Date:         Fri, 6 Dec 2002 21:35:08 -0800
Reply-To:     3kellers@COMCAST.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Toma Keller <3kellers@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Electric Gremlin
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Dear List,
Baltimore got it's first decent snowfall in two years and along with that
something strange happened in my '91 Vanagon GL.  I bought this van in April
and at the time I had interior lights when I turned on the lights at night.
I could adjust the brightness on the dash pod however, I had the following
issues which I did not resolve because I felt they were minor; the Auto
tranny lighting didn't work so at night you couldn't see what gear you were
in, the light for the heating fan for the main front heater was out and the
interior lights didn't light when you opened the doors although they could
be turned on.

Last night, I went to move the van in the driveway and when I turned it on
and turned on the lights, I had outside lights but no interior lights,
everything was dark.  I can still turn on the interior lights and the radio
still has power and all other electrical seems to be working but the
interior dash lights are not functioning.  Also, the turn signal indicator
light comes on for left and right turns, the brake light comes on at start
up if the parking brake is on, the bright beams function and the led for
them works as well.  The "fasten seat belt" led also lights upon ignition
and goes out after several seconds as it always has.

I checked fuse number three and it is fine.  I even swapped it with number
four and the fuse worked to test the four way flashers.  Now the question
is, where do I begin looking?  Is there another fuse for these lights?  Did
something else blow that I should be looking for?  Has anyone else ever seen
this type of problem?  Could the problem be in the switch?  How do I go
about finding the problem?

Thanks in advance for your helpful advice,

Toma