Date:         Mon, 3 Oct 2005 13:39:21 -0500
Reply-To:     "Craig, Jim M. {PCNA}" <Jim.M.Craig@PEPSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Craig, Jim M. {PCNA}" <Jim.M.Craig@PEPSI.COM>
Subject:      Nagging Gremlins:  Temp gauge, Window washer, stumble, arm rest,
              Sliding door
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Looking for some help from the collective before ignoring my family
obligations for a few afternoons chasing down a few nagging gremlins on
my '90 Westy this weekend.

1.  The red led on my temp gauge blinks sometimes, but the needle on the
gauge itself works fine and never goes higher than it should.  If I turn
the van off, then restart, the light will turn off.  The cooling system
is working properly.  My '86 quantum syncro wagon does the same thing
and has for 5 years.  I am finally annoyed enough that I want to track
down the source on both rigs.  Is it one of the sensors on the
engine/cooling system or a problem with the circuit board on the
instrument cluster, or could it be some sort of short in between?  If
the instrument cluster, do I need the whole thing, a new tach assembly?

2.  When I pull back on the wiper arm, nothing happens.  If I push, the
rear wiper comes on and sprays.  The intermittent and high/low works
fine.  Is this circuit part of the intermittent relay or does the switch
on the column go directly to the washer pump?  If it's the switch, do I
have to replace the whole arm?

3.  The van runs great.  Perfect idle, even when cold, good power all
through the rpm range.  Just after start-up though, for the first minute
or so, the engine stumbles launching under load at low RPM.  No bucking,
just low power.  If I put in the clutch and rev it past the low rpm, I
can power through the stumble.  It might do this twice in the first one
to two minutes, but after a few 3000 RPM shifts, the van runs great.  It
only does this when cold, not after a warm start.  Any ideas?

4.  The right arm rest on the driver side is loose and now spins round
and round instead of holding up my elbows.  How do I get in there and
tighten up the nut/bolt without screwing up the upholstery?  Do I go in
from the seat or pull off the arm rest upholstery?

5.  The sliding door opens and closes fine but after driving for 10-15
minutes, it will unlatch slightly.  It never opens, but there is a
noticeable increase in wind noise and you can see that the door is
slightly ajar visually.  Is there an adjustment that can be made
somewhere to make it latch more securely or is this an indication of a
worn latch?  Anyone else ever have this happen?

I have the Bentley manual if there are any specific references there I
missed.


TIAFYH,

Jim

'90 Westy
'86 Quantum Syncro Wagon
'97 Passat VR6
'74 R90/6