Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 06:31:53 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: '80 Westfalia, Electrical problems; need answers, like,
really.
In-Reply-To: <20040419051034.82649.qmail@web61306.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
You need to do some trouble shooting to find out is the wires melted
because they were too close to the heating system or if electrically
overloaded. Having the heat or defroster on in the air cooled vans does
nothing to help cool the engine. All your cooling is the heat exchangers
and air goes through even with the heat flaps closed.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Phil janson
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 1:11 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '80 Westfalia, Electrical problems; need answers, like, really.
Here's one of several problems I've had/ am having. I need a solution
to this...
I was in a stereo store and bought a stereo and had them install it.
Later I'm driving up a long steep hill and I have the defroster on full
blast so the van is getting really hot [air cooled engine]. It's a warm
day -- I have the defroster on to help cool the engine. All of a sudden
a bunch of smoke starts rising from the dash. I pull over, shut
everything off and disconnect the battery. I find that a wire has
burned up that runs from the headlight switch to the stereo. And it's
overheating has melted the insulation from some other wires too, as
certain places on that wire.
My questions:
1. Is it likely that the stereo place used an extra hot terminal
[whatever that means] on the headlight switch to power the stereo? Is
that kosher? Wouldn't it be better to run to the fuse box and have a
fused power line?
2. Is there a problem on air cooled vans driving in these conditions
with a lot of heat added heat in the dash board area because the
defroster is on, that it help to influence or actually cause an
electrical fire. If so, is there something we can do to reduce or
eliminate this possibility by adding insulation under the dash?
3. Is there a better guide we have on the vanagon list somewhere about
adding electrical accessories to these vans; also is there a guide to
improving the safety of the electrical system?
Thanks everybody
Phil
'80 Westfalia Vanagon.
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