaced in 2012 and starts car fine. I never have any generator light issues on normal trips in town. Last night I took it up the interstate on about a 22 mile trip at about 65 mph and at the 20 mile mark the gen light came on. Car contined to run fine. Got to my destination and picked up a play script and got back in the car to make the 22 mile trip back home. Gen light stayed on the whole time. FYI, I did notice left and right turn signals were flashing very rapidly when I put them on on way home. As I got close to home it did appear that headlights were getting dimmer. Made it home OK. Pulled in garage and left engine running to look at headlights. They did look dim. Shut engine off. Checked fan belt. It was intact and seemed to have plenty of tension. I connected my Harbor Freight trickle charger to battery and left it on over night. It is still charging this am. If I do start car this am, headlights seem fine and there is no gen light on. IIRC, the last time I made his same length trip, the same thing happened. Why would I have gen light issues on a 20 mile trip at 65 mph when I never see that around town? Would a 30 or 35 minute trip cause a gen problem that a 10 minute trip around town might not? I guess what I am saying is no gen light occurrences on numerous local trips but 2 consecutive light issues on 30 min trip up interstate. I'd welcome your thoughts as this makes me wary of taking an road trips in the Bug. If I didn't give enough info on symptoms please let me know as I do need some help. Thanks Mike Morehouse in Alabama -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw. 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For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
