Date:         Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:43:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Cause of failed igniton switch
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

I found the cause of the melting ignition switch- it is from the front
heater blower. The key on power circuit can run everything else but the
front heater blower.

I reported that my new ignition switch froze in the on position, the other
day.
The 86 Westfalia I bought,also had a frozen switch in the on position.

I decided to investigate this to see if the switch melted just like on my
82.

It was not only melted, the multi-connector plug is melted and the wire
burnt up.

So this explains why the key was stuck in the ignition.

The question remains: did the engine fire start from a the defective
ignition, burning the wires in the engine compartment , and starting an
engine fire, or did the switch melt after the engine fire shorted out the
wire to the coil?

I am inclined to think that if the 15 key-on wire is able to melt the
ignition switch, that this could also melt it all the way back to the coil,
starting an engine harness fire and a full blown engine fire.

I have seen Vanagons , even late model ones , that burnt from fires under
the dash.

Is this a defect in engineering I wonder? Is there a way to wire up the
front blower? From what I see in the Bentley, the load reduction relay is
supposed to take the load off the 15 wire?

Still sorting it out til dark-

Robert
1982 Westfalia



Robert
1982 Westfalia

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