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Alternator light,? WHERE?
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is almost certain that the resistor is not burned out. In any case they are about $1 for 5 at Radio Shack. They are crimped into the blue foil of the instrument cluster and not meant to be replaced and should never need replacing though it is a remote possibility. With a little soldering skill it can be replaced.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062316

Does your Alt light come on when the key is turned to ON, before starting?

Mark



irgsmoore4 wrote:
so if the "series resistor for the alternator pre-exciter circuit" is burned out where o where do i get a new one? i just called van cafe and veeparts both in CA and they dont have one and cant get one. is this a common problem? i thought that the problem was fixed but the alt is still not putting out, i rode elsie to work today and when i got there i put the multimeter on the alt and it was 12.30 the same as the battery, should i change the voltage reg/brushes? I have yet to test the resistor ,thats going to wait till the weekend its 2 degrees here! Cool
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

irgsmoore4 wrote:
today i added a ground directly to the alt and it runs like a champ, so whatb is the bulb in the cluster if it isnt an LED? Cool


Did you ever replace thge LED? If you have a Bentley on page 27.23 will walk you
through the steps to troubleshoot this particular LED.
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no ,the alt light does not come on, do i get that at radio shak also? Cool
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

irgsmoore4 wrote:
no ,the alt light does not come on, do i get that at radio shak also? Cool


I don't see why not?
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you have a Bentley?
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes i have the Bentley, so if the LED does not come on it has that much of an impact on the alt? Cool so change the bulb and all should be good? Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, the LED is also very unlikely to have failed. The 150 ohm resistor would start the charging even if the LED was missing. Your problem is elsewhere. Do you want to chase it down? It is just a single wire. If you are ready and willing to dive in we can chase it down. It will be simpler if you have a helper to sit in the driver seat and watch for the LED.

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
no ,the alt light does not come on, do i get that at radio shak also? Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i need to chase this down, i cant keep charging the bat, and i have kids so elsie needs to be reliable and until my 71 panel van is brought up to vt from pa then this is our only ride(apart from a borrowed subaru until elsie is fixed)
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, identify the exact led on the instrument cluster that is for the BAT or ALT. Turn on the key and see if it is on or off. If still off, turn off the key and open the engine lid. Look at the back of the alternator. There should be a thin blue wire attached to it. Is there? How is it attached?

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
i need to chase this down, i cant keep charging the bat, and i have kids so elsie needs to be reliable and until my 71 panel van is brought up to vt from pa then this is our only ride(apart from a borrowed subaru until elsie is fixed)
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

crazyvwvanman wrote:
Ok, identify the exact led on the instrument cluster that is for the BAT or ALT. Turn on the key and see if it is on or off. If still off, turn off the key and open the engine lid. Look at the back of the alternator. There should be a thin blue wire attached to it. Is there? How is it attached?

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
i need to chase this down, i cant keep charging the bat, and i have kids so elsie needs to be reliable and until my 71 panel van is brought up to vt from pa then this is our only ride(apart from a borrowed subaru until elsie is fixed)


Mark, I have a question. Is this the same blue wire that's the trigger for an aux battery relay?
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, it is the same blue wire. In the aux battery setup is is used to only connect the aux battery to the main battery IF the alternator is charging. It is wired in between the dash and the alternator blue wire connection and when the dash light turns OFF, the relay turns ON.

Mark


Timwhy wrote:
.............
Mark, I have a question. Is this the same blue wire that's the trigger for an aux battery relay?
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes little blue wire attached to the poleD+ next to the B+(big red pole)also attached to D+ is a little black wire going to a little black box attached to back of alt Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, pull off the blue wire. By the way, I asked how it was attached? With the blue wire unhooked from the back of the alternator, look at it closely and feel it carefully and make sure that inside the blue insulation the inner wire is unbroken along the entire exposed length. Cut back the black sheath an inch or so to be sure.

Mark

irgsmoore4 wrote:
yes little blue wire attached to the poleD+ next to the B+(big red pole)also attached to D+ is a little black wire going to a little black box attached to back of alt Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok took of blue wire and .......... it was just blue case the wire was broke ,(do you know how cold it is here?), so i cut it and attached a new terminal ring. Cool Laughing
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, with the blue wire end repaired and back on the alternator does the BAT/ALT led come on with the key on but engine not started?

Mark

irgsmoore4 wrote:
ok took of blue wire and .......... it was just blue case the wire was broke ,(do you know how cold it is here?), so i cut it and attached a new terminal ring. Cool Laughing
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no the light is still off. Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, pull the blue wire off again. Then have someone watch the led while you touch the blue wire to bare metal on the engine. The led should come on whenever the blue wire is grounded to bare metal. Does it?

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
no the light is still off. Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

no luck, the LED still did not light up. Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, what leds on the cluster do light up?

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
no luck, the LED still did not light up. Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the only light that comes on is the oil light , the others work(high beam, turn signal) Cool
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