Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:55:48 -0800
Reply-To: Chris Lisica <wavanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Lisica <wavanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Windshield wipers ETC. questions.
In-Reply-To: <9559f8780711271019k3dc6ee8dycc9662181c1c71ff@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
In regards to item #1, speaking from personal experience, I too had the
horrid blurry spot on the top left of the drivers side of the windshield.
The fix is brilliantly simple: Adjust the windshield wiper arms up a notch
on the toothed shaft that they are bolted onto. I thought I was a genius
when I thought of this, and was very proud of myself! But, post celebration,
I realized that thousands before me probably made the same discovery!
The wiper arms are held on by a nut (10mm), that is covered by a small black
plastic cap. Remove the plastic cap, located at the base of the arm,
carefully, using a razor blade or very sharp screwdriver. Note the location
of the wiper arm. Raise the arm, in its upright position, undo the nut, and
hopefully the arm will pull off with a small amount of force. You may need
to spray a penetrating oil of choice onto the shaft to help loosen it. With
the arm off, you will notice that the wiper motor shaft has teeth on it.
Reinstall the wiper arm one notch higher, tighten the nut, get in the cab
and test it out. I also went as far as buying a custom size wiper for each
location on the van to increase the wiping surface area. Go to your FLAPS,
ask if you can take a few sizes out to the parking lot and experiment. I
think I went w/ 20" for the drivers side, 19" for passenger, and 18" for the
rear. They work great! Have fun!
On Nov 27, 2007 10:19 AM, Chad Lyles <chad.lyles@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As a noob, i have been learning and finding more things about my Vanagon
> on
> a daily basis... most of which is over my head but informative
> none-the-less.
> Anyway, since i have had my vanny (3 months now) i have had to change the
> ignition switch the AFM and the alternator and battery cables. (i got her
> for 600$ i'd say not too bad of a deal)
> all relatively simple fixes (thanks to the listee's that helped me
> diagnose
> the problems)
>
> A quick update on Hoppy, after all the minor fixes she is running good,
> but
> i do seem to be getting horrible gas mileage. she runs GREAT other wise..
> i
> have put a lot of hard miles on her already to and from the Oregon coast,
> to
> and from mt hood... hi-way miles galore!
> over all totally happy with her.
>
> NOW for the goofy questions.
> 84GL AUTO.
>
> 1. wind shield wipers.... my wipers don't seem to cover enough glass on
> the
> drivers side? i am left with a HORRID blurry blind spot when it rains in
> the
> drivers side top and side corner of my wind shield... my question is ...
> have they been installed incorrectly or is this a normal stock flaw?
>
> 2. i have an illusive (plastic) toggle switch on my dash that seemingly
> doesn't do any thing... its just to the right of my steering column... it
> appears to be after market... (because i cant find it in the book) there
> is
> no evidence that there were ever fog lights or any kind of anti-theft
> device
> (alarm etc) i cant tell where the wires go to...any ideas?
>
> 3. new AFM works great...(well better than the old broken one) but i
> occasionally have a weird idle that is a
> RRRrrrRRRrrrrRRRRrrrRRRrrr....then
> warms up and every thing is as normal. what's that all about? is it
> related
> to the new (refurbished) AFM? because it didn't do it with the broken AFM.
> *after thought* actually come to think of it ... it hasn't happened since
> i
> changed the alternator??? coincidence?
>
> ok sorry this was kinda long but i think i covered it all.
>
> thanks in advance
> Chad~
> 84GL (auto)
>
--
Chris
88 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
87 Westfalia (in progress)
http://wavanagon.googlepages.com/
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