Date:         Sat, 6 Jan 2001 03:32:50 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Hazard switch slow to illuminate at night
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The switch for the hazard lights on my Vanagon dashboard illuminates slowly
when I turn on the headlights. What I mean is when the headlights are turned
on the instrument lights light up immediately as does the light in the
defroster switch, but the light in the hazard switch has to kind of warm up.
The light in the hazard switch slowly lights--kind of fades on--within a
second or two.

Is this an indication of a faulty hazard switch, or does the power come to
the switch through the flasher--and then is it the flasher at fault?

While the slow illumination isn't a problem on the face of it, I'm assuming
it may be a sign of a problem on the way such as a short in the switch.

The hazards (four way flashers) work pretty well. Although on a cold morning
the switch takes a second or two to get the lights flashing once turned
on--(cold morning being about 45 degrees here in SoCal). when the hazard
switch is turned on on a cold morning the flasher can sometimes kind of buzz
for a moment before it seems to warm up to get the lights flashing--then the
flasher does the normal clicking as it flashes the lights. Once it's warm in
the bus or warmer outside the hazards will start up right away when the
switch is turned on. (the regular turn signals work fine)

I should mention there is a weirdness with the rear heater fan switch as
well. When I shut off the bus with the rear heater fan switch on the fan runs
for about a minute or two before it shuts off as if it is on a timed switch.
This seems a bit odd to me. Is this a normal function? Is it a sign of
crossed wires somewhere? To add to the oddity if I shut off the ignition with
the headlights on and the rear heater fan on the rear heater fan stays
on--then shuts off immediately when I turn off the headlight switch. (the
main headlight bulbs themselves go off with the ignition and the parking
lights stay on as is normal). Could this be related to the slow illumination
of the hazard switch?

Any advice appreciated
Jeff
83.5 westy
LA, CA