Date:         Tue, 1 May 2001 16:44:38 -0600
Reply-To:     "Richard A. Jones" <jones@coyote.Colorado.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Richard A. Jones" <jones@coyote.Colorado.EDU>
Subject:      electrical puzzle help needed
Content-Type: TEXT/plain; charset=us-ascii

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....