We are newbie owners (as of 4/7/16) of a speedster replica of unknown builder. (We suspect Vintage Speedsters but not yet confirmed) . We need help with the 2 red idiot lights at the bottom of of the tachometer, what do each tell us ? The light on the right is now on for some reason..........
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Charging system?
According to the Vintage Speedsters Owner's Manual (available in the "Resources" tab for Supporting Members) the two lights at the bottom of the tachometer are:
Left Side Light = Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Right Side = Ignition Light (Alternator/Charging Light)
SLOTUB, I see you're new here with an April 2016 join date, which also coincides with your purchase. Make sure you join us June 24th, 25th, and 26th at the annual West Coast Speedster's gathering in SLO.
Slotub that was a blind date purchase. Let me know how it goes, a newbie here as well. Doesn't VS have a manufacturer's badge bolted to the car?
Right Side = Ignition Light (Alternator/Charging Light)
Assuming that the belt has not parted company with the alt. pulley, with the motor off, test the voltage at the battery with a volt meter, you should get a battery reading of about 12 v and with it running 13.8v if you are getting 13.8 running and the light is on, confirm one wire goes to the 61 terminal on the alt and the other wire will be to ign on...... we can go from there.
Are these vdo gauges?
Don't look like VDO, most likely Chinese copies.
"We are newbie owners (as of 4/7/16) of a speedster replica of unknown builder. (We suspect Vintage Speedsters but not yet confirmed) . "
How is the vehicle registered; as a "Volk" or "SPCNS"? Show us more pictures of the car and we should be able to tell you who manufactured it.
crhemi (Bill) posted:Don't look like VDO, most likely Chinese copies.
Definitely not VDO.
The green turn and red idiot lights look the same as in a VW Speedo.
More pictures of our "new" tub. Will try the voltage check tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has responded so far, what a fantastic resource !
Tom Blankinship is right - different cars are wired differently and we shouldn't assume which one is for the charging circuit and which is for low oil pressure.
And Robert's right, too - the Vintage Speedster manual does say the left is oil pressure and the right is charge.
BUT - my brand new 2013 VS came wired just the opposite. How did I find out? There's a simple test.
With the engine not running and the ignition on, both lights should be on. Check your alternator and you'll find two wires connected to it - a heavy gauge wire connected to the 'B+' terminal and a thinner gauge wire connected to another terminal.
Unhook the THINNER GAUGE wire from the alternator and one of the lights should go out. THAT's the charging light. The other is oil pressure.
Slotub- can't see the last batch of pics...
Non pics. Please repost.
Hmmm, I can see the 4 photos pasted in my post of 9 hours ago......
I forgot to answer a previous question - it is registered as a 63 Volkswagen.
Yup, it's a speedster...post some pics of the interior too as it will help to ID it.
