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Author Topic: GM alternator in a VW?  (Read 6959 times)

January 21, 2006, 05:45:06 pm

bryanbryan89x

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GM alternator in a VW?
« on: January 21, 2006, 05:45:06 pm »
Well my alternator went out last week and I replaced it with a GM one.  It was almost a perfect fit.  The pully was not the same, but I just swapped them out.  The good thing about the gm one was that it was 70 dollars, and it is a single wire, self exciting one.  Thanks for the great tip "VW racer."  Now my question is how do I hook up a tach to this one.  I know it has the special W terminal, but how do i go about wiring it up?


1981, Rabbit Car, 1.6, N.A.

Reply #1February 02, 2006, 11:27:54 am

Zippy

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2006, 11:27:54 am »
I have a Delcom CS-130 alternator on my 1.6NA installed in my Suzuki Samurai.   I ended up using a converter from www.dakotadigital.com to convert the stator signal to a tach drive.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=128/category_id=287/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd128.htm

It basically calibrates the signal coming from the alternator to give the proper readout on your tach.

Kevin


Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes !

Reply #2February 02, 2006, 11:45:42 am

bhtooefr

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2006, 11:45:42 am »
That's not what he's interested in. He doesn't need to adapt the stator signal (the "W" terminal signal) to a tach - he's got VW stuff that is designed to use the stator signal, no adaptor necessary.

He needs to connect his "W" connector to the alternator's stator terminal. According to some discussion of the DSL-1 over at the Infopop biodiesel forum, the "P" terminal is the GM equivalent to the "W" terminal.

FWIW, the wrong terminal can have quite... ah... hilarious consequences. Don't plug the "W" connector into the "W+" connector, or the horn will honk when you're cranking :P (Note: this is on a VW alternator. Not a GM alternator.)
1986 Volkswagen Golf | 1.6L NA diesel | 5spd manual | Deep Cosmic Blue (LE5C) | aack, it's a parts car, now, too!
1992 Mazda Miata | 1.6L DOHC gasser | 5spd manual | Classic Red (SU)

Reply #3February 02, 2006, 05:14:58 pm

bryanbryan89x

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2006, 05:14:58 pm »
Haha that might be a good prank to pull on someone....next time my friends rabbit has its hood open....
1981, Rabbit Car, 1.6, N.A.

Reply #4February 02, 2006, 06:02:29 pm

mortskeg

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2006, 06:02:29 pm »
So Brian, you already have a diesel-specific vw tach?  If so it's just a matter of running the wire.  What kind of vehicle?  If you're going to just use a gas tach then I can also highly recommend the DSL-1 from dakota digital.  I have a write-up about putting it in here:

http://vwcaddyforum.com/showthread.php?t=4749

Using the signal converter also allowed me to easily put in a cruise control:

http://vwcaddyforum.com/showthread.php?t=4843

Hope this helps.

Reply #5February 02, 2006, 07:33:14 pm

bhtooefr

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2006, 07:33:14 pm »
bryan: I can't guarantee that it'll work on an A1, but it did on an A2. Just ask MOGolf on TDIClub. (FWIW, I swapped it over to the "W" terminal, and it didn't do it ever again. Did it every crank on "W+", though.)
1986 Volkswagen Golf | 1.6L NA diesel | 5spd manual | Deep Cosmic Blue (LE5C) | aack, it's a parts car, now, too!
1992 Mazda Miata | 1.6L DOHC gasser | 5spd manual | Classic Red (SU)

Reply #6February 03, 2006, 10:37:03 pm

sethyboy85

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2006, 10:37:03 pm »
I think I might be needing to upgrade my alternator soon so what GM model is this that works? how much is involved, just switching pulleys?
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Reply #7February 04, 2006, 10:41:48 am

bryanbryan89x

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2006, 10:41:48 am »
The car is my 81 rabbit 1.6 na.  The tach I have is this one, out of a 1992 gasser.

As for the alternator...
Quote from: "VWRacer"


Napa Power Supreme
Alternator # 13-4011SW
Rated 63 Amps (60 amps nominal?)



If you ask them at napa they will actually switch the pully for you.  Also you are going to have to space it out with a couple washers.  Then grind the bottom alternator bracket a bit, and you may need a v-belt that is the next size down as well.  Then just run one ten gadge wire from the post that is red to the battery. This is the a 180 degree mount type.
1981, Rabbit Car, 1.6, N.A.

Reply #8March 25, 2006, 10:25:19 pm

firestorm13666

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GM alternator in a VW?
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2006, 10:25:19 pm »
Does anyone know what GM model's Alt that will fit our cars?

 

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