Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:09:13 -0400
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Mulititude of questions (dash out now...)
In-Reply-To: <8CBCCB7E9C62BE6-514-16B0@WEBMAIL-DC02.sysops.aol.com>
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Scott and Jim have offered up some suggestions.
The 86 is a transition year. The information >IS< in the Bentley, but
you may have to look at other years wiring diagrams to figure out what
is appropriate for your specific vehicle.
The little lightbulbs are available from the dealer, as well as
several of our online vendors. Only the bulbs need to be replaced
unless you have other wiring issues. It may be possible to replace
some with LEDs now, but LEDs are going to be significantly more
expensive.
As to your gas gauge not reading correctly. Scott's suggestion of the
voltage regulator is a beginning (especially if your temperature gauge
is also not working) . You may also have issues with your ground
connections, your alternator voltage output, or even a bad sending
unit. In my 86, the sending unit was fine, but I had to replace it due
to it rusting through. Since you have a mouse problem I'd suggest
checking your wiring for chew marks.
Regarding the cable, you probably won't be able to hack a repair such
as you suggest. That metal tends to be brittle and not malleable. It's
quite possible you can still get replacement cables, or get it off a
junker in the salvage yard.
The speedo cable screeching is a sign that it is probably frayed.
While you can lube it, it will failed eventually. Replacing it while
the dash it out, will be a lot simpler than later with the dash in.
Cigarette lighter is relatively easy to replace. However, you should
check the wiring TO the lighter to verify that it's the lighter not
working, and not the wiring to the lighter. Mice damage to wiring can
be very very expensive to repair.
Most of our vendors have replacement antennas. You can choose from a
couple of different styles. The "cheap" style will have about 12 inchs
of the antenna sitting above the fendor when fully closed. The correct
style goes all the way down. It's not too difficult to replace, even
with the dash in, but you really have to go at it from the front
(remove the driver side headlight).
On Jul 6, 2009, at 9:18 PM, Andy Morse wrote:
> I took the dash out of my 86 syncro today (thank you for all the
> help!) It was easy going until I needed to get the heater unit out,
> two of the screws did not want to budge, I resorted to wd-40 and an
> impact screw driver. Finally! Heater unit was clamped and glued
> together, oh what fun. Now that they're apart I have a new heater
> unit, brake master cylinder and heater control valve on order from
> europarts direct.
>
> I'm finding the Bentley manual pretty useless. The Bentley for my 99
> Turbo New Beetle and the one for my? old 71 Westy are much better
> and more detailed at taking things apart. Glad I have you and the
> internet!
>
> *Anyway now that I'm in there I noticed that the cable that operates
> the right side defroster vent was broke off where it attaches to the
> slider. I haven't seen a cable for sale on line. I'm wondering if I
> can push the wire through to that side enough to expose some beyond
> the sheethe and make the bend my self to re-attach it? Not sure if
> there's enough wire to do this. Any other options?? I believe it
> broke beacause there was a mouse nest taking up the entire opening
> on the right side vent...Mice are good for dinner, yum!
>
> * Seems I should install new foam around the parts that had it. I'm
> thinking home depot for this, hopefully they have different sizes.
>
> *A number of my switch lights were not working, bulbs burned out. Do
> just the mini lights themselves get replaced or, the whole mini
> light unit that the wires hook into? Where can I get these and what
> specifically are they called, bulb number?
>
> *The temperature gauge stopped working awhile ago, is this a dash
> fix or somewhere else?
>
> *The gas gauge only registers up to about 1/3 full and then the
> needle won't go any higher even when the tank if full..
>
> * Is there a way to lube the speedo cable? When it's freezing
> outside it makes a nasty screetching vibrating sound, when it's
> warmer there's no problem.
>
> *How do I grease the wiper arms and any other areas on the unit?
>
> *12v cig.circuit not working. Do these go bad? Are they for sale? It
> would be nice to have the port operational.
>
> *Seems like a good time to replace the radio antennea, anyone know
> of any replacements? maybe one of the chains, bap-geon, adcance
> auto, pep boys has something that will work?
>
> Anything else?
>
> Thank you!
> ????? Andy
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