[T3] A Tale Of Two Regulators

[Tony Rongey]

As Chad suggested you may have a short (or a bad ground) somewhere.
It might also just be bad regulators.  I recently went through similar problems.  Regulator A was a new electro-mechanical like the old ones.  It consistently starts out at 15v and by the time I got to work or home, about 20 miles, it would be down to 12.5v.  Regulator B was a new electronic style; it didn't charge at all until I heard a snap then it charged a steady 17v!  Regulator C is an old scaly electro-mechanical.  It is working great.

Good Luck,
Tony 
'70 Fastback AT/FI




________________________________
 From: Chris Sheridan <cscsheridan at gmail.com>
To: type3-vwtype3.org at lists.vwtype3.org 
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 1:24 PM
Subject: [T3] A Tale Of Two Regulators
 

My Daily Driver is again experiencing electrical issues. You may remember I
replaced the battery, regulator, belt, generator brushes about a year ago,
and the generator itself about 2 years ago.

Over the last month or so I noticed the lights dimming at idle. When I rev
the motor or begin driving the headlight brightness increases, when I stop
at a stop sign the lights get very dim.

Also the battery began to no longer hold a charge. - slowly became
difficult to start over a few weeks.

I brought the battery in for testing and was told it was shot. I had it
replaced last week and it began to start brightly again, but then I noticed
it started to start harder again after a few days, and the light dimming
was still there.

I then ordered a new regulator from my FLAPS - it was an aftermarket exact
replica of a 1970 bus regulator - more square and boxy than the typical
bosch t3 regulator. - the computer insisted this was the right part for the
1970 t3 even though I questioned the Type 2 part number (211) - I replaced
it into my car and began driving it and started smelling burnt wiring after
about a block, so I parked it again.

What gives. Can I use the older style regulator on a FI T3? What is causing
my lights to change intensity based on my engine rpm?

Thanks,
Chris
1970 Fastback FI
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.vwtype3.org/pipermail/type3-vwtype3.org/attachments/20140424/85bb4025/attachment.htm>
_______________________________________________
VWType3.Org mailing list - type3 at vwtype3.org
http://lists.vwtype3.org/listinfo.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org
Contact gregm at vwtype3.org if you need help with the list.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.vwtype3.org/pipermail/type3-vwtype3.org/attachments/20140424/bd7e4b02/attachment.htm>