Re: More electrical Q's + brakes

[Andre Bjorkheim <andreb@u.washington.edu>]

>         The rear defroster and wiper on my '81 don't work.  The Bentley
> manual states that the rear wiper has an in-line 8A fuse.  Where is this
> thing located?  I want to rule out the fuse before I have to start
> suspecting the motor or switch.
    
   The in line fuse they talk about is just the fuse in the box. I cant
  recall which one it is but the Bently should tell you.  If it is good,
  then it could possibly be the contacts on the steering column, or the
  wiring, or a blown motor.  Best to use a meter to check all the spots
  to find out whether it is hot or not.

> 
>         The rear defroster doesn't come on although the fuse is ok and I
> used a switch which was working in my other car.  Any place that I should
> look at next?

    Measure the resistance of the defroster on the rear window using the
  same 2 terminals that the wires plug into.  I found that if it works 
  properly it should be around 4 ohms.  If it is in the hundreds or
  thousands, then try to connect a bare wire from the terminal to the big
  copper strip that runs up the side of the window.  I had to do that to
  my friends rocco to get the defroster to work.  If it reads infinite, 
  well then, all the strips are probably busted.  I think you can buy this
  copper type paint stuff that you can make to fill in the gaps where the
  strips are serarated.  If the copper elements are okay, then check to
  see that you are getting voltage at the one terminal.  Chances are
  if the fuse is good, and the reading of the all the elements at their
  2 terminals is around 4 ohms, then it is either the wiring is bad or
  the fuse box. 
> 
>         The alternator light has a dim to not so dim glow when the
> headlights are on.  It is bright right after starting then fades a bit then
> becomes brighter in an anxiety-inducing cycle.  I'm guessing that the
> additional glow is not caused by the radiator fan (at least initially)
> since I can't imagine the fan coming on for a few minutes while the motor
> is warming up.

    Get a 90amp unit.  I did it for my 79 and I helped a friend do it on
  his 80 and we are both happy we did it.  No more dim red light.

>         I'm thinking about doing the relay conversion for the headlights
> but was the "alternator-warning-light-warm-glow-when-headlights-are-on" a
> standard feature when these cars were new?  Or is this something that
> inevitably develops over time like a nasty paunch and age spots?  I vaguely
> remember articles in European Car or maybe even back in VW & Porsche
> describing 90A alternator and beefier ground connection upgrades.  On what
> type/year of cars could I harvest one of these uber alternators and do I
> have to modify the mount/pulley/wiring?  Btw, my car has air.

     I did the conversion using the al30x alternator.  it came out of a
  diesel golf or something.  I know there are others that are available
  but I bought mine brand new a long time ago and I didnt realize there
  were several different ones to choose from.  Most VW places will know
  which ones are compatible, or junkyard persons.  On my vehicle, I used
  the same pulley but with my friends 80 rocco, we had to get a longer 
  pulley, so it really depends on which one you get.  As far as wiring 
  goes, a couple of 8 gauge wires should do real nice to the battery.  A
  beefier ground strap wouldnt hurt either.

    I have air as well and when i put my alternator in there, it was a
  tight fit, and still is.  I am actually having the problem of one of the
  alternator bolts rubbing on my lower radiator hose and I will soon have
  to get a new one.  Make sure that hose clears that radiator by at least
  1/2" when you hook it all up.  

     Relays for the headlights would be a good idea as well.  Even though
  my alternator read around 13volts with the lights on, I was only getting 
  around 11.5 volts there.  I didnt dot he relays on mine yet but I helped
  out on another scirocco and boy did it make a difference.  Also, if you
  decide to get either hella or cibie headlights that use the H4/H1 bulbs
  you can put in higher wattage bulbs, but make sure that if you do, you
  have heavier gauge wire than stock on your relays.


>         Is the wispy ground strap in question that one that goes from the
> negative terminal through some impenetrable mass to the frame?  Do I unbolt
> it and sand all the contacts to get rid of all my problems?

   Ah, just replace it with beefier wire  ;)


  Andre'

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