gen light

[keumnam]

here is the issue. Yesterday driving, it was raining. went to stop and gen light came on when hit brakes. let up on brakes, went out. depressed brake pedal and light came on. Activate turn signals (either way) and gen light flashes. Activate emergency flasher and gen light flashes. Removed either brake rear bulbs and light illuminates when pedal depressed. Remove both bulbs and lite does not illuminate. Additionally, now note there is a dim gen light (very dim and sometimes goes out) while engine running. Removed both switches at master cylinder and light still comes on (not sure if this means anything or not). Additionally, gas gauge immediately goes to empty when brake pedal (and gen light illuminates). Sometimes engine stalls. This is a 1971 stock westy. Sound like a direct short somewhere....where is the best place to start looking? Could it be a component somewhere?
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1971 Westy stock, 2006 Corolla stock, 1969 transporter waiting for engine install
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I read somewhere that 77 per cent of all the mentally ill live in poverty. Actually, I'm more intrigued by the 23 per cent who are apparently doing quite well for themselves. ~ Jerry Garcia

[Randy in Maine]

Have you tested the output of the generator yet?

How about the battery (running and when off) and battery connections (including the vehicle ground strap)?

A dim glow is OK when you are using headlights and wipers. 38 amps don't really go all that far.

[Jody '71]

Your VR may be going south. Make absolutely sure if you decide to replace it that it's rated for your '71 Westy generator. That is, don't put a 30amp VR back on there! Also consider the condition of the one wire from the VR that goes up to your dashboard. It could be japped out somewhere creating the issues you describe. 37 year old orginial wiring can do this. It happened to me in my '71 Westy. I was never able to figure out where that one wire was messed up at, and eventually pigtailed that wire up to the front. Problem was solved. Not the best of fixes, but it works.
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'66 Beetle
2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring

[jrbo]

Check the fan belt to see if it's loose,then check the connections..

[aztoaster]