Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ur-tut.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!qantel!lll-crg!seismo!rochester!ur-tut!aliv From: aliv@ur-tut.UUCP (William Simonds) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Re: VW electrical problem Message-ID: <212@ur-tut.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 11:22:45 EST Article-I.D.: ur-tut.212 Posted: Mon Nov 11 11:22:45 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Nov-85 08:14:45 EST References: <525@aero.ARPA> <1419@rayssd.UUCP> Reply-To: aliv@ur-tut.UUCP (William Simonds) Distribution: net Organization: Univ. of Rochester Computing Center Lines: 13 I have an '80 VW rabbit and the same thing hapened to me. Upon investigation, Ifound it to be normal. When you start the car, the battery charges the coils of the alternator and runs the electrical system, thus the battery is being discharged. Once the engine is revved, the speed of the alternator spinning causes it to develop >12 volts. At this time, this voltage takes over the work that the battery was doing and begins to charge the battery. As long as the light comes on when you start the car and goes when the engine gets up to running speed, you are alright. If the speed needed to turn the light off is greater than normal operating speed, then I would expect either the belt is loose, or the brushes are bad (probably the belt). I hope this helps.