TheSamba.com :: View topic - Alternator Change on 1968 Bug with Manx Dune Buggy kit

Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:32 pm

Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.

I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.

Anyone have any experience doing this or input?

Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:38 pm

I did mine recently. It was easy enough, but I have a rather wide cut out on the back of wide cutout on the back of my buggy.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 2:57 pm

Govolsguy31 wrote: Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.

I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.

Anyone have any experience doing this or input?
Post photos. Taking the engine out may be a lot easier....

Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:10 pm

Cusser wrote: Govolsguy31 wrote: Did a little searching and couldn’t find an exact answer.

I have a 1968 bug that is a Manx style dune buggy with a faulty alternator. Is it possible to change the alternator without removing the fiberglass body shell? I’ve watched numerous videos and I’m worried I’m not going to be able to get to the top components adequately.

Anyone have any experience doing this or input?
Post photos. Taking the engine out may be a lot easier....

Here’s a few photos:

Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:53 pm

Take the engine out.... 4 bolts.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 4:56 pm

Glenn wrote: Take the engine out.... 4 bolts. And it looks like it would be real easy to clear the body on the way out. I would still put it as high in the air as my jack stands would allow. Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:03 pm

bsairhead wrote: Glenn wrote: Take the engine out.... 4 bolts. And it looks like it would be real easy to clear the body on the way out. I would still put it as high in the air as my jack stands would allow. Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort.

Watched a couple more videos and I think I’ll go this route. Seems like the far lessor of 2 evils.

I have one other question that I’m sure is simple, but I’m a novice mechanic. Currency, the positive is running directly to the battery and nothing is attached to the other terminal on the alternator that is labeled to go to the warning light. That’s just an indicator, right? It wouldn’t impact the functioning of the alternator, I just won’t have a fault light if it’s not working properly? (Basically, there’s no neutral/ negative to hook up on these, correct?)

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:03 pm

[quote="bsairhead"] Glenn wrote: Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort.
It's not the years, it's the miles ;)

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:12 pm

[quote="Glenn"] bsairhead wrote: Glenn wrote: Getting down on my knees is not the issue. Getting up takes some effort.
It's not the years, it's the miles ;) My odometer hasn't spun over yet but I know the block well.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:18 pm

I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:33 pm

Bobs67vwagen wrote: I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp,

Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:53 pm

bsairhead wrote: Bobs67vwagen wrote: I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp,

Wow. Ok, so that in itself might be the problem. I don’t even have a wire for that tho. How could I hook that up correctly? I don’t think this thing even has a “lamp” (sorry, another dumb question, but is that an actual bulb? Where would that be, on the dash/ gauge cluster?)

Tue Jul 08, 2025 6:29 pm

The lamp is in your speedo, well the bulb should be there. Alt or gen is on left, red and oil pressure is on right, green.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:45 pm

Govolsguy31 wrote: bsairhead wrote: Bobs67vwagen wrote: I think the alternator light is supposed to function in order for the alternator to charge. Others will surely weigh in on this. Good luck Bob Yes it needs to see voltage at both ends of the lamp,

Wow. Ok, so that in itself might be the problem. I don’t even have a wire for that tho. How could I hook that up correctly? I don’t think this thing even has a “lamp” (sorry, another dumb question, but is that an actual bulb? Where would that be, on the dash/ gauge cluster?)

Yes, the light bulb for charging light in the speedometer housing MUST be operable for an ALTERNATOR to work. For an internally-regulated alternator, D+ must be connected to the charging light bulb.

Wed Jul 09, 2025 7:55 am

Yep, so I don’t have a warning light at all! Haha. I’ll have to get one ordered.

For wiring, can I just use an unused strand from the wiring harness? It’s a direct connection from the alternator to that bulb, right?

Wed Jul 09, 2025 10:38 am

So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.

Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure.

Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:23 am

Govolsguy31 wrote: So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.

Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing.

Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:38 am

bsairhead wrote: Govolsguy31 wrote: So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.

Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing.

Correct. It had power to it. May not be neutral. Possibly shift indicator? Top middle indicator on the speedo.

Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:40 am

Govolsguy31 wrote: bsairhead wrote: Govolsguy31 wrote: So, in troubleshooting today, the neutral indicator light was still in the Speedo, just not connected. I made sure it still functioned and it does. I hooked it up to the alternator and nothing. No light when the ignition is on and the car off. Nothing when I start the car.

Are we back to bad alternator? Anything else it could be? I’m assuming this light is the same as the ones I ordered. It’s green, but that doesn’t matter I’m sure. You need key on power to the tab for the lights, (oil pressure and generator) Neutral indicator light? No such thing.

Correct. It had power to it. May not be neutral. Possibly shift indicator? Top middle indicator on the speedo. Top middle?

Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:56 am

Top middle (blue) is for high beam headlights.