Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 19:47:21 -0400
Reply-To: Harold Teer <teerhb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Harold Teer <teerhb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Cleaning electric mirror switch and increasing mirror adjustment
range
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Recently, the switch which controls the adjustment on the outside mirrors on
my '91 westy quit working after working sporadically for awhile. I searched
the archives and the most common cause of this problem was identified as
broken wires between the body and the door. My wires were fine, so I
correctly guessed that the switch ($34.95 from Bus Depot) was the problem.
Since I didn't have anything to lose by experimenting, I decided to try and
clean/fix the switch before ordering a new one. For anyone with the same
problem and for the archives, let me explain what to do if you try to clean
your switch. Gently and carefully, pry the switch apart near the wiring
harness connector. The contents of the switch consist of "eight tiny
springs", "four tiny barbells", a circuit board, and the joy stick
controller. Luckily, most of the springs and one barbell stayed in place so
I could tell how this thing worked. The joystick moves a piece of plasic
which holds the springs and barbells and the barbells slide on the circuit
board and make contact with different tracks which control the mirror motor.
The barbells and circuit board tracks seemed to be made out of copper and
looked pretty corroded. I had some Brasso Cleaner (remember, I had nothing
to lose), so put some on my finger and rubbed it on the board until all
tracks shinned again. I then cleaned the tiny barbells with the Brasso
cleaner and then cleaned everything with alcohol. I reapplied a very tiny
amount of silicone grease to where the plastic parts rubbed together---you
will see where since there should be some old grease left. Looking at the
worn places on the circuit board, you can tell where the barbells contact
the board and this will guide you when you are deciding which holes the
springs fit in to hold tension on the barbells. Then gently put everything
back together. My switch is now working perfectly.
One thing that has always bothered me about the electric mirrors was the
lack of range in their movement--especially the driver mirror. When working
on the mirror switch, I happened to find that Bentley has a page (66.3)
devoted to "increasing mirror glass adjustment range" for 1986 and up
electric mirrors. Bentley provides an elegant solution--take a hacksaw and
cut off about 1/8" on the four mirror stop tabs. I did this and it
significantly increased the range of movement for the mirrors.
Hope this helps someone,
Harold
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Harold Teer
Harrisonburg, VA
teerhb@hotmail.com
'91 Westy
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