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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:12 pm Post subject: Type 4 alternator testing |
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I have a type 4 alternator I want to have tested. I'm hesitant to take it to the local Autozone. Is there anything special about testing a bus alt? If so where should I take it? The more local the better. _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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From what I have been able to find on the interweb Autozone should be able to test it. We'll find out tonight. _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I took my alternator to Autozone last night and asked guy working there if they can test it for me. "Sure, no problem, what's it fit?"
Looks it up on his computer, then says "Come on over here. We'll test it." We get to the testing machine, he punches in the info, pushes the enter button and the machine tells him, "Cannot test, must test on car." Arrrrgggg.
Sure, no problem.
Mike, you got yours tested. Can you find out how your guy tested it? _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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70 Fastback
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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I'm trying to figure out if the alternator in my bus is working. New battery reads 12.25 volts, start bus, reading goes up to 13.22 volts.
Should it not be at least 14 volts? Can an alternator just partially work?
My alternator light on the dash stays on, no flickering.
Ideas? _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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69 Squareback
70 Fastback
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Greg
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 490 Location: Jefferson, GA
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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If the light stays on with 13+ volts checked at the battery, I would make sure the other side of the light is getting voltage.
forgive me if I'm answering a question no one asked
On one side of the light, voltage comes from the bat with the switch on. On the other side of the light, there is a circuit that goes to the alt. With the alt not putting out anything and the switch on, the light will turn on since the alt is acting as ground. When the alt starts putting out voltage it "pushes back" on the voltage coming from the bat and the light goes out. I think of it sort of like water pressure, if both sides of the water pipe have equal "voltage" no water moves.
I'm finding out that my alt is only partially working. It does the same as yours. Low 13s, when I turn my lights on, it goes to bat voltage. What is your voltage when you turn your lights on?
With the weather, I haven't been able to force myself to remove it yet _________________ 1969 Beetle
1974 Westy FI Conversion |
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Greg. I'll measure with lights on and check power on both sides of light. _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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Greg
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 490 Location: Jefferson, GA
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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something I forgot to mention....check that blue wire coming from the alt, make sure it didn't pinched or disconnected. _________________ 1969 Beetle
1974 Westy FI Conversion |
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Mountain Power House
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 879 Location: Aircooled Heaven USA
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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The battery scan also be bad and cause this.. Or the voltage regulator which on a T4 bus plugs in on the firewall above the #1 cylinder. _________________ Jake Raby
57 Oval
64 Porsche 356C Outlaw
66 Bug -The Plague Returns!
73 VW Thing (Will I ever finish it?)
73 Superbeetle (Suby Power!)
76 Porsche 912E (X3!)
79 VW Iltis 4X4 |
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Mountain Power House wrote: | The battery scan also be bad and cause this.. Or the voltage regulator which on a T4 bus plugs in on the firewall above the #1 cylinder. |
What is the battery scan? _________________ 73 Typ481
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Mountain Power House
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 879 Location: Aircooled Heaven USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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CAN
Damn autocorrect! _________________ Jake Raby
57 Oval
64 Porsche 356C Outlaw
66 Bug -The Plague Returns!
73 VW Thing (Will I ever finish it?)
73 Superbeetle (Suby Power!)
76 Porsche 912E (X3!)
79 VW Iltis 4X4 |
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Clyde
Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Athens
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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I think I can special order one of those "battery scan" thingies for you. I'll ask Julie how much it'll cost you..... _________________ '69 Bug, 1776, dual kadrons, Web 111 cam
Clyde's Aircooled
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Greg
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 490 Location: Jefferson, GA
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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I finally got around to addressing my low voltage issue on the bus. It would read 12.5 with the lights on, always seemed like the battery was almost dead etc. I swapped out the regulator, that helped a little, so I pulled the alt and took it to the guy in Monroe, he said it tested fine and cleaned it up a bit, (no charge, yea!)
So this weekend, I replaced the alt/batt/reg wiring harness and reinstalled the alt. That is a job, nothing difficult but you have to follow each step carefully.
So, went to fire it up and I got 14.2 at the battery with the lights on
(so that's what a fully functioning charging system looks like at night) _________________ 1969 Beetle
1974 Westy FI Conversion |
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Jon Site Admin
Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 2421 Location: Bishop GA
1969 Volkswagen Type 3
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Greg wrote: | I finally got around to addressing my low voltage issue on the bus. It would read 12.5 with the lights on, always seemed like the battery was almost dead etc. I swapped out the regulator, that helped a little, so I pulled the alt and took it to the guy in Monroe, he said it tested fine and cleaned it up a bit, (no charge, yea!)
So this weekend, I replaced the alt/batt/reg wiring harness and reinstalled the alt. That is a job, nothing difficult but you have to follow each step carefully.
So, went to fire it up and I got 14.2 at the battery with the lights on
(so that's what a fully functioning charging system looks like at night) |
That's good news Greg! My bus is available next weekend for you to work your magic! _________________ 73 Typ481
76 Westy
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70 Fastback
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Greg
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 490 Location: Jefferson, GA
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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I'll be happy to help. We need to get your bus ready for BAP! _________________ 1969 Beetle
1974 Westy FI Conversion |
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