[T3] Endless Problems....new theory...

[Jim Adney]

On 7 Dec 2010 at 12:29, J. Jonik wrote:

> I just talked to a VW mechanic, too far away to drive to.   Told him
> the story again, and wanted see if he had Volt Regulators on hand.  
> He didn't, but found that they are the same for bugs and T IIIs for a
> good number of years...up to 73 for T III.   Maybe beyond for Bugs? 

Yes, it's the same VR, up until bugs changed to alternators.

> Any way, he thought there could be a charging problem that would
> involve the GENERATOR...the one component I haven't replaced or messed
> with.   Well, today I DID do the VOM check  at   D on the Generator to
> Ground...and came up with the right voltage....over 11 somewhere. 

Yes, it could certainly be a generator problem. Once again, you have 
to make the voltage measurement at medium rpm or higher. It should be 
well above 12 V at the generator if the generator is any good (unless 
the battery has a shorted cell.)

>  Since I have a box or two of generators, I will pick the best looking
> one and do a quick change....Or maybe I'll wait til the sun comes back
> tomorrow.   In meantime, will read up on "checking the charging
> system---generator". 

I'll send you my charging system faq. Checking the system logically 
is much better than trying random parts of unknown quality.

>  Any thoughts on this? COULD all those symptoms (*) originate at the
> Generator? (* sputtering, power loss, stalling, crank crank start,
> white exhaust, low VR readings across battery, etc.) 

Yes, and there's nothing new here about suspecting the generator. The 
generator, the VR and the battery comprise the heart of the source 
end of your car's electrical system. A failure of any one of these 
will disable this system and cause all these problems and more.

-- 
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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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