September 16, 200421 yr Ok so I was having some problems with the Brat a week ago with the brake light and the charge light coming on. It would run for about 20 seconds GREAT but then it would start to die and the lights would go off and then it would completley die. So I finally got it running without the lights coming on and the other night I was pulling into Taco Bell to get some food and it did it again. Now I can't get it going without the lights off because it runs for about 20 seconds and then it dies. What the hell is going on??? Is it the alternator going bad because I have a theory about the fuel pump being driven off of the ignition while its cranking and then when it starts, it runs off of the field windings, field is dead so the fuel pump quits working so then it drains the bowl. Is this right? I do have another alternator but the brushes are broken in it and so I could use both of them for parts and make one good one but I also have this feeling the VR might be bad as well..... Help?
September 16, 200421 yr Author ehh moving to Wyoming = no money. EVen to FIND one in a wrecking yard is kinda rare and I don't have the time to go shopping around since I still have a bunch to pack so I'm just gonna see if the alternator is bad and if it is, I'm gonna rebuild it with my other alternator. If its not bad, I'll swap my VR out with the other one...
September 17, 200421 yr http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21396 Link is to posting I wrote on how to swap the rear covers on the alts. This is assuming that atleast one of them has good VR and brushes in it, and the other has good windings.
September 17, 200421 yr From personal experience, I found your theory to be fact I have an external VR on my '78, I found the VR to be good. Changing the alternator cured mine. Starts without touching the gas, and stays running... one problem solved.
September 18, 200421 yr my 79brat did that same exact thing swapped VR off my 80brat and wa la no problems on either one for the last 6months, go figure
September 18, 200421 yr If I recall, that year has 3 inline fuses (not in the fuse box). One on a white/red wire for the regulator/ alt, one for the fuel pump. I've seen broken fuses (not blown) make an on again/off again contact. kerry/roo-builders
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