Date:         Mon, 19 Feb 2001 17:24:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Cruise control tips
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello,

I just finished diagnosing why my cruise control in my '88 Westy was not
working and thought I'd pass on a few tips.

First, the Bentley has the troubleshooting page for cruise control a bit
hidden - at least for me, it took a few going's through the manual to
find it. Anyway, it is on pages 27.25 though 27.31 The heading on this
page, and the others (The reason I had such a problem finding it) is
titled in bold print " ELECTRICAL- BATTERY, STARTER, ALTERNATOR.

Note: The control unit location is stated as "behind instrument panel -
right"  What they mean is: "Behind the glove compartment. If you drop
the glove compartment, you will see the silver control unit.

The troubleshooting flow-chart is pretty good. However I would recommend
that you check the continuity of the clutch and brake valves first
thing. (This turned out to be my problem - one of the vent valves was
not making electrical contact.

If you follow the flowchart, and on Step 3 " Vacuum vent valves do not
work"  Add the following:
If your test light does not light at all, you have a bad vent valve or a
broken wire (Red-Black) between
the connector and the vent valves.

Interestingly, I took my vent valve apart and cleaned it, and it still
would not work. Sometimes it would work if the switch was closed
quickly, but not if it was done slowly. This was the cause of my cruise
control working intermittently.

Hope that helps anyone else who is trying to get their cruise control
working.


Also, most other cars have an indicator that lights when the cruise
control is turned on - this does not seem to be the case with the
Vanagon. It looks like if you wired an LED to connector 1 on the plug
that goes to the control unit, this would light as the cruise control is
turned on.

Todd
'88 Westy