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Alternator Charging, hmmmn

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Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885193
i have a problem with my 72 Super, the alternator is not charging the battery.
thing is it is not the alternator as i have put in another and get the same result, no charge, red light on.
does anyone have any ideas.
can anything else influence the outcome.
i have put a fuel pump relay in that utilises the charging circuit so when the motor stops so does the fuel pump but will only come on as long the accessories is on.
appreciate some good info.

cheers. Paul🤪

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#885196
Try it without the relay first.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#885201
internal regs or not. if not try changing the reg.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885202
will try the relay thing tomorrow,
the voltage reg is in the new alt.
i cant believe that it would be that barls.
well hope not. cheers.
see tomorrow.

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#885203
it was worth asking as my alternator has a reg under the back seat. just trying to put forward ideas.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

1916baja Custom Title Time!

1,990 posts · joined Sep 2007 ·

#885248
Is it the standard charge light in the speedo or an aftermarket one in the dash somewhere?? the reason i ask is that if you are using an led as an charge light they dont draw enough amps??? to turn the light out, you need something with a globe. I have had this problem in both my baja and my drag car.

just a thought.
good luck... i hate alternator problems, i have been plagued with them ever since i bought my first vw... 😬

Mick.

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885323
well i checked everything, i had a ground wire hooked up to the fuel joey on the back of the fuel guage (vibrator).
light now goes out but still no charging, as the voltmeter shows just 12 volts, hell knows whats going on...........
Stumped again🤪🤪🤪🤪
anyone anyone

i use the globes supplied as well, no leds at all.

my alternator has the voltage reg inside it. the one from under the seat came out and re-wired as directed by details supplied.
have had this working once before.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#885389
Super1302 wrote:i have a problem with my 72 Super, the alternator is not charging the battery.
thing is it is not the alternator as i have put in another and get the same result, no charge, red light on.
does anyone have any ideas.
can anything else influence the outcome.
i have put a fuel pump relay in that utilises the charging circuit so when the motor stops so does the fuel pump but will only come on as long the accessories is on.
appreciate some good info.

cheers. Paul🤪

Hi Paul,
Firstly
I would disconnect the electric fuel pump relay and connect it to the ignition circuit...

secondly,
connect up a 12v 2 or 5 watt bulb to the alternator...
[the one that goes to the dash]
alternately

connect it straight to the alternator...
with alligator clips or screw the wires or use terminals
[You can disconnect the wire going to the dash and only Use this lamp to the alternator]

NOW see if this lamp goes out when the engine starts...

voltage should be 13-8-14.4 Volts output into the battery...

if its still 12 volts... You have an alternator/regulator problem

cheers

LEE

I'll try and get a pic for You
I've done this to a few beetles..
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


main power from the alternator to the battery..
nothing else connected to main power on the alternator..
ONLY test lamp to the small terminal...
to excite the alternator -- nothing else...

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#885405
Have you tried removing the relay yet ???

Alternator's need a potential (Voltage) difference on the line to cause them to charge... and the amount of difference changes where in the rev range the alternator cuts in. The current direction/polarity also changes between charging and non-charging, which is something a relay probably won't like.

Basically, if you mess with that circuit at all you're likely to cause problems, and like Mick says even just putting in a different Wattage bulb will mess things up.

So yeah - ditch the relay and expect will be all good.

👍
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885444
which and what diagram do we follow for the wiring schematics for a 72 super, not an L bug. i have had a look at the usa and other and there is a difference.
anyone.
to me some look like they have an earth to the chasis of the speedometer, what needs an earth and what doesn't,
i cant make heads or tails out of these, i have to make sure i have the correct one before i start taking stuff out.
i know that most things need to be earthed for them to work, hmmm yet again.

Paul

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885461
Well i'll be, the green wire that you connect to the blue that you join together under the seat separated.
now up and working
😂

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#885464
Hi

Is your car fitted with an alternator or generator? I ask because alternators weren't fitted on bugs until 1974.

If your car still has a generator fitted it could be the voltage regulator or a faulty brush in the generator or a faulty generator.

Steve

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885475
Up and working Steve, its a 72 Super, use to have a genny but now has alternator.

Paul

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#885478
Sides wrote:So yeah - ditch the relay and expect will be all good.
I was gonna say I doubt that's the cause.
Lots of people use the Charge light wire to ground a fuel pump relay coil.

I did it for a couple of years when I had my turbo and supercharged engines with electric fuel pumps.

Relay coils need sweet FA to pull in and it's a good safety cut out in the even of an accident.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#885479
Super1302 wrote:which and what diagram do we follow for the wiring schematics for a 72 super, not an L bug. i have had a look at the usa and other and there is a difference.
anyone.
to me some look like they have an earth to the chasis of the speedometer, what needs an earth and what doesn't,
i cant make heads or tails out of these, i have to make sure i have the correct one before i start taking stuff out.
i know that most things need to be earthed for them to work, hmmm yet again.

Paul
Good to see You found the problem...
the tell tale lamps in the bottom of the speedo are not earthed like the other small dash lights..
they sit in an insulated plastic piece and the body of the bulb holder [normally earthed] is powered when the ignition is turned on.. +

Yes, North American beetles always had a different wiring diagram.. why, I don't know...
headlamps were always wired different too..

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·

#885659
yeah Lee, went and looked at my mates that i did for him, how silly for me to forget.
yep placky cased lamps down the bottom.
Easy A



Paul😁