generator light on
- fastmatt1
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
I can't figure this one out. I have swapped voltage regulators with a good one, swapped generators with a good one. checked all the wires on the regulator and put new connectors on. The light still stays on.
You all helped me with the emissions problem, hopefully you can work wonders again!! Thanks.
Matt
You all helped me with the emissions problem, hopefully you can work wonders again!! Thanks.
Matt
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- Posts: 245
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
FIRST CHECK THE PULLEY TENSION,AFTER THAT SEE IF THE LIGHT IS NOT COMPLETING THE CURRENT LOOP(DOING GROUND SOMEWHERE)THAT MIGHT BE KEEPING IT ON,IS THE VOLTAGE CAPACITY OK,IF IT IS TO LOW IT MIGHT LIGHT UP THAT BABY,IS THE CABLES ON THE FUSE BOX INSULATED,APPART FROM THE OTHER WIRES(THEY MIGHT BE A CONTACT SOMEWHERE TOUCHING THE WIRES AND GIVING THE LIGHT CURRENT AND KEEPING IT ON).YOU SAID YOU CHANGED THE CABLES FOR NEW ONES SO I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM ARE THE CABLES.IT COULD BE INTERNALLY.I RECOMEND TO GO TO A TECHNICIAN AND GET THE GUESS WORK AND WORRIES OUT.IS BETTER TO SPEND A LITTLE AND LOOSE A LOT.A BAD CONNECTION CAN BURN(LITERALLY) YOU RIDE.I WISH I COULD BE THER AND GIVE IT A CHECK.I'M AN ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN(GRADUATED IN ELECTRONIC DESIGNING).REMEMBER TO DISCONECT THE NEGATIVE BEFORE CHECKING THE SYSTEM AND USE A HOME MADE LIGHT AND BATTERY TESTER TO SEARCH FOR TROUBLES(YOU CAN BUY ONE CHEAP ANYWHERE).GOOD LUCK;DANNY(PUERTO RICO,USA)
PS;I'LL CHECK WITH THE FRIENDS AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY AND LET YOU KNOW.MY NEIGHBOOR IS A AUTO TECHNICIAN (ELECTRONIC),WILL SEE.
PS;I'LL CHECK WITH THE FRIENDS AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY AND LET YOU KNOW.MY NEIGHBOOR IS A AUTO TECHNICIAN (ELECTRONIC),WILL SEE.
- Bob Ingman
- Posts: 2869
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Fast Matt, my weakness electronics but I`ll work with you a little on this from what experience I have.
Did you polarize the new regulator? It`s not in the systen til you do.
Did you test the generator for output? Use a VOM or simply pull the ground strap from the battery with the engine running. If the engine dies you need a generator. If it continues to run the gen is putting out. Go back to regulator. Good Luck. Bob
Did you polarize the new regulator? It`s not in the systen til you do.
Did you test the generator for output? Use a VOM or simply pull the ground strap from the battery with the engine running. If the engine dies you need a generator. If it continues to run the gen is putting out. Go back to regulator. Good Luck. Bob
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- Posts: 2940
- Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:01 am
generator light on
Needs polarized.
The Bentley manuals should have excellent information on how to test your generator as well.
Also I have had a bad generator right out of the box before, so do not assume you have a good one. The World Class rebuilds are now being done in India so God knows how crappy they must be! I picked up a rebuild at AutoZone for $45 and lifetime warrantee which is the best deal I have seen in a while.
The voltage regulators are generally pretty tough. So it is most probable that the generator is screwed.
Good Luck,
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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
The Bentley manuals should have excellent information on how to test your generator as well.
Also I have had a bad generator right out of the box before, so do not assume you have a good one. The World Class rebuilds are now being done in India so God knows how crappy they must be! I picked up a rebuild at AutoZone for $45 and lifetime warrantee which is the best deal I have seen in a while.
The voltage regulators are generally pretty tough. So it is most probable that the generator is screwed.
Good Luck,
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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
- fastmatt1
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
So I guess it's a bunk generator I got from my buddy, it wasn't new so I took my chances and lost. I am picking up another this weekend and it's time to pull the motor AGAIN!!!
Matt
Matt
- fastmatt1
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
YUP! I really don't have a choice. The fan shroud has about an inch of clearance between the shroud and the rear deck. It is way easier to pull the motor than fight with and take everything else off. I can have the motor out in 15 minutes by my self, so it's a little less stressfull!!
Matt
Matt
- Bob Ingman
- Posts: 2869
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Matt, you have my curiosity up with your last statement about pulling your engine. Please tell me this is not related to the generator swap.I would hate to think anyone would do that. Good Luck. Bob
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- Posts: 596
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
You can and should , easily test a generator out of the car - ground the case and the "F" terminal then apply 12 volts to the "D+" terminal - if it's good the generator will begin to spin rapidly , like a motor .
Like Adrian said , bad ones occasionally go into the rebuilt box.
Never , EVER polarize a V.W. generator ! it is a self - polarizing system inasmuch as the red light is directly connected to the "D+" terminal and feeds the correct amount of posative current needed to create the field .
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-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)
Like Adrian said , bad ones occasionally go into the rebuilt box.
Never , EVER polarize a V.W. generator ! it is a self - polarizing system inasmuch as the red light is directly connected to the "D+" terminal and feeds the correct amount of posative current needed to create the field .
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-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)
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- Posts: 2940
- Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:01 am
generator light on
I think you should polarize them. Granted I have changed them w/o polarizing before as well and they have worked.
The Bentley manuals in both the bay and split window books clearly advocate polarizing the generator. Also the instructions that come with the generator also recommend polarizing the generator (yes, I borke down and read that to
). It cannot hurt to polarize it and it is really quick, so why not?
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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
The Bentley manuals in both the bay and split window books clearly advocate polarizing the generator. Also the instructions that come with the generator also recommend polarizing the generator (yes, I borke down and read that to

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
- fastmatt1
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Okay, I'm curious now Nate! Isn't what you described doing actually the polarization process???
I have just installed a third used generator and the damn light is still on. I hooked them up like you said Nate and the generator spun, (I actually thought I was polarizing it) So I installed the motor AGAIN and nothing changed.
When I pull the negative off the battery the engine died. I pulled the negative off the battery of a friends '68 bug and the engine kept running.
I again tried a new regulator ( from the same '68 bug with no charging problems) and still didn't fix the problem.
I tried a new wire from the #61 terminal to the bulb on the speedo, and still didn't fix the problem.
I mounted the regulator in a different postion with self tapping screws (in hopes of the problem being a bad ground) and still didn't fix the problem.
I know most of you will say why didn't you just by a new one with a warranty, but I am cheap...like Scrooge without the bank account!
Will trade this bus for a good running watercooled car, rabbit, jetta, fox type thing and cash.
I have just installed a third used generator and the damn light is still on. I hooked them up like you said Nate and the generator spun, (I actually thought I was polarizing it) So I installed the motor AGAIN and nothing changed.
When I pull the negative off the battery the engine died. I pulled the negative off the battery of a friends '68 bug and the engine kept running.
I again tried a new regulator ( from the same '68 bug with no charging problems) and still didn't fix the problem.
I tried a new wire from the #61 terminal to the bulb on the speedo, and still didn't fix the problem.
I mounted the regulator in a different postion with self tapping screws (in hopes of the problem being a bad ground) and still didn't fix the problem.
I know most of you will say why didn't you just by a new one with a warranty, but I am cheap...like Scrooge without the bank account!
Will trade this bus for a good running watercooled car, rabbit, jetta, fox type thing and cash.
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- Posts: 2940
- Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:01 am
generator light on
Dude, just get a rebuild for $45 ( Canadian that would be $453,203,942
)! Your time is so much more valuable than fiddling with it for so long.
Change all the wires from the regulator to the generator too. Usually all these wires are crapped out in some way from wear over the years.
... I am suspecting your regulator may be toast. Get a new one.
I would not skimp on the generator components, when they break you are screwed fast if you are caught in BFE
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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"

Change all the wires from the regulator to the generator too. Usually all these wires are crapped out in some way from wear over the years.
... I am suspecting your regulator may be toast. Get a new one.
I would not skimp on the generator components, when they break you are screwed fast if you are caught in BFE

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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
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- Posts: 596
- Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Yes , " motoring " a generator is indeed polarizing it as it leaves a residual magnetic feild in it . polarizing on the car is bad for two reasons - one being the generator is held from turning by the fan belt and you can damage it very quickly .
the other reason is the regulator points chatter when you polarize it and ofttimes cause them to fail .
if your generator motored and you tried the regulator off another beetle to no good effect , you need to look at the wiring - might be connected wrong or might have open circut in one of the gen. to reg. wires - take your time and check them all out with a test light made from an old bulb socket and some zip cord . don't be afraid to be cheap ! it's ofttimes a good way to learn .
Go to the junkyard and find the dead truck section , pull out a volt meter and make your own tester with zip cord salvaged from a junk T.V. set and some alligator clips .
Most of the guys on this list who are over 40 remember being hippies and learning how to do this check , it's also in the " Idiots Guide to Volkswagen Repair " - a good book to look for @ swap meets - the best $5.00 you'll ever spend .
I don't blame you for not wanting to pull the engine again , I have not yet figured out how to pop the gen out in a bus .
You can write me off list for more troubleshooting help ,
vwnate1@juno.com , I don't check it daily though .
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-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)
the other reason is the regulator points chatter when you polarize it and ofttimes cause them to fail .
if your generator motored and you tried the regulator off another beetle to no good effect , you need to look at the wiring - might be connected wrong or might have open circut in one of the gen. to reg. wires - take your time and check them all out with a test light made from an old bulb socket and some zip cord . don't be afraid to be cheap ! it's ofttimes a good way to learn .
Go to the junkyard and find the dead truck section , pull out a volt meter and make your own tester with zip cord salvaged from a junk T.V. set and some alligator clips .
Most of the guys on this list who are over 40 remember being hippies and learning how to do this check , it's also in the " Idiots Guide to Volkswagen Repair " - a good book to look for @ swap meets - the best $5.00 you'll ever spend .
I don't blame you for not wanting to pull the engine again , I have not yet figured out how to pop the gen out in a bus .
You can write me off list for more troubleshooting help ,
vwnate1@juno.com , I don't check it daily though .
------------------
-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)
- fastmatt1
- Posts: 228
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Thanks for all your help so far!!! I actually "polarized" it without the fan belt attached. I have installed brand new wires from the reg. to the gen. already. If it is a wiring problem, would the engine die from pulling the negative off the battery???
Matt
Matt
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- Posts: 2940
- Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:01 am
generator light on
good wires +
good battery +
good generator =
bad regulator
I think a regulator goes for about $25 (Canadian $25,342,354).
Also it seems that older generators could have bearing problems, so watch out for a grinding vibrating sound from it if the bearings collapse. Be sure the fan belt is always properly tensioned to lessen the chance of killing the bearings.
Speaking of bearings where can you get new generator bearings? I need a set for a generator I am rebuilding.
Thanks,
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Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
good battery +
good generator =
bad regulator
I think a regulator goes for about $25 (Canadian $25,342,354).
Also it seems that older generators could have bearing problems, so watch out for a grinding vibrating sound from it if the bearings collapse. Be sure the fan belt is always properly tensioned to lessen the chance of killing the bearings.
Speaking of bearings where can you get new generator bearings? I need a set for a generator I am rebuilding.
Thanks,
------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochise"
- Bob Ingman
- Posts: 2869
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2001 12:01 am
generator light on
Matt, I still think that if it died when you pulled the ground strap off the battery then your generator is not putting out. The car can run with no battery in it at all( I`ve done it) if the generator is working properly. If the generator is bad the car can run off the battery for a long time also but it has to have either one or the other. With the battery disconnected and the car dying its pretty certain the generator is not doing it`s job.Also this removes the regulator from the equation, as the regulator simply tells the current where to go. Good Luck. Bob
[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 12-15-2001).]
[This message has been edited by Bob Ingman (edited 12-15-2001).]