Dear beetle people - charging problem.

-Zodiac-

I'm currently the semi proud owner of a 1973 karmann ghia. I just replaced the volt regulator and generator( polarized both) and my genorator light comes on and when I take the plus side of the battery of it dies. I've straight wired the generator to the regulator, still nothing. I took the top of the regulator off and pushed on the points and the generator light went off, I'm going to the auto store to test it or replace it if that's the problem?

Here is my thread on the ghia forum http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7412701#7412701
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

richardc · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:50 pm Post subject:

You don't polarize the regulator,if you tried you may have damaged it. Rich
_________________
1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

-Zodiac- · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 8:52 pm Post subject:

Some People say you do, some say you don't. The instructions said to so I just went for it just because. It didn't mess anything up the first time I replaced it.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

Aussiebug · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:53 am Post subject:

I'd love to see a copy of those instructions telling you to polarize a voltage regulator. That's total rubbish.

A GENERATOR which has been left unused for a long time (weeks or months) will loose the residual magnetism in the soft iron core so there is no spinning magnet effect to get it working when you start the engine. Polarizing it just re-creates a magnetic field in the windings so it will start to work again.

There is NOTHING inside a voltage regulator which holds a residual magnetic field, so there is NOTHING which needs polarizing.

Alternators never need polarizing as they use a different metal core which does not hold a magnetic field anyway - they use the tiny current through the dash Alt light to start the alternator working.

To polarize a generator, remove the fan belt. Df is grounded to the case of the generator and D+ is connected for a few seconds only to the + side of the battery. If the gen does not spin, it's faulty and needs either an auto electrician to look at it, or replacement.

www.vw-resource.com/generator.html gives you the low-down on checking generator, voltage regulator and battery, with just a cheap digital multimeter.
_________________
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.vw-resource.com

-Zodiac- · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:23 am Post subject:

yeah I'll take a pic for you,Either way I'm thinking that's not my problem. And before Any one else has something to say about polarization just know that in the future I'll be sure to not do it on the regulator. I know how to polarize a generator and I've already looked at that page.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

-Zodiac- · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:40 am Post subject:

Here is the picture. If you have anything to say about this please do not. I am already well aware to not do this. I'm posting it up here for shits and giggles.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

richardc · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:33 am Post subject:

now you have to start over in the diagnoses, first thing is to go to Rob and Daves website and read how to full field generator (what that does is isolates generator from rest of system and test to see if it's ok...let us know how that goes and will go from there.
_________________
1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

-Zodiac- · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:55 am Post subject:

I already did the electric motor test,it spins. I'll look that up in a bit.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

ashman40 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:22 am Post subject:

-Zodiac- · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:48 pm Post subject:

yes.. I have a generator, not a alternator. I'm aware of the difference.

I'll try this test when I'm back around the ghia this weekend.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

Aussiebug · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks for posting that pic Zodiac

-Zodiac- · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:24 am Post subject:

Much appreciated. I'm thinking that the problem is the voltage regulator or at least I hope so. I'll find out this weekend for sure.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

-Zodiac- · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:47 pm Post subject:

Okay replaced the VR and tested the generator, it reads -0.15 what does this mean, bad generator ?
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

ashman40 · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:42 am Post subject:

What were the results of the generator max output test? The suggestion was to test the generator and if it was good then suspect the vr.

On your vr ,confirm which wires do you have connected to which terminal?
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road Sad

}
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

richardc · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:36 am Post subject:

Thats not a voltage reading at the battery,where are you getting that and what settings are you using on the DVOM?
_________________
1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

-Zodiac- · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 9:14 am Post subject:

I did it using the test above, connections from VR to gen are good, and correct. Wires in the Harness look good but I can straight wire it again. I used a multimeter set at 20dcv
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

richardc · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:24 pm Post subject:

If you said you polarized gen. and getting that type of reading on D+ with DF grounded then you have a problem with the generator. How i would do it (to eliminate any wiring problem) i would do your test at generator itself.
_________________
1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

richardc · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject:

Another thought i have is with the engine off, put a wrench on generator and turn....see if it turns engine or belt slips.(belt glazed...slipping...loose) replace belt if it slips
_________________
1970 Ghia vert
1970 Beetle sedan

-Zodiac- · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 2:56 pm Post subject:

Just took the gen off a while ago, tried to motor it and it didn't work. I guess I'll be replacing it
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

ashman40 · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:12 am Post subject:


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