Date:         Mon, 26 Feb 2001 05:04:38 EST
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      slight glow from oil press. light
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

As I came down a long hill (about a mile) in the rain tonight I noticed a
slight glow from the oil pressure idiot light (really very slight--I had to
turn off the instrument lights to be sure). I put it in neutral and coasted
down the hill. Buy the time I reached the bottom the glow had gone away. The
rest of the mile or so ride home on level ground the light remained off.  I
had only driven about 5 or 6 miles when I started down the hill. And I have
never noticed this glowing  of the light before.

I'm wondering if this is a cause for major or minor concern--so if anyone has
experienced this or has information I would appreciate it. I have a few
questions and they are in "most wishful thinking" descending order:

1. Is it possible that the heavy rain completed the circuit at the sensor--if
the sensor was soaked and, since it was a poor connection created by the
water the light merely glowed slightly?

2. I think I may have been deliquent on an oil change. Could the combo of the
thinning oil and the downhill slope be just enough to make the light glow?
(no excuse for the deliquentcy--I'll get right on that, but I will rest easy
if this kind of thing could be the cause).

3. Does the sending unit even offer itself to the possiblity that it could
send a slight signal causing the idiot light to glow--or is it simply and
"on" of "off" switch which means the light would be on brightly? (the light
shines brightly when the key is turned on before I start the engine. It turns
off and stays off along with the alternator idiot light once I hit the gas
enought to bring it up to 1200 RPMs)

I should add, but it may have nothing to do with the above:

Thinking about it there is a bit of gremlin in my electrical system in that
about two times over the last three months the "fasten seat belt" light has
come on momentarily while driving and while seatbelts are fastened (I think
it's on a timer at start up anyway so would have little to do with whether
seatbelts are fastened or not?). The rear heater fan, if left on in the
highest speed position when the ignition is turned off will run for a few
minutes then the fan will stop itself--or if I don;t give it the few minutes
to shut itself off it will run until I turn on the hazard lights or I think
it will go off if I push the brake pedal. (odd, no?) A couple of times I've
heard a relay buzz for a moment for no apparent reason during daylight hours
with no turn signal, fan or wiper switch turned on. This last I attributed to
a loose power connection to the wiper relay since some jiggling of the wire
is need to get the wipers going (the DPO "fixed" the fuse box by adding a
separate fuse for the wipers and a separate fuse for the defroster fan--from
the facotry I believe these componants shared one fuse. I think the defroster
fan seized and melted the fuse panel slightly--probably because he had the
fuse covered in foil if I know Frank. I have owned the bus for 4 years now
and the new fused system has worked fine it seems. But I have to get on the
loose connection.) And finally the Hazard switch glows dimly a few moments
after the headlights are turned on. Meaning it doesn't light up right away
but will glow after about a 1 or 2 second count. I thought this might be
normal since the light in the switch should not glow fully bright like the
other instrument lights or else it would be blinding to the driver. When the
Hazards are turned on it blinks using the full power of the light.

Sorry it's long
TIA
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA