Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:35:46 -0800
Reply-To: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Electrical Nightmare?
In-Reply-To: <C3C85F754C8C483F9447BDA5248B1990@b0zd3sk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Jeff,
It depends on if the additional circuits have been installed properly or not.
I had to replace the entire harness in a Vanagon and Jetta recently.
The Vanagon Westfalia had too many spliced wires that were unfused and the speedo cluster would smoke when I turned the key on.
Looking closer I found so many added wires I thought- no wonder they bailed out on this Vanagon.
You need a Bentley manual to study the electrical schematics and trace each non-working component circuit by it's color-coded wire .
With the number of things not working, and someone having been in there before adding the power locks etc, it's probable that these modifications are the original cause to the present effect.
Another thing to check under the dash on the right side there are a couple circular metal ground wire connection rings (ground busses) where the various components are grounded. If you look there, you might plug and unplug each wire, make repairs to connnectors if needed, and treat tthem with some sort of corrosion inhibitor.
I have found things worked again by doing this, as the busses themselves can be corroded and might need to be removed and cleaned or replaced.
Robert
1982 Westfalia
--- On Thu, 12/18/08, Jeff Michal <jeffmichal@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
From: Jeff Michal <jeffmichal@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Electrical Nightmare?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2008, 10:28 PM
Hey folks. I drive a 1990 GL, and I've got a bit of a problem. I was out
driving around tonight, and at some point I noticed that my windshield wipers
arent working. I start checking other stuff, and alot of my electrical stuff
isnt working. I checked all the fuses with a continuity tester, no problems
there, but I replaced the fuses for the components that werent working
(specifically fuses 11, 12, and 17) anyway just to see.
I've run down a list of pretty much everything I could think of that is
electric in the van to see what works and what doesnt.
Works - Radio, All lights, Dimmer, Cigarette lighter
Doesnt Work - Wipers, Washers, Power Mirror Adjustment, Auxilary Heater, Air
Conditioner, Dash fan (pushes defroster).
It was too cold tonight for the engine to get hot enough for the front fan to
come on, so I couldnt test that.
I bought my vanagon second hand from an old German fellow who took some
liberties with the wiring harness. He drilled a hole in the ashtray and fixed a
light on the underside of the dash that shines into there through the hole, it
is hooked up to the dimmer. He fitted power locks and windows aftermarket. The
radio comes on with the key in switch circuit, but the buzzer does not. The
seat belt buzzer does not work either. There are forward auxilary heater
temparature controls that I dont think are stock; it is a toggle switch for temp
up and down. Additionally I noticed some very non standard plastic bag looking
material surrounding some electrical component behind the right front headlamp
when i was swapping my bulbs. The radio had also been replaced, and there are
additional speakers under my middle row seat. While alot of these might sound
like great things, in the undocumented state I recieved them in, it can be a
nightmare.
One other thing I'll say is that recently, within the past month, I have
started using that auxilary heater pretty much non-stop where I was never using
it before. I figured out that it works really well and I fell in love with it.
The upside is the guy I bought the van from works for my mechanic. I can take
it over there and they'll fix it, but I'll have to pay and I'm not
really looking forward to that a week ahead of Christmas.
I'm hoping this rings a bell for someone, but if it doesn't, what
should I do? I dont really need the aux heater or the power mirrors, but the
wipers and defroster are critical. I'm hoping its a relay or something I
can swap out easily.
Any help or recommendations are appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff
90 GL
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