Date:         Fri, 21 Apr 2000 13:19:08 -0400
Reply-To:     "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <Doug@BEACONMARKETING.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <Doug@BEACONMARKETING.NET>
Subject:      Front Blower - Help! (while we're on the subject)
Content-Type: text/plain

The idea of removing the entire dashboard is right up there among the least
appealing ways I could imagine spending a weekend, however I fear it might
be upcoming for me - let me explain...

My front blower switch died some time ago. Symptoms of death: it would click
into position "1" (and the blower would blow on low speed) but wouldn't
click into place on "2" and wouldn't even turn as far as "3". I got a new
switch and installed it - easy enough. The switch went click click click
just fine - "Great!" I thought. I turned on the ignition and tried again -
the blower didn't come on. Hmmm... I tried it again - click to position
"1"...   nothing. Click "2"...   nothing. Click "3"...   nothing...   then
POP! The blower fuse was zapped. I repeated this sequence with a few new
fuses and it seems that the fuse will get zapped only if the switch is left
on position "3" for several seconds. The blower does not blow regardless of
switch position.

?????

I can't imagine the blower is bad all of a sudden - it worked on "low"
before I replaced the switch. Prior to that, the switch operated normally
and the blower blew on all three settings. Could it be that the new switch
is defective? I'll try swapping the rear blower switch - I think it's the
same part #.  Or maybe I got the wrong part? It plugged right in though, so
that doesn't seem like it would be the case. Perhaps I nicked a wire while
rooting around inside the dashboard? Or maybe the blower failing caused the
old switch to get fried - but if that was the case why wouldn't the fuse
have just blown rather then the switch failing? And why would it work on "1"
with the old switch and not at all with the new switch? Anyone experienced
something similar or have any brilliant theories?

I've become quite adept at modulating the windows to prevent either the
prevailing atmospheric conditions or my Perpetually Panting Passenger (a.k.a
My Mutant Malamute Moisture Machine) from fogging things up, and thanks to
the lovely flow-through ventilation, as long as I'm moving things are fine,
but sometimes despite my best efforts I'm just SOL.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro