Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

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NewBeginningsAgain
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Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

Post by NewBeginningsAgain » Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:53 pm

Bus has 2 batteries, and a switch with 4 settings: Battery 1, Both Batteries, Battery 2, and Off

Last year:
2 New batteries
Brake light fuse kept blowing
Did not trickle charge over the winter

This year:
Hard to start this spring
Did not drive due to brake light issue, but did occasionally start and idle for 10-20 minutes (usually hard to start)

Later,
Batteries were dead - tried to jump start... was sure I hooked the cables up correctly. Started my car, smelled something burning, turned off my car, the jumper cables were hot, disconnected cables, All before an attempt to start the bus.
Later, my kid pushed the bus and I was able to push start it.
Let it run hoping to charge up the batteries, then switched batteries “Off”

Now:
I’ve noticed that when I switch the battery “On” the Alt/Battery dash light is on, before I even put the key in the ignition!

What have I done?
What do I need to do?
Is this even something I can do?
Do I need to call a tow truck?
NewBeginningsAgain


1978 Westfalia, Dakota Beige, 80k miles
1969 Transporter, Savannah Beige - Sold. Regrets
1966 Deluxe Microbus, Lotus White - Lost in New Mexico

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Amskeptic
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Re: Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

Post by Amskeptic » Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:37 am

NewBeginningsAgain wrote:
Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:53 pm
Bus has 2 batteries, and a switch with 4 settings: Battery 1, Both Batteries, Battery 2, and Off

Last year:
2 New batteries
Brake light fuse kept blowing
Did not trickle charge over the winter

This year:
Hard to start this spring
Did not drive due to brake light issue, but did occasionally start and idle for 10-20 minutes (usually hard to start)

Later,
Batteries were dead - tried to jump start... was sure I hooked the cables up correctly. Started my car, smelled something burning, turned off my car, the jumper cables were hot, disconnected cables, All before an attempt to start the bus.
Later, my kid pushed the bus and I was able to push start it.
Let it run hoping to charge up the batteries, then switched batteries “Off”

Now:
I’ve noticed that when I switch the battery “On” the Alt/Battery dash light is on, before I even put the key in the ignition!

What have I done?
What do I need to do?
Is this even something I can do?
Do I need to call a tow truck?
I am sorry to be so late to this thread!
You have the symptoms of a shorted alternator. Unplug the blue wire (it has its own white/amber/filthy black rectangular connector) at the voltage regulator connector. Re-power the battery. Idiot light off? There you go. Light still on? You have a short somewhere between the connector and the idiot light in the gauge cluster.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

NewBeginningsAgain
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Re: Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

Post by NewBeginningsAgain » Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:11 pm

Colin,
Thanks for the advice. Turns out the alternator diode burned out and I need a new voltage regulator as well. Seems that although I “was sure I hooked up the cables correctly,” I probably did not. :pale:

I read through posts and referenced articles here, Ratwell.com, and elsewhere across the net and finally bought the Bentley to add to (replace?) the repair books that came with the bus, all to try to begin to figure out, how to find the problem. Even bought a voltage meter after reading endorsements at airschooled.com. But in the end I realized I have no business dealing with the electrical system without support. And, when no one replied to my post after a week I imagined all the “old school” and “IAC addicts” who responded so quickly to my last plea for help also recognized I was in over my head.

Anyway, towed it to my local air cooled guy who diagnosed the problem.
Some good news, he also figured out why the brake light fuse kept blowing, and the horn works now!
Some bad news, his younger air-cooled specialist has moved on, leaving only himself to work on these, and he is in the process of retiring.

Hope I can find another local air cooled specialist!
NewBeginningsAgain


1978 Westfalia, Dakota Beige, 80k miles
1969 Transporter, Savannah Beige - Sold. Regrets
1966 Deluxe Microbus, Lotus White - Lost in New Mexico

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tommu
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Re: Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

Post by tommu » Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:10 pm

NewBeginningsAgain wrote:
Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:11 pm
I read through posts and referenced articles here, Ratwell.com, and elsewhere across the net and finally bought the Bentley to add to (replace?) the repair books that came with the bus, all to try to begin to figure out, how to find the problem. Even bought a voltage meter after reading endorsements at airschooled.com. But in the end I realized I have no business dealing with the electrical system without support.
Don't be hard on yourself. It's been a little quiet here as the 'rona is keeping the excitement at bay. If you need advice quicker then (it pains me to say) try posting to the itinerant Facebook page. Or even the samba!

Your problem is one of the harder ones to troubleshoot without a little knowledge. Now you have your multimeter and your friends here you will be able to tackle other problems as they come up.

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Amskeptic
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Re: Why is my 78 Westy’s Alternator light ON with my key OUT of the ignition?

Post by Amskeptic » Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:46 pm

NewBeginningsAgain wrote:
Sun Jul 12, 2020 12:11 pm
Colin,
Thanks for the advice. Turns out the alternator diode burned out and I need a new voltage regulator as well.

when no one replied to my post after a week I imagined all the “old school” and “IAC addicts” who responded so quickly to my last plea for help also recognized I was in over my head.

Ouch! I want to get out on the road! I have to stay hunkered down! We are all in a difficult moment!
Colin Awoooooooooooooooo
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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