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SPAIRINC Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2019 Posts: 3 Location: eastern Tennessee
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 6:52 pm Post subject: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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I have a Newly Purchased 74’ Thing....drove it 700 miles to eastern Tennessee.On the way home, the Generator “Red Light” would come on intermittently. Belt was good tension and nothing out of place.
Since being home (1week now)....still have the same issue.....Generator puts out 14+V at fast idle and same out Big Red wire on Voltage Regulator.Sure need some help on this one!?!
Best Regards,
Dan |
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Maybe check the brushes to see if they are worn... _________________ "Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy |
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Danwvw Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2012 Posts: 8892 Location: Oregon Coast
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2021 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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I Believe the 74 had an alternator but still one of the slip ring brushes will ware down. You may find something at the hardware store that would work, but they are available online!
_________________ 1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths! |
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wbailey2112 Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015 Posts: 482 Location: Grove City, OH
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 4:42 am Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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'74 did not come from the factory with an alternator. That being said, a previous owner may have swapped out the generator for an alternator at some point. _________________ '74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7370
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 10:58 am Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Post a photo of your engine compartment. |
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Martinwmd Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2020 Posts: 4 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Of U have an alternator , there could be a diode that is defect.
That would cause the light to go on and stil have a alternator that charges +14v |
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Dougster43 Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2018 Posts: 182 Location: Texas
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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If he has a voltage regulator as he mentioned then he probably doesn't have an alternator? |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3506 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Dougster43 wrote: |
If he has a voltage regulator as he mentioned then he probably doesn't have an alternator? |
We really can't assume anything as there are some alternators that have external regulator. That being said,..... I'm guessing he is still running with a stock generator. _________________ Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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The guy says he has a GENERATOR in his original post...hence the advice for a generator. _________________ "Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy |
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FJBLF Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2016 Posts: 210
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Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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SPAIRINC wrote: |
I have a Newly Purchased 74’ Thing....drove it 700 miles to eastern Tennessee.On the way home, the Generator “Red Light” would come on intermittently. Belt was good tension and nothing out of place.
Since being home (1week now)....still have the same issue.....Generator puts out 14+V at fast idle and same out Big Red wire on Voltage Regulator.Sure need some help on this one!?!
Best Regards,
Dan |
Make sure your grounds are good for both the generator and the voltage regulator and make sure your connections are tigth. I had a similar issue just a couple of weeks back and it turned out to be a loose spade connector.
Here you have a couple of videos from when I changed my generator and my voltage regulator. Just in case.
Feel free to suscribe to my channel.
Link
Link
_________________ 1972 VW 181 SAFARI 1500 cc GRB Trans-axle |
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SPAIRINC Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2019 Posts: 3 Location: eastern Tennessee
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Mystery Prevails...need Help!
My system is a Generator..... just replaced Volt Reg.....for a few runs, Ge Red Light stayed out.... then, returned intermittently....now, steady on again.
Interstate battery...did a deep cycle...... all connectors that are plainly visible seem OK...... Not got the GEN Brushes out yet..... next, I suppose......Engine runs great...lil charmer..... just need this darn light out, except if it really should be ON. |
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FJBLF Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2016 Posts: 210
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 6:07 am Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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SPAIRINC wrote: |
Mystery Prevails...need Help!
My system is a Generator..... just replaced Volt Reg.....for a few runs, Ge Red Light stayed out.... then, returned intermittently....now, steady on again.
Interstate battery...did a deep cycle...... all connectors that are plainly visible seem OK...... Not got the GEN Brushes out yet..... next, I suppose......Engine runs great...lil charmer..... just need this darn light out, except if it really should be ON. |
Before you take the generator off to retrofit. tighten all your connections, some of them may seem ok but they may not be tight enough, specially those at the voltage regulator. Disconnect the ground from the battery and with pliers tighten those female spade connectors from the harnes to the regulator. Reconnect the ground and Make sure the regulator is getting good ground and it it tightly afixed to the firewall.
PS, What regulator are you running? some of those "Generic Brand" are known for their lack of relaiability.
If all that fails then it may be time for new brushes, If you are going to do all the work, you may want to consider instaling an alternator. I Beleive yours is a 74, your car should have come out of the factory with alternator. The last generators were "Officially" installed on 73s to about 1/2 of the year model. All that said, the VW Plant in Puebla, Mexico where our cars were assembled used to take liberties with the assembly process based on material availability, so it is posible to have a 74' with a factory installed generator... _________________ 1972 VW 181 SAFARI 1500 cc GRB Trans-axle |
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: GENERATOR “Red Light” |
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Man, don't confuse the guy!! Just check the sales brochures in the archives...1973, 1974 (even in spanish) and 1975 list GENERATOR as the standard equipment. Where do you get your information? _________________ "Someday the world is gonna be populated by nothing but Volkswagens'" Corporal Klairvoy |
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