Date:         Tue, 16 Apr 2002 08:47:49 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: HELP!My vanagon is missing OS sensor switch and trans fill
              plug
Comments: To: Stephen Hosick <peterho@SWBELL.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Stephen Hosick wrote:

> Hey all,
>   So my OS light came on the other day,and I replaced it(I immediately pulled over and bought one and replaced it in the parking lot)and now I can't find the damn switch to turn the light off.Then I went to drain and fill the transmission,and I couldn't find a fill plug.Somebody let me know where this stuff is found!!!
> Stephen
> 84 Vanagon GL
> "The Nosfaratu"

If the light came on, why did you replace the light?

The light actually has no physical connection to  the O2 sensor what so ever. It is wired to a box under the floorboard that is in the the tireholder space under the front of the van. There is a counter in that box that is driven by the short speedo cable comeing from the left front wheel into the box,. When the speedo
counter in the box reaches 30,000 or 60,000, depending on the year of the van, it turns the O2 light on, reminding you the mileage limit for the sensor has been reached. Not that the O2 sensor has failed or failure is imminent, but that it reminds that now is the time to take timely service action, and replace it.

To turn off the light drop the tire pan, and look up underneath and you will see the box. With a small screwdriver of pointed tool, reach over the top, and depress the button that is located in a detent on top of the box. That resets the switch for the next 30/60 thousand occurance of the light.

That silly little light is a service indicator only, and even if the O2 sensor fails completely and sends your ECU all kinds of eronneous signals making you think your engine is dying, that stupid little light will not come on again until you reach that 30/60 thousand mile mark!

Good Luck!!

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver