Another not charging thread.

[ImAddicted]

1979 Bus (passenger) though it appears to have a 70a alt (has fan & oval boot) that was probably swapped in at one point since the special nut on the adjuster is MIA and it has just a washer and standard nut. The dash light works as expected and I get 13.7v at the D+ but nothing at the battery. I replaced the regulator since the on in there was corroded to hell and made funny noises when shook. New reg, not juice to battery, just battery voltage that slowly drops the longer run. So I did the jumper trick, no change. Checked alt wire at starter, just bat voltage. Looked underneath and remembered I had that fire a few years ago and looked like DF was a little cooked. Pulled the alt this afternoon and replaced D+ and DF as the both were chard a Bit. Now, before I put this back together, does it make sense that this might be my issue, or should I just get a new alt (there’s no place close to test it that I know of) and save myself the battle of removing it again? My hands are small but that still wasn’t fun. Not sure if I can get another 70A unit? I have the oval boot so don’t really want to fight with that too. Thoughts?

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1979 Transporter (sold)
KC1MUR

[Wildthings]

Sounds like a problem in your B+ wire to me. How and where are you reading your alternator voltage?

That is a huge hole for your cooling air to be escaping.

[ImAddicted]

[telford dorr]

Two possibilities: (1) damaged / broken big red wire from alternator to starter. Bad connections to this wire. (2) Bad large diodes in alternator (as you're getting 13.7 volts from D+, then diode trio and alternator windings, brushes likely good).
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[ImAddicted]

Thank you. The sun is shining, gonna go out and check continuity this morning. Hoping it’s wire. Fearing it’s not. Will update.
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1979 Transporter (sold)
KC1MUR

[ImAddicted]

Following up. Thank you Wildthings and Telford, you nailed it. Bad B+ wire. Went out this morning, checked continuity from the alt end to the battery clamp. Infinite. That’s not right . Climbed underneath, it LOOKED ok at the starter but when I pulled it off the stud... not so much .

Road trip to FLAPS, picked up 4’ of 6ga and a couple of ring terminals (figures I have 24-8ga, 4-00ga on hand, no 6). New wire, put everything back (Wildthings, no more big holes 😊) and fired it up.

Ignore the lack of amps, my shunt is wired to just monitor solar input. Soooooo happy. Plates this week then first time on the road in 8 years:). This is what makes this place special - good people, good advice, irreplaceable knowledge.
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1979 Transporter (sold)
KC1MUR

[finkelstein]

Addicted,

Thanks for your input in my thread.
Congrats on getting back on the road!

as I found out in during my first trip out in our bus (2010), "there's always someone under the bus."

Looks like that's where I'm headed.

[ImAddicted]

Thanks, I hope you get it sorted out.
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1979 Transporter (sold)
KC1MUR