Charging System Issues, Doesn't like the cold! Options

[ThinAir]

Yesterday morning the low hit 14F and when I started the teener the generator light stayed on solid & bright red. I thought I had heard a thump sound as I backed out of the driveway and since I was still in a caffiene-deprived state I figured I'd probably broken the belt and I just parked it and borrowed another car to get to work.

Last night I went out to work on the problem and when I start up the car the generator light goes out just like it should. I finally remember how easy it is to check the belt and sure enough the belt is just fine. Since I don't have a garage I figure I'm not staying out in the cold to work on a problem that isn't there so I just park it for the night and wait to see what the morning brings.

This morning the temp hit the same mark and I've got the same problem. I figure this has to be temperature related so I drive the car anyway and take the slow residential streets so that I can generate as much heat as possible. As I'm driving I notice that the stock voltmeter is showing about 11.5 volts. After about 6 miles the generator light suddenly goes out and the voltmeter jumps up to 13.5 volts.

Anybody seen this kind of thing before and have any idea what I should be looking for?

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As long as I'm asking about charging system issues - on my son's 1975 VW Bus I've got an issue where the battery slowly loses charge, but it isn't obvious until one morning you don't have enough power to crank it and produce a good spark so it won't start. The only indication I've got is that when you turn on the blinkers you can see the alternator light flash in time with the blinkers. I've added a separate grounding cable to run from the battery back to the engine, but this didn't change it. Any ideas?