Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:09:09 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Newbie and inop electric windows
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The door panel and window mechanism come apart in the 'usual fiddly way' ...
like most door panels and window regulators.
with only one hand though ....might be pretty tricky.
the main thing I want to point out ..
the plastic 'panel' or 'surround' that holds the window switches in the door
panel..
those break if you even look at them funny.
there are tiny tabs on the bottom, that hook onto the door panel material..
and those break like way, way too easily.
I did manage to fanangle something decent enough that doesn't show on one
recently .. ( fixing a broken one )
so it looks right, and holds the switch or switches into the door panel
fairly properly ..
but better that you don't have to do that ..
so just be super careful.
I did manage to just remove the power window motor from a late vanagon
once...
that had gotten stuck, then treat it with some WD-40 ..get it going again ..
and put it back in and it kept working for a long time after that. The motor
will come out by itself...
though they could have made it easier.
Door panels are straightforward clip arrangement ..
just watch out for those switch holders ....they are very eager to break on
ya.
welcome,
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "A PETER MARSH" <apetermarsh@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 2:07 PM
Subject: Vanagon Newbie and inop electric windows
> Greetings fellow Vanagon owners. Your web site and support is incredible.
> Thank you for being here.
>
> Recently bought a 1991 Vanagon GL that was supposedly parked for "a few
> months" (more like a a few years). The PO had run her without any
> maintenance until she would not start - bell bearing in the starter was
> nonexistent at this point. With the help of a local friend, who is a VW
> Tech, we got her running. To get her running we had to replace the fuel
> pump, fuel filter, get the starter rebuilt, replace the rotor cap and arm
> and lots of other little things.
>
> The clutch needs "looking at" as do the brakes and the air conditioning -
> a must here in SW Florida. My next challenge is with the electric
> windows. Because I am very old, and with only one real operating hand,
> can you extremely kind knowledgeable experts explain in very simple terms
> (because I am English and just off the boat! OK - joke - I have been a US
> Citizen after being proclaimed so with over 3,000 of my closet Cuban
> friends at a swearing in session in Miami back when Monica and Bill were
> friends) just how I remove the door panel and get to the electric motor as
> my VW Tech is real busy on other projects at this time.
>
> Thanking you in advance
>
> Peter Marsh
> ( EX-User of twin SU carbs in my 1953 Morris 1000 in 1957/60 going very
> fast and getting into trouble with many local policemen.)
>
> 1981 VW Veggy Burning "Smoky Slug" - Pickup
> 2005 VW TDI very fast Beetle
> 1991 no-name yet Vanagon
