Generator Light

txoval · Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 5:48 pm Post subject: Generator Light

Ok, quick background...I've had my car apart now for a little over a year and very close to finishing. I reinstalled the rebuilt 36hp engine today, wired everything back up, but the generator light does not come on.

Using a voltmeter I tested the voltage at the screw terminal of the indicator light and read six volts...this is with the key turned on, engine not running (the gen light should be lit). So I thought the bulb might be bad, changed it, but still nothing.

The light does not come on when the engine is running, and obviously shouldn't.

Why is the light not coming on when the key is turned to on?

VolkswagenVMan · Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:12 pm Post subject:

I had an issue with my 67 , the bulb holder was not making good contact with the speedo and the light sometimes not come on with the key on and engine not running. Does the oil light come on with the key on engine off? Just making sure the speedo has a good ground.
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Da TOW'D · Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:20 pm Post subject:

ground out the blue wire removed from the regulator
with the key on generator light should be lit
power goes to the oil pressure and generator lights from the key and grounds out at the oil pressure switch and in the regulator
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'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy DD
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txoval · Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject:

Oil light works great...what do mean by ground it out? Unhook it, touch to a ground? Sorry but I hate electrical...why do I have 6 volts at the light and it doesn't turn on?

Thanks

57BLITZ · Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:18 pm Post subject:

vw57drvr · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject:

Also try turning the key on and tapping the regulator. It may be stuck.
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txoval · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:16 pm Post subject:

Ok, did the grounding test and the light came right on...so what's broke?

What on the regulator would get stuck? I see what looks like points? The are open...

seefest · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:39 pm Post subject:

Check the gen. housing for ground.Has the gen. housing or gen. strap been painted,just went through this, my light works now. Laughing

txoval · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject:

I had my generator strap powder coated...the generator does have a ground terminal, but I've never had it connected and the light has worked in the past.

If i do not want to mess with the strap, could I just run a ground wire to the gen?

seefest · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:24 pm Post subject:

You can run the ground wire,but its easy to pull the gen.strap sand it then smear it with die electric grease.On the inside of the gen.strap there are some nubs protruding that ground onto the gen. stand my 58 had them.

57BLITZ · Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:55 pm Post subject:

seefest · Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:45 am Post subject:

txoval · Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:14 pm Post subject:

Wanted to thank everyone, it was the powder coating of the gen strap, which kept it from grounding...

wayne1230cars · Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:24 pm Post subject:

Glad to know you got it working. Another example of the importance of having good grounds!
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1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible

txoval · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:44 pm Post subject:

Well...fixed that issue, now the darn thing won't shutoff when the engine is running!

Do I need to re-polarize the generator since its been sitting for over a year?

wayne1230cars · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 6:48 pm Post subject:

Time to do some trouble shooting tests on the generator both with the voltage regular connected and then disconnected. There are lots of threads that detail the process. You can try repolarizing as well. It's easy.
_________________
1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible

Da TOW'D · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject:

I'd pull the vee belt off ( count the shims so you can put them back on the same)and jump the larger terminal to the smaller terminal on the regulator with a screw driver.
the generator should motor( spin)
5 seconds should do it
_________________
'57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy DD
and NUTS

txoval · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 7:45 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the dumb question...do this with the key on or off?

wayne1230cars · Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:10 pm Post subject:

Key off. This resource may be helpful for the testing procedures.
http://www.vw-resource.com/generator.html
_________________
1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible

txoval · Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:11 pm Post subject:

Ok, removed the belt and touched both poles and the generator turned like a motor...does this mean the generator is good and the regulator is bad?

Any other reason the light may stay on?


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