Date:         Wed, 2 May 2001 20:21:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Hector Zapata <hector.zapata@xrxgsn.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Hector Zapata <hector.zapata@xrxgsn.com>
Subject:      Re: electrical puzzle help needed
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I had a problem with my 90 carat when I bought, but with the wipers. I was
told by the p.o. that I was to play with the fuse box if I needed the
wipers. Did it for a while, and went to a friend's vw parts store and bought
the fuse box. The day I was going to do the swap, I noticed that the metal
holders for the fuses were not making full contact. So I went fuse by fuse
with a very small screwdriver and reformed them to hold the fuses tighter.
That was almost 5 yrs ago. You could try...




-----Original Message-----
From: Richard A. Jones <jones@coyote.Colorado.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 6:39 PM
Subject: electrical puzzle help needed


>Here's the problem with my (new) '87 syncro westy lights:
>
>The right turnsignals and the parking lights are "connected."
>That means that when I turn on the right blinkers, they
>blink, but the parking lights (all around) do, too.
>
>If the parking lights are "on" then the right turnsignal
>bulbs are "on" and flipping up the turnsignal arm does
>nothing.
>
>I started at the right-rear lights and traced back.  When
>I found some butchered wiring in the engine compartment,
>I thought I had found it--where a trailer light cable had
>been put in, then removed.  But no.
>
>I checked the right-front light, with the dual filament,
>but all was clean and solid.
>
>I started "messing" with the fuse/relay panel under the
>dash.  Moving it out and touching the wires behind and
>A-hah!  The problem can come and go.  So I checked all the
>grounds, then I removed all the wires and plugs from the
>back of the panel and pulled it out.  (I'm disgusted at the
>mess of wiring and lack of free play on some of the
>wiring harnesses--looks like an Italian car!*)  But all
>the wires look good, the plugs look solid and clean and
>I could see no evidence of any wiring hacks, so I put it
>all back together.
>
>Now I have the panel resting in its hinge bracket with the
>bottom retaining screw out.  If the problem exists, I
>gently rock the panel in or out at the bottom and the
>problem will stop.  Move some more, and it can come and
>go.
>
>Question:  What's going on?   ;-)
>
>I don't think I am moving the panel enough to stretch or
>flex any wiring harnesses.  I suspect something loose inside
>the panel.  The turnsignal and parking light systems are
>independent, as I understand the wiring diagrams.  There
>should be no place for short between them, including the
>switches, relays, connectors, etc.  Is that not true?
>
>Am I missing something?
>
>Is a problem like this inside the panel likely?  Suggestions
>and advice are welcome!
>
>                             Richard A. Jones
>                             Boulder, Colorado
>                             '81 Vanagon  Mr Bus
>                             '87 syncro Westy  un-named
>
>* well, except the wire color codes are correct and in an
>  Italian car they wouldn't....