Date:         Sun, 13 May 2001 09:48:08 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@enteract.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@enteract.com>
Subject:      Re: Grounds
Comments: To: JohnHJhouser@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John Houser wrote:

> Volks,
>
> I am trying to get my early 84 Westy roadworthy.  When I bought it,
> the gas
> gauge, the coolant level light and the temperature gauge didn't work
> and the
> brake warning light stayed on as long as the engine was running.  I
> was able
> to get the gauges and the coolant level light to work by grafting a
> ground on
> the #5 pin of the dashboard cannon plug.  I still can't get the brake
> warning
> light to go out.  What I need to know is:
>
> 1.  Where exactly are the two ground points in the dashboard area ?
>
> 2.  Where are the sensors that would indicate a failure in the brake
> system
> and how
>     would I check them to see if my problem with this light is a loose
>
> ground or a real
>     problem with the brakes?
>
> TIA,
> John Houser, Jr.

Look for the ground points up behind the fuse/relay assembly.

There are pressure switches (two I believe) attached at the master
cylinder.  They sometimes go bad.  If you disconnect the wires from them
and check with an ohmmeter, you should see a big change in resistance (
infinite to nearly zero) when you press on the brake pedal.
  I believe that the electronic logic, where ever it may be, turns on
the warning light if it senses pressure in the front brake circuit and
not the rear or vise-versa.

 Larry A.