Date:         Sun, 5 Aug 2001 12:25:30 -0700
Reply-To:     pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject:      Re: headlight problem and "bad "grounds. SVX
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi Volks,

Well, driving Mr. Steele's SVX in Wolfsburg clothing was an epiphany.
235x60-16 tires, apparently a 5.46 R&P gives performance to humble saki
wagens by the thousands.   Torque is ubiqitously available from 1200-6500
rpm.
Reminds one of a turbine smooth, 3.2 Carrera, without the Carrera prices and
lack of water heating/cooling.

70 MPH on the GPS gave 4000RPM in top.  The torque peak is at 4800 rpm at
220+ lbs feet.  1500 RPM has ~185 lbs feet available.  Remember the
venerable WBX has less than half of this, either peak or at 1500RPM.

The motor is comfortable at a steady 4500 RPM.  With the 0.86 top and 4.86
final drive 70mph is a leisurely 3500 RPM.

IMNSHO, FWIW this is what VAG should have done to start with.  G gear at
1000 rpm effortlessly climbs a 15% grade at a 2.7mph with punch power to
spare.

yum.

Electrifying discussion follows...

Bad grounds.. contrary to info presented on the list.  A bad ground will not
cause a switch to overheat.  Overheating switches are caused by contact
resistance at the high current contacts in the switch.  The dimmer
slider/knob controls a power resistor that limits the power to the panel
lighting.  It will and does get warm as it does so.  So this is part of the
heat you feel on the switch/dimmer assembly.

The best way to do the lights is to run a fused relay set directly from the
battery.  Activate the relays with the "signal" from the switches (H/L and
Headlight).  Run 1.5mm wire to a new ground point or directly to the battery
ground.

This will minimize power circuit resistance while maintaining the original
load-shedding functionality.

Banish Jos Lucas, let there be light!

Insofar as the standard headlight designs are concerned, Heinrich? Bosch
must have been related to the Lucas family.

cheers,

pensioner