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Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:22 pm

Engine rebuilt, new generator, lights died just before Nashville,pulled in filled her up and no s\key start, but jumped started her, and the lights are fading fast, Any ideas please as i am travelling West Coast to East Coast ?

Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:27 pm

Seems like it's an obvious charging system problem.....you're gonna have to do some testing to find out what your voltage is at the battery with the Bus running. Is your battery light on? How old is your battery? Check all cables and connections--clean clean clean. Probably not a whole hell of a lot you'll be able to do tonight in the dark, but I'd be up first thing in the morning checking it over.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:13 pm

V-Dub Tech is right. It's an obvious charging problem. It is tough to diagnose on the road if you don't have a VOM.

It could be the alternator. It could be ancient cables, or badly corroded terminals or both. You gotta get in there and check.

Man we see this a lot. In fact all the time. I feel bad, but I gotta think it's crazy. I gotta go off here just a bit.

I respect that people want a bus. Who wouldn't? But who drives coast to coast in a 40 year vehicle that they don't know inside and out? If I was on a coast to coast trip and the alternator was dying I'd pull the hell over, get out and put in my spare.

FOR YOU LURKERS and folks considering a bus... Before you buy a bus and start off on a 3000 mile trip, engage in some serious reading on the basics of automotive mechanics. This should include basics of the internal combustion engine, ignition and fuel systems too. Read up on automotive electrical systems, brakes, drive axles and suspension. You gotta check these vehicles out hard to know these trips are gonna be fun and not nightmares that make you dump your bus in Kansas somewhere after spending 5 grand.

Yes I've had a few beers tonight....

Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:18 pm

Please, Frandan, feel free to respond to posts right here in the forum rather than through a PM.

From: frandan
To: VDubTech (Online)
Posted: Today 9:25 pm
Subject: electrical
2007 Battery, no B light on, garage checked in Tupelo, reassured all charges were good !!

The garage is quite clearly not telling you the truth. If they were, you wouldn't be dead on the road in Nashville with NO POWER. A cheap VOM would cost less than a tow and you'll be able to diagnose it yourself instead of taking someone's word on it. That guy told you whatever he had to to get you and your Bus far enough away from his garage that you were no longer his problem.

Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:26 pm

Please confirm you have a generator and not an alternator.

If generator:

do you get a charging light when the key is turned on but the car not started? If not you probably have two problems, a burned out bulb and a bad generator or a bad ground.

Check your brushes if it is a generator. They should all be taller than the holder they are in like the image below. If they are worn down to where the spring is resting on the holder instead of them that is your problem. A generator does not need a battery to work whereas an alternator does. What this means is if you have a working generator the lights should not have died. So you either have a bad generator, VR or engine ground.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:59 am

Hi thanks for positive and negative responds !
I have a 1971 Westfalia, also fitted with brand new generator,tried starting this morning, and got a fast ticking with no start, then nothing at all.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:04 am

power light coming on at dash, forgot to mention GEN light on constantly, no red battery light on though ! everything just began fading even dash lights.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:22 am

How mechanical are you?

Do you have some tools?

Do you have a volt ohm meter?

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:33 am

Randy in Maine wrote: How mechanical are you?

Do you have some tools?

Do you have a volt ohm meter?

And possibly even more important at this point:

Do you have a copy of the AIRS list? (Aircooled Interstate Rescue List)
It is located here - find someone nearby who could help you in person. Click on the "Map" menu item at the top of the page, pick where you are and start phoning (or emailing). Chances are good that someone will be able to help you on a Sunday.

http://www.type2.com/rescue/index.html

And then, be prepared to use the AIRS list on the rest of your journey.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:44 am

frandan wrote: Hi thanks for positive and negative responds !
I have a 1971 Westfalia, also fitted with brand new generator,tried starting this morning, and got a fast ticking with no start, then nothing at all.

You need to get your battery charged up. Probably best at this point to take it to a shop and leave it on a charger for a few hours. With a dead battery it is not going to start, new generator or old.

Quote:
power light coming on at dash, forgot to mention GEN light on constantly, no red battery light on though ! everything just began fading even dash lights.

Not sure what lights are on a '71. The only battery lights that I know of told you if the electrolyte level was correct in the original stock battery. On replacement batteries the light told you nothing as there is no connection for it. If the generator light is on constantly that is a good sign that the light is working and that the wiring has a good chance of being in good shape.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:52 am

A 71 only has 2 engine lights and one is oil pressure, gen light/batt light?= same thing.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:27 pm

check in this order

Fan Belt is there and has tension

All wires to the generator still look connected. The ones to the posts on top have not broken.

The brushes all extend above their holders. You will need a pocketbook mirror and a flashlight to see the bottom one.

The wires to the voltage regulator on the firewall all look to be connected.

If no issues above follow Wildthings suggestion to get the battery charged. That will let the shop start it and troubleshoot it. Unless a wire has broken where it connects to the generator (happens) or the brushes are worn out (happens) then it sounds like the generator has died.

Get ahold of the AIRS list as dwill49965 suggested and see who can help you.

Good Luck

Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:05 am

It seems to be that when the new generator was installed at Houston, it was not "phased " so sorting it out today ! last mechanic who said he new what he was doing, didn't have a clue ! shim missing from where fan belt goes to generator thus causing wear and tear and was not sounding good at all, plus giving to much play for the fan belt causing it to loosen.He tried to charge 5hrs labour for a generator replacement !!!!

Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:32 am

frandan wrote: It seems to be that when the new generator was installed at Houston, it was not "phased "
Are you talking about polarizing the generator? This fairly easy proccess needs to be done to all new/rebuilt generators.

frandan wrote: last mechanic who said he new what he was doing, didn't have a clue ! shim missing from where fan belt goes to generator thus causing wear and tear and was not sounding good at all, plus giving to much play for the fan belt causing it to loosen.He tried to charge 5hrs labour for a generator replacement !!!!
Not having the correct number of shims makes the generator belt to tight and he probably damaged the generator due to the excess stress put on it.
If your going to have a mechanic work on your air cooled VW make sure he actually has worked on them and knows what he is doing.
If your gonna be a bus owner that does his own work, then make sure you get the Bentley/Tom Wilson book and just absorb as much info on your bus...Or if you dont have the time or dont really care to work on your vehicle, then expect to dish out the money to pay a mechanic to do your work, which is really lame IMO :lol:

Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:22 pm

Frendan...glad you got an answer and I'm sorry I went off on a drunken tye-raid (spelling?) at the start of this post over the weekend. What you do and the way you do it is your business. Sorry I went off and wasn't more helpful.

Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:21 pm

After leaving the bus today with mechanic, discovered after many many hrs of checking wires, polarity,battery,new regulator, generator still has no output !! i have phoned Houston to say i have problem with their generator installation, they are sending receipt from oneils, so will have another fresh generator tomorrow !!

Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:30 pm

As for lame ! some people on this otherwise encouraging, helpful,and serious website for the VW enthusiast, give negative feedback, to others, who are in need of assistance, which is " LAME "
and if they were made of chocolate, i would tell them to go eat themselves !!!! politeness!! plz

Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:38 pm

I would like to thank all you fine VW owners for your time and friendly advise, which will keep me rolling on the road, and with" enthusiasm " while driving my VW for the next few thousand, and more miles, and to all the old fish wives i will strive to learn more while on and off the road LOL

Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:07 pm

Go in the Samba technical section and find the owners manual for your bus. And start looking for one to buy. I've found all of mine at VW swapmeets. Also be sure and get a Bentley service manual. Even if you don't use it, it might be necessary for you have it handy for mechanics that arn't knowledgable with your bus.

The owners manual tells what switches, controls, gauges, and indicator and warning lights your bus has and what they are for. The 2 red warning lights below the speedometer are oil pressure and generator charging. They are both critical but the generator light also is a warning if the belt goes bad and doesn't turn the engine cooling fan. That will burn up your engine. Both light should come on when the key is turned on. Both lights off when the engine is running. The other red light on your dash is brake warning.

"Houston, we have a problem" is a half century old famous statement. :lol:

Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:02 am

frandan wrote: I would like to thank all you fine VW owners for your time and friendly advise, which will keep me rolling on the road, and with" enthusiasm " while driving my VW for the next few thousand, and more miles, and to all the old fish wives i will strive to learn more while on and off the road LOL

What's an "old fish wife"? :-k