Date:         Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:03:38 -0600
Reply-To:     Ben Cichowski <aquasheck@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben Cichowski <aquasheck@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Voltage Stabilizer and headlights connected now....??
In-Reply-To:  <48337.162.58.82.135.1203364106.squirrel@webmail.northstate.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi All,

here's the story. For a while, I was having fuel and temp gauge problems (ready too high....way to high on both). I traced the problem to the voltage stabilizer (the little 3 prong guy behind the dash). Intermittently, I would also notice complete failures...like when I would go over a bump, etc. So, I thought there may be some connection issues, and others confirmed that was likely the case. 

I ordered and received a new stabilizer this weekend - I took off the gauge cluster and looked behind to see the small, plastic, female connection for the voltage stabilizer. Sure enough, one of the tabs that connects it to the printed circuit was broken off the board - probably the cause of my intermittent failures. I carefully removed the old stabilizer and took a chance on some ultra-precision soldering to re-attach the female receiver....success...I think.....(read below).

With the new stabilizer in, everything reads correctly - yeah! But...when I turn on my headlights, the red led for the coolant level/warning blinks for about 3 seconds. When I hit the brights, it blinks for 5 seconds. There are no other abnormalities other than this, but I'm wondering if my soldering smoked something on the board, or connected something that isn't supposed to be connected, etc. These things are kind of delicate of course, and not made to be re-soldered, but my only other choice was to find a new circuit board. 

And yes, everything was completely disconnected when I soldered - I took the cluster completely out of the vehicle. It is not very bothersome, I'm just wondering if this is something I should be concerned about...anyone else have similar issues?

(side note: the new VS fits like crap compared to the old one....I ordered it based on my specific model '88 Wolfsburg Vanagon...are there different Voltage stabilizers for different years and I was sent the wrong one? - That'll really bunch my boxers if I find out that is the case)










> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:48:26 -0500
> From: kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET
> Subject: Re: WTB CV joint "backing plate"
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Jim,
> What's your mailing address, I'll get one in the mail.
> Ken Lewis
> 
> 
> On Mon, February 18, 2008 11:28 am, Jim Felder wrote:
> > I need the reinforcing or backing plate that goes under the bolts of a
> > vanagon CV joint.
> > Does anyone have one to sell?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >

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