Re: [T3] Complete Electrical Shutdown

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

On 4 May 2001, at 15:16, Matt Small wrote:

> I was sitting at a stoplight yesterday when my 73 Square's (AT/FI - Stock)
> electrical system just died.  I have nothing when I try to start it now.
> When I have the key in the on position it appears as if the fuel sending
> unit works since my gas gauge has a reading, and the dash lights are on very
> very faintly. 

Check your battery cables: both ends of both cables. 

The battery posts should actually stick up past the tops of the 
clamps on both terminals. If they do not, loosen and remove the 
clamp bolts and spread the clamps with a large screwdriver until 
they will drop all the way down on the posts, then tighten them 
carefully in place. 

DO NOT hammer the clamps onto the posts: This will break the 
metal to plastic seal on the battery case and allow acid to start to 
seep out and eat away the cable. This is a fragile point on your 
battery. If you break it, you won't see the problem, but a year from 
now you will see the effects.

If you have a voltmeter you can look to see where you have voltage 
drops and those places will be your bad connections.

It is POSSIBLE that it is a battery problem. Check the voltage from 
post to post (not clamp to clamp) on the battery to see what you 
get.

-
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************

-------------------------------------------------------------------
List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list or mailto:help@vwtype3.org