vw rookie needs some advice!

[rideon]

howdy, I have a '74 bus with an 1800cc engine. I am having some sort of power supply problem and i can't get a straight answer from anyone! here is the problem...

The battery gradually died on me one day while driving home. finally the battery went and the engine died. I successfully jumped it and got it home but the battery was obviously dying again as i drove home. When i tried to jump it again the car would not even turn over so jumping it now is out of the question. One parts store told me i had a faulty battery so i got a new one but the problem persisted. Another says i have an alternator problem and still another says its the voltage regulator.

Since money doesn't grow on trees i would love to diagnose the problem before buying parts. hopefully some folks can enlighten me a bit. Thanks! peace
Scott

[JFryauff]

Sounds like the altenator to me.

Oh, and welcome.

[rideon]

would a faulty alternator explain why i cant jump it anymore? thanks

[ARRRRRRRR32]

i would think so...obviously the car isnt recharging the battery as you drive.

how old is your battery? it may not be holding a charge anymore..

[rideon]

i got a new battery last week and the same thing happened again. now i cant even jump start the battery. that seems confusing to me because if the battery is good shouldn't it always jump even if the alternator is bad?
Scott

[VWSickness]

Originally Posted by rideon

i got a new battery last week and the same thing happened again. now i cant even jump start the battery. that seems confusing to me because if the battery is good shouldn't it always jump even if the alternator is bad?
Scott

Actually it makes perfect sence, after you kill a lead acid battery a few times (especially if it remains uncharged for a little while) it begins to not hold a charge which makes it virtually impossible to jump start because it wont hold the amperage necessary, You can test the bad battery issue by swapping it out for a known good battery, but the issue you are describing totaly points to an alternator problem or voltage reg prob, should probably change them both out. Shouldn't cost you more than $150.00 for a rebuilt Alt and new Bosch voltage reg.

[Handeye]

Also, check all of your battery cables and connectors for corrosion. If they look iffy at all replace them.

Welcome to the Forum.

[Johnthebugman1]

some vans have the hot recharge alt wire running from the alt to the big hot wire on the starter if this wire breaks you will not be charging , also the nut may be lose.

heres the junk yard way to test it out , disconnect the - neg wire going to the battery then jump the car with the (red hot + pos) jumper wire going to the (red hot + pos) side of the battery and the (neg - ground) going to the (neg - ground) wire NOT TO THE BATTERY, after the car starts and has charged up some , with the jumper wires still connected hook back up the (neg - ground) cable then disconnect both the jumper wire from your batt , then with the engine still running disconnect the (red hot + pos) from the bat if the engine dies you are not charging

try to get a working voltage regulator from a junk yard do the test again if engine staills remove the altenator and have it tested

be sure to check all wires going to starter,voltage regulator and altenator

one other thing I've had a lot of shop send me VW's and all types of other cars they could never get to charge , even after the owner had spent $600 - $900 or more .
I get out my test light clip to a hot wire and then tuch the alt no light = no ground , I run a wire from alt to a good ground test the car and its charging fine , I call the owner to tell them your car is fixed and the bill is $15.00 , all the men give me a $40 -$60 tip all the women give me a big kiss, I never tell them what I did to fix it I just say all the other shop they have been going to don't know what they are doing and to come back to me when there car breaks for real.