Date:         Mon, 19 Aug 2002 23:50:00 +0200
Reply-To:     Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject:      Re: do vanagons ever get stolen???
Comments: To: "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@CITYNET.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

There is a great battery cut-out switch made by Hella which I bought and
installed such that it is flush with the fabric on the front or the
passenger seat housing.  It just looks like a little round black grommet
there, but is really an orafice  where if you have the proper big red "key"
you can turn it and get battery power. All that is required is a few little
holes in the sheet metal, and some monster cables soldered to good quality
connector rings.

I personally LOVE this modification, as I am not at all worried about
anybody stealing my 87 Wolfsburg GL (it is in the middle of a mid-life
crisis of sorts, and is getting a full outer body makeover... slowly...
looks a bit like a sick dalmation now with all the gray primer spots on the
dark metallic gray original paint).

Anyway... the reason I love this, is that whenever I am screwing around with
the Vanagon (like every other day) I can just turn the "key" switch and cut
the battery out... thereby avoiding those unpleasant shorts etc that can
occur while tinkering.  Previously I had to actually remove the negative
battery cable, and this is a pain in the butt.

I will toss a few photos up on the web for those who are interested in
seeing it in action:

http://www.fishforms.com/vanagon/KillSwitch.cfm

photo 1 = front view of lower seat base with red key inserted
photo 2 = same view without key
photo 3 = view from above showing the switch mounted inside, the keyhole,
and a pretzel

Enjoy,

RSF

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Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf