Bouncing voltage meter

[VWNica]

Hello once again.

I am having a electrical problem. My voltage meter ( think thats whats its called) bounces around while im driving. From 0 to 60 at times. some times really accelerating it bounces from right to left taking up basically the whole meter. When first starting it jumps up to 60 and then stays there for a while. Idling it drops to 0 and am having trouble with it stalling at red lights and stop signs.

Driving normally to sits at 0 and then will bounce to 30 and then back to 0,

One time the negative terminal of the batterie got kinda hot but that has not happen again.

The other thing that happens is the lights pulse.

It all started when I changed the wire coming from the alt to the coil. 12 gauge.

I have removed the voltage regulator and had it tested and it is fine. I had an electrician look at it as well and with his measuring thingy determined that everything is fine.

The batterie is charging.

I know something is wrong because the lights are pulsing otherwise I would just assume that the gauge is broken.

Anybody had this problem before?

[silverside61]

how about a picture of this gauge you are talking about. most just have a warning light. sounds like your gauge is bad, or maybe some wire is loose and bouncing around when you drive, grounding out and such

[busdaddy]

Could just be a bad gauge, but the lights dimming/brightening in time with the needle says otherwise.

Is the voltage regulator grounded properly and is there a ground wire between the generator body and the regulator body?
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Слава Україні!

[dwill49965]

If the gauge in question reads up to 60, it is most likely an amp gauge, not a voltmeter. Many amperage gauges go from -60 (discharge) to +60, with divisions at +/- 30.

Best advice? Disconnect it, get rid of it, and put in a proper voltage gauge. The wiring is infinitely easier, and a voltage gauge will tell you much more about the state of your electrical system.
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Darryl
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'78 Westy, Boston Bob built 2.0 L, FI, MSD 6A

[VWNica]

It was working before I replaced the wire

Ya sorry about naming things im still learning

[Emeritusx]

if it is going to +60 you are drawing amperage, and lots of it... sounds to me like you have a short in one of your wires (like maybe the one you just messed with) a short means it is touching the body or ground and it shouldn't be.... look at the insulation along the wire (The hot side) of your coil
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82 Westy ☢, 66 Splitty ☮, 73 Type 181 ✠

[Wildthings]

If your battery terminals were getting hot, take them off and clean the inside of the terminals with a pocket knife until you get shiny metal and use a wire brush on the posts until clean. Coat everything with Vasoline or dielectric grease and put them back together again.

I am wondering how your ammeter is wired. It would need a nice big 10 gauge or larger wire hooked to each terminal if all your loads flow through it. It could also have a remote shunt hid somewhere in the primary feed to your fuse box. If the shunt is loose whether inside the meter or remotely located that could cause your symptoms.

I am with Dwill49965 on this, ammeters are a pain. They tell you little and can cause a variety of problems. Volt meters tell you more and if they fail (which is very seldom) do not affect the operation of the car.

[david_594]

[busdaddy]

I like the dusty blue dash and KM speedo, that just oozes character and an interesting history in a strange land. A rare survivor for sure.

Not that your home is a strange land to you VWNica, but it's way different than here, no offense intended.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[VWNica]

Sorry maybe a bit more info. 1972, alternator. I guess the wire that I replaced is the wire that comes from the voltage regulator to the coil. I guess I am new to this and I have no idea what so ever of the electrical stuff.

Acually im Canadian (Calgary) I just happen to live here now

But ya a definite survivor!

[Wildthings]

[VWNica]

I dont have pics on my comp right now and its late now but tomorrow I can post some.

There are 2 wires that come out of the whole thing. One that attaches to a bolt on the outside of the alt and goes into a mess of wires and the wire that some from inside(voltage regulator?) and then goes the the coil.

[VWNica]

OK I lied

but this is a pic from when I first bought the bus and a lot has changed...

The wiring is the same you can see the wire comes out of the top of the alt and then to the coil.

[Wildthings]

My guess is that the wire going to your coil should be going to your alternator warning light in your dash instead. Do you have a working warning light? This wire would also cause the alternator to excite when you first start your engine. I guess it is all right to have it connected to the coil, but others may know better. Does your engine shut off normally when you turn the key off?

Has anyone check the brushes in the alternator? If the brushed were bad the output might be sporadic.

[Emeritusx]

You have a short or intermittent connection friend... Check the wires you monkeyed with.. Also I agree about getting rid of the amp meter. There must be some long, big wires to hook it up, all just waiting to short out somewhere. Volt meters are much more informative. And easy to hook up.
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82 Westy ☢, 66 Splitty ☮, 73 Type 181 ✠

[VWNica]

OK so I will take everyones advice and get rid of the amp meter.

This maybe a really stupid question but can the bus be run with out it... If the gauge is causing the problem that I guess just eliminate it. I know for sure that its going to take a while to track down a volt meter...


Also, so there should be NO wire that goes from the alt to the coil?

The wire in the pic that I posted should go to the G liht on the dash??

Thanks for all the help everybody... you are all doing a hell of a job!

[Emeritusx]

I dont think the gauge is the problem... Anytime you just work on something, and right away something weird happens, it usually has something to do with the work you have done... I am not sure about the alternator. I know a generator need to be excited, but now days they have one wire alternators. I could look in the wiring section and figure it out.

Anyway back up, take a good look at whatever you just did... Undo it if necessary and see if there is a change...

BTW How is Nicaragua? Is there alot of VW's there...
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82 Westy ☢, 66 Splitty ☮, 73 Type 181 ✠

[VWNica]

Ya Sunday is a good day for working on it. NOTHING is open and there is nothing to do.... Ill take a good look at her...

I live in the second largest city in Nicaragua León and there are 5 buses and about 5 bugs that I see on a regular basis. There are more in the capital.

There are also alot of '90s Brazilian buses here.

There is one store in the entire country that sells new parts and they never have what I need and there is one place that sells used stuff. I have found only one mechanic that I will semi trust.

Its good here though always hot the women are pretty and the beer is cheap and cold

[Nica]

Ay... porque tuviste que mencionar eso? jajaja
Quiero una Toña !!!
y ir a bacanalear al Chaman jaja
Lastima que no tengo plata sino anduviera alla ahorita.
A y mi consejo para ese gauge; desconectalo.

[VWNica]

Prefiero la Victoria! pero ni modo la toña tambien... si no hay otra... ja ja

Also is there a correct procedure for disconnecting the amp meter?

My G light hasn't worked the whole time I have had the bus should I connect that, I am assuming, to the wire that is currently connected to the coil?