HELP MY BUS IS NOT CHARGING

[Guest]

History Commands

[January 04, 2009, 07:18:08 AM] edwin .s.nathan: I live in a tropical country ie malaysia.Need to install air conditioning.Any idea on where to put the vents

[January 05, 2009, 10:21:13 AM] BusManVW70: Hello everyone Im new to the site and I have just added some pictures of my 1970 VW Camper his name is Fred enjoy..

[January 06, 2009, 10:03:55 AM] Jamesbehave: oh man

[January 06, 2009, 10:04:11 AM] Jamesbehave: talk about brain dead

[January 06, 2009, 10:04:22 AM] Jamesbehave: read my post

[January 06, 2009, 10:18:51 AM] JimmyD\'s: 1977 vw camper wont start HELP

[January 06, 2009, 10:19:09 AM] JimmyD\'s: her name is lucy

[January 06, 2009, 11:22:28 AM] Jamesbehave: whats going on

[January 06, 2009, 11:40:04 AM] JIMMYD: i have two shitty batteries I have been taking turns on trickle charges. So I put the fresh good battery in and she tries but

[January 06, 2009, 11:40:39 AM] JIMMYD: she won't flip. I've checked all the fuses.... rolled her back.

[January 06, 2009, 11:41:05 AM] JIMMYD: Found an old allman brothers ticket

[January 06, 2009, 11:42:02 AM] JIMMYD: the starter has always seemed fine.... no problems

[bignic89]

 I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN BUS. IT IS A WIRING NIGHTMARE! I AM HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING THE BATTERY CHARGED. SO I TESTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS BAD. SO I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER THE BATTERY IS STILL BEING DRAINED. I CANNOT FIND WHERE EXACTLY THE PROBLEMS ARE FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE BATTERY. IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING MY BUS ANYWHERE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE WITH MY BUS. PLEASE HELP.

[GostaBerling]

First thing first. Please lose the caps.

When you say that the battery is getting drained, do you mean that if it sits a while it will be dead or that after a bit of driving the battery will not have enough power to restart the bus? Once this is clarified we will be able to help you down the road to happy motoring. Also, pertinent information about the bus would be helpful, i.e. what year etc.

Oh and to LMB  Bignic

[Dj:Eep]

Two things come to mind.  Bad battery and, more importantly, a short to ground somewhere.  If you have any known constant-drain appliances in the bus, like a clock or radio, disconnect them. Find a good ground by sticking your tester (VOM or even just a test lamp) between the (+) pole on the battery and a screw on the frame or engine.  Then pull the ground cable from the battery.  Stick your tester between the (-) pole of the batt and the screw.  With the key off and no appliances drawing power, there should be no current.  If there is, there is a short to the frame somewhere.  Start hunting.

[bignic89]

She is a 75 westy i believe. The battery is only being drained when driven around. Also the battery is new i bought it first because the old one was completely dead. Here is what i did after i got the new alternator installed... I charged up the battery, placed it back in the engine compartment and wired her up. I then proceeded to start the bus and let it idle for a few minutes... Then i took her for a short drive where i felt comfortable that if in the event she stalls out, and i wouldnt be able to start her up, that i would be able to get home or help. The drive took about ten minutes total. When i returned home i shut her off and waited a few minutes before i turned her back on. She started fine. I then decided that it was safe to stop at a local gas station to buy some gas. when i stopped to get gas i shut her off. but in the gas. When i went to start her up, nothing. The engine wouldnt even crank over. So i had to ask another customer if they could give me a jump. We waited a few minutes to let the battery charge, and viola she started back up. I drove her back home and parked her... I have decided that I cannot take her anywhere until I am absolutely sure that i will not get stranded.

[GostaBerling]

Do you have a Multimeter? If so start the bus and place the leads to the battery. On the DC Volt setting you should be reading between high 12-14 volts, any less and your alternator will not keep up with the need of the system. If it is low, then you need to start tracing back, the next culprit is generally voltage regulator, belt tension, or wiring.

Also do as says and check for a drain. If it is a drain then it should be a Major one. A quick way to tell of a large drain is if the battery sparks when you attach the cables to it.