Date:         Sun, 27 May 2001 09:58:33 -0400
Reply-To:     Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: dash lights dim w/brakes
Comments: To: Oxroad@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jeff;
        First I would combat typical maladies brought on by the onset of
old age. Most common are poor connections in the current path. Clean
(shine-up metal-to-metal contact) the terminals at the alternator and
starter. While you are at it I feel that run is a weak link. I doubled
the wire size and eliminated similar problems. Next clean all body to
engine ground links. The ground clusters behind the fuse box often get
dripped on by leaky windshields and oxidize. Always disconnect the
negative battery terminal when working on electrical wiring for safety
sake.
        As for the head light switch, check out my web page  to read
about my solution.

Good Luck and Drive Safely
Ken Lewis
86 Crewcab,60 356
http://Neksiwel.20m.com/

On Sat, 26 May 2001 09:00:15 EDT Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM> writes:
> Where can I begin to look for the culprit that has my instrument
> lights
> dimming when I put on the brakes, or dimming intermitantly with the
> turn
> signal? My guess is the rest of the lights might dim as well. Can't
> quite
> blame the lighting system or headlight switch because the radio dial
> light
> also dims and it's not attached to the headlight circuit--at least I
> don't
> think it is.
>
> Other electrical symptoms include:
>
> Westfalia "control panel" reads green when I shut off the bus. Then
> if I
> check it again after letting it sit for a night or so the LED comes
> up
> yellow.  And the red alternator light stays on after the first start
> up of
> the day until I rev the engine--and I'd almost swear I can hear a
> relay click
> as the alternator light turns off. (I don't know if these are
> related)
>
> TIA
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>
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