Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 2002, week 2)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Wed, 9 Oct 2002 01:31:46 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Wiring and Stan's 8 years of experience
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

A newbie reading Stan's revelation earlier Tuesday, might wonder how someone, that 8 years ago knew nothing (self admitted) could now be an expert.

Its easy. Working on Vanagons will teach folks a LOT about all sorts of things.

For instance, after a trip to WV over the weekend, I realized one of my Fog lamps wasn't working. I had recently replaced the bulb on the lamp on the other side...so I figured it was possible that the bulb was burnt out...but first, I decided to check some of the other things.

I checked the ground wire. Good connectivity. Since the fogs I wired together on one hot circuit and one side was working, I probably had a good hot wire. BUT, I checked it anyway. Guess what. It was bad.

So I went back to the splice. Fiddled with the splice and got a hot connection again. On the other paw, I wasn't really happy with that solution. So I decided to redo the splice.

As it turns out, I redid most of the hot line as the original wire (supplied with the Projectzwo Fog light kit) was already oxidizing...

These are copper core wires, of course, but on stripping back the insulation, they were black. From the copper oxidizing. Oxidized copper is just about impossible in my experience to give a good connection. So I replaced it with 10 gauge (definitely overkill, but what the hey) wire. Then I soldered a good connection and used fusion tape to completely insulate the splice. Should last for a couple more years like this.

But the next time (i.e. when I do the complete rewiring of the headlights) I'll be putting ALL these wires inside rubber tubing to better shield them from the elements.

I also changed the oil. Maintenance done for the next few thousand miles.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.