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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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 Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:53 pm Post subject: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Drove 150 miles today, and about halfway on the journey I noticed a smell.
Battery was hot to the touch, and looks like it had some spill. So I put the voltometer on it, read 13.3 volts when car off. Fired it up and put about 2k rpm on and the battery was reading 17 volts. Way too high.
I’m not sure where to start. I’d imagine this is damage to my battery.
Is this my voltage regulator?
What are my troubleshooting steps?
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| No, that's not the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is attached to the alternator by two machine screws and includes the alternator brushes as part of its assembly. |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| Also, I've heard that overcharging the battery can create enough hydrogen to risk explosion. |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1840
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Hi,
Very most likely the alternator regulator.
Year? Engine?
Edit for clarity: The culprit is most likely the regulator.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:50 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| It’s a 1981 airhead. 2.0 FI. Anyone have a pic of the voltage regulator? |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| charleslabri wrote: |
| It’s a 1981 airhead. 2.0 FI. Anyone have a pic of the voltage regulator? |
Lower right, says "Bosch" on it:
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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I sold my last air-cooled vanagon ~15 years ago. Look on the back of your alternator. Hard to miss. Looks like this:
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Ok, I see it tucked up under there. There might be a screw hole in it to adjust down the voltage.
I’ll check it in the morning and see if it’s just bad or misadjusted.
Are there testing procedures? |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1840
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Measuring the voltage at the battery, like you did, is a proper testing procedure.
Sometimes the brushes get worn (the dark grey protruding rectangular things, at the bottom of the last picture above), but that results in low or no voltage.
Try turning the screw in the hole, and worst case scenario you're due for a new regulator.
_________________
'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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If you can wait on the mail,
https://www.vancafe.com/Vanagon-Voltage-Regulator-s/3403.htm
Double check the year on it.
You might need a new battery.
If you cannot wait on the mail I doubt the local FLAPS will just have the voltage regulator by itself. If you need it to drive immediately then your alternative is a complete alternator.
I know Pep Boys had one in stock locally here, not sure what your local stores will have.
The adjustable regulator is here:
https://vwparts.aircooled.net/Adjustable-Voltage-R...ulator.htm
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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I forgot to ask: what are my expected voltages?
Idle, 2k rpm, etc
Thanks! |
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Update from this am:
Pulled the voltage regulator out and found that it certainly is the adjustable kind, and that the plastic studs that hold the electonics on are busted, and one of the solder joints is thrashed. Going to resolder.
Can I add small metal screws to replace the plastic studs, or is this thing too close to the coil and the metal screws are a no-no?
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zimflux
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2015
Posts: 192
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| charleslabri wrote: |
Update from this am:
Pulled the voltage regulator out and found that it certainly is the adjustable kind, and that the plastic studs that hold the electonics on are busted, and one of the solder joints is thrashed. Going to resolder.
Can I add small metal screws to replace the plastic studs, or is this thing too close to the coil and the metal screws are a no-no?
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Would be good to know why they might have put an adjustable one in there.
Personally, it's cheap enough that I would replace and sleep better then mess with it.
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charleslabri
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Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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Well, I’m kinda stuck right now, so I’ll see if I can patch it...
Using jb weld on the studs |
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:20 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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I soldered it back up and tested continuity...
Put it back in and tested same results, 17v at the battery.
I dug around in the box of parts from previous owner and found a stock VR.
Gonna try that.
I guess this could be an issue with the alternator as well?
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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That one didn’t work either, but I noticed posts were really short on the old one.
Gonna try to Frankenstein them together and use the posts of the adjustable one with the diode of the original one
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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tencentlife
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Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10077
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Stinky acrid smell, battery overcharging |
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| charleslabri wrote: |
I guess this could be an issue with the alternator as well?
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No, if it can charge to 17V the alternator is ok, that's what they'll make at full field excitement.
Overcharge at these levels makes, as you noticed, a lot of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). This is the danger batteries pose when they're inside the cabin, not hydrogen. A battery this small can't produce a substantial volume of H2 and it would have to be almost deliberately trapped and contained to have a combustible mixture present. There are some real dangers that come with batteries, but flammable H2 is far down the list. But H2S can be deadly to breathe. Luckily it quickly warns of its presence, but the sensitivity to the smell diminishes with exposure, so pay attention when you get that stink and do something about it.
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dobryan
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