Date:         Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:27:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Leon <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Leon <korkwood@WSHOST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Rebuilding Vanagon Electric Windows or How To Go Into Debt
              Quickly
In-Reply-To:  <001d01c54c70$dc12e0c0$54c7f004@computer>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-15

I was working on one guy Westy and both sides switches didn't work.
ordered from well known source and after 3 weeks of waiting got brand new
switches.Played with switches little and to my horror both stopped working
after just few "dry" klicks.Contacted seller and eventualy received new
ones.While waiting for replacement took one apart and found what Jerry
described below, except my switch was brand new.It turned out to be
defective
in that those tips if not ligned up perfectly, kept turning rocking
contacts
on it's side and jamming it.I thought it was design problem and decided to
  "improve it"
Ground little tips to shape like a blade instead of point and after
assembling modified switch couldn't make it fail.Worked perfectly.
Much easier to assemble.
Did same to other switch with same result.
Leon

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 21:06:43 -0700, Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
wrote:

> When I bought an '88 Westy last November, the passenger side power window
> regulator/motor had just been replaced. I think the PO's mech. told him
> it was all one
> piece and had to be replaced. Anyway, I think he put it together in a
> hurry, because
> when I got it, the switch was hanging out of the hole. It worked, but I
> needed to
> remove the door panel and secure the electrical cable, which was being
> snagged by the
> window as it came down.
> Both the driver's side and passenger side switches were very stiff,
> especially when
> cold, so at $50 for a new pass. side one, I decided to try to open it
> up. I did and I
> won't even guess how long it took me to get it back together again. At
> any rate, there
> are two spring-loaded plungers inside and they are packed with grease,
> which became
> stiffened with age, and don't retract quickly like they should, causing
> the window to
> continue to move, even after you release the rocker. The tips of the two
> plungers
> engage two contact strips in the bottom of the switch, and as you move
> the switch one
> way or the other, they make/break contact to move the window up or down.
> I cleaned it
> all up and re-greased it, and then came the hard part. The top part,
> with the
> plungers, has to go STRAIGHT down into the other part, otherwise, it
> causes the
> contact strips to tilt sideways and jam.
> After MANY attempts, I got it together and it works.
> Jerry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brent Weide's Yahoo Account" <brent_weide@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:28 PM
> Subject: Rebuilding Vanagon Electric Windows or How To Go Into Debt
> Quickly
>
>
>> Anyone have any inside information on a good reasonable way to rebuild
>> or replace
> vanagon electric window motors and switches?  With vw replacement motors
> costing
> roughly as much as a left arm and leg, I would rather go with an
> alternate design
> which'll last longer if one exists.
>> Both of the Multivan's I've purchased and reworked (a 90 and now a 91)
>> have had
> power windows which operated at a very slow speed as if the motors were
> wearing out.
> Now I know that the vanagon is a patiencemobile but would very much like
> to get the
> window rolled down before my trip is over once in a while!!!
>>
>> Anyone got any tips?
>> Thanks,
>> Brent
>>
>>
>> Brent Weide
>> Portland, Oregon
>> http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/
>



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