1977 Westfalia - Charging Light On!
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- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Overlooking Agency Lake
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1977 Westfalia - Charging Light On!
On my wife's '77 Westy, the charging light stays on AFTER the key is pulled from the ignition. The system has been checked and is charging fine, (13.2v I believe) The other thing is when the key is turned on(but not running), the charging light DOESN"T come on but the oil light does. We've only had it less than a year so still working through everything. I have been told there is a short causing the light to be on when the key is out.
Always looking for one more...
- RSorak 71Westy
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Memphis, TN
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- Status: Offline
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- Status: Offline
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- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Overlooking Agency Lake
- Status: Offline
- RSorak 71Westy
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
I think mine still charged (never checked, just got on the samba and asked about the symptoms ands went and got a new VR) and I know the light worked fine when running.
Take care,
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
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- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Overlooking Agency Lake
- Status: Offline
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
This is true for cars with generators. Alternators are a different animal.OB Bus wrote:Muir had a page on this -- the VR may be faulty. In Muir's scenario the light is on because the VR is trying to turn the generator/alternator into an electric motor. Not a good thing - and yes it happened to me.
An idiot light that remains on when the ignition is off is getting power from some illicit source.
Normally the ignition switch powers the idiot light through the gauge cluster outer shell/socket of the lamp and is grounded through the center via the blue wire to the regulator and alternator's rotor.
You must check for 12volts on that insulated plate on the back of the fuel gauge where the black wire from the ignition switch juices it. See if that wire is 12 volts ig/on no volts ig/off. If you get correct function, you might have 12 volts coming up from the blue wire . . . blown diode in the excitor circuit. Duh or sumpin'
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
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
- twinfalls
- IAC Addict!
- Status: Offline
From your clear, trouble report,
it is likely some PO hacked the wiring.
This is a tough situation.
We cannot think in terms of the official wiring, or about what is normal behavior.
Get the official wiring diagram for your bus.
Then check about the current wiring, with wire colors, at circuits involved with charging.
The instrument cluster goes out, easy: Don't disconect all, let it stay under the driving wheel.
FIRSTLY: DISCONECT the battery ground strap.
Another way to tackle this issue:
Use a voltmeter to trace why you have the light ON in the case it should be OFF.
And trace about the other abnormal case, light is OFF instead of ON.
it is likely some PO hacked the wiring.
This is a tough situation.
We cannot think in terms of the official wiring, or about what is normal behavior.
Get the official wiring diagram for your bus.
Then check about the current wiring, with wire colors, at circuits involved with charging.
The instrument cluster goes out, easy: Don't disconect all, let it stay under the driving wheel.
FIRSTLY: DISCONECT the battery ground strap.
Another way to tackle this issue:
Use a voltmeter to trace why you have the light ON in the case it should be OFF.
And trace about the other abnormal case, light is OFF instead of ON.
1974 stock US Westy 1800cc PDSIT 34 2-3.