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The G Lights Up On My Speedo
Oppressa - February 9th, 2003 at 02:00 PM

My friend told me before that if this light lights up, it means the system isn't charging or something???

I have an 1835cc engine with a 40amp alternator. What should I look for that would make this light come on? It's on all the time now when I start my car. And then today my stereo started clipping and eventually I just had to turn it off.

No big deal though, seeing it's being serviced tomorrow...

Bizarre - February 9th, 2003 at 02:27 PM

could be a few things
Do you have an alternator or generator?
Could be a regulator on the way out.
If you have a generator it could be brushes
Or it could be generator/alternator on the way out.
Could be a bad earth strap.
could be an internal short in the battery.

I take it the light has only just started comming on?

Really could do with a trip to the auto electrician if you cant see anything obvious with the alternator/generator

vw54 - February 9th, 2003 at 05:31 PM

Is the fan drive belt still there??? have you looked... time for teh auto electrician...
I think you should get a 65amp hour alternator if you only have the small one and your pumping out big sounds.

IvanTheTerrible - February 9th, 2003 at 08:03 PM

It means the alternator isn't delivering enough power for your system. Brushs are usually the cause of this. Have fun trying to find some new ones.

aussiebug - February 10th, 2003 at 02:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oppressa
My friend told me before that if this light lights up, it means the system isn't charging or something???

I have an 1835cc engine with a 40amp alternator. What should I look for that would make this light come on? It's on all the time now when I start my car. And then today my stereo started clipping and eventually I just had to turn it off.

No big deal though, seeing it's being serviced tomorrow...


With due deference to the other posters here....

The bug alternator is 50 amps - not 40.

The bug generator (12v) is 30 amps.

So do you have a generator or alternator???

The generators are one diameter along their length - the alternators are fatter at the pulley end.

There are two alternator varieties - the early type (up to mid 73) have a regulator under the back seat (like the generators do) but the later alternators have an internal regulator and only two wires coming out (no regulator under the back seat).

There is a check-up procedure on my web site which might help - all you need is a voltmeter or VOM.

http://.www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/generator.html 

Speedy Jim's site is also great for VW electrics

http://www.nls.net/mp/volks 

If the light is on all the time the battery is going flat!

Woozy - February 10th, 2003 at 03:51 PM

Does anyone know what the amp rating on the old 911 alternator's is ?
(the kind they used in the fan shroud kits)

Oppressa - February 11th, 2003 at 01:07 PM

My car's being serviced and having the problem checked now so I can't see the alternator to give you details aussiebug. I'll let ya guys know what the problem was.

vw54, I only use my system to its full potential when the car is standing still with forklift batteries or from a wall powersupply in competitions. So the alternator does fine.

Woozy - February 11th, 2003 at 06:19 PM

Opressa,
what sort of gear do you have in there ?
(stereo wise)
and what kind of spl are you making ?