Re: [T3] gen light and brake light on!

["Jim Adney" <jadney@vwtype3.org>]

On 29 Mar 00, at 9:09, STEVEN.ANDERSON@af-group.com wrote:

> My gen belt disintegrated while I slept last night. Both my gen light
> and brake light stayed on when I started the car.  Is there any reason
> why they would both go on at the same time.  When I got to work I
> looked and sure enough the belt was destroyed.  I then checked the
> brake fluid and it was full.  Any ideas?  The brake light is to tell
> you that your fluid is low, no? Thanks.

The brake light tells you that one of your brake systems (front or 
rear) is not developing any pressure while the other is. If your pedal 
felt normal then the light should not have come on. It's a stupid 
system; it only tells you there is a problem after you have already 
panicd. Later cars have the fluid level sensors.

The charging light staying on has the obvious solution, but I'm 
guessing that you have a 72-3 with the later brake warning light. 
That one (the one that you don't press to test the bulb, but that 
comes on automatically when you first turn the key on) has some 
internal electronics including a transistor which occasionally dies, 
often when there is some other electrical system problem.

The late warning light senses when the charging system comes up 
and turns itself off then, ready to report a brake failure, but until the 
charging system is working, it will stay on. So most likely it will 
return to normal once you replace your belt. If not, the transistor 
will have to be replaced.
-
Jim Adney
jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711-3054

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