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Date:         Thu, 7 Apr 2011 18:53:00 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Wipers STILL don't work!! Arrgh!!
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <11eb01cbf565$5aa8e030$6901a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I usually have the spade connectors. I love'em - so easy to work with. Just got caught out this time. Also have the bayonet types that lock like two hands clasping - for connecting ends of two wires. Love those also. Put a little shrink tubing on them, makes a very nice, clean, electrically secure connection.

I found five different connectors on my steering column. All five have been double-double checked for being plugged in and secure.

When the wipers worked after hitting the railroad bump about 30 minutes ago, they performed as if nothing was wrong. When turned off, they parked properly, but would not come back on when prompted. That's GOT to be a loose connection some place - but where? That is the question.

BTW, I just got in the programmable wiper relay, but until I solve this riddle, I don't want to install it.

As for the horn ring - it was dead. a section of the brass/copper was missing completely and the wiper that contacts the surface for the electrical contact was worn to a point on one side with a good piece missing on the other. I trimmed it, sanded lightly so the end was in a very slight curve, polished the surface to bright metallic, bent it slightly to make contact, and installed the thing. Installed it all, turned the ignition - and the horn sounded. What the heck!!! I tried it again, same thing. Another one of those mysteries. Something not right somewhere.

Not to blow my own horn to much, but I'm a fairly decent mechanic and trouble shooter when I have the info and the tools with which to work. done a lot of aircraft mechanicing in my day, so it's ot like there are no skills. I feel that the most obvious things have been taken care off, but the real problems are a little deeper. So, in a little deeper. Ain't it fun?? This mystery stuff! 'cep'in the horn and wipers are safety items and need fix'in bad.

John

John Rodgers Clayartist and Moldmaker 88'GL VW Bus Driver Chelsea, AL Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 4/7/2011 3:49 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote: > hi. > that female spade connector.. > is about the most common wire connector there is ..... > particularly in VW. > Surprised you don't have 20 of them laying around. ..like even in your > road parts and tool kit. > Can't work on VW's without them. > > the new horn contact rings come that way, I just got one. No big deal. > > you are sure all the switch connectors are plugged in around the > steering column ? > there are 2 or 3 there. > > I've never seen wipers not work in at least some mode. > I'd say check your work carefully. > there is an intermittent wiper relay device ...doubt that's your problem. > I think the wipers will work but not self-park if that part is bad or > missing. > > btw .. > the horn contact rings wear badly after these 25 years or so. > One spot, in the 5 o'clock position ( as you sit in the driver's seat > looking at the steering wheel ) gets all the wear. > at the very minimum ...all vanagons should have 'something' for a lube > on that contact arm, that rubs on the contact ring ...wd-40 > .....dielectric grease ...'something' once in a while. > They can not run bone dry for 25+ years without tearing up the horn > contact ring in that one spot. > and the arm that rubs on it for electrical contact. > > the arm that rubs on it..those get trashed.. > clean that up, smooth it out with a small file, rebend it for a new > contact spot, etc. > > Left completely untouched 'forever' .. > it's just get mangled and tear itself up ...result - no horn. > > Scott > www.turbovans.com > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 12:31 PM > Subject: Wipers STILL don't work!! Arrgh!! > > >> Triple Argh!!! >> >> Just installed new ignition switch and new horn contact ring. But for >> one item, the job went off without a hitch. Didn't see any problems with >> old parts coming out, nor with new parts going in. Went very smoothly >> except for the "But for one item" part. In that case, I discovered the >> new horn contact wire came with a different connector on the end of the >> connection wire. The connection is a blade type, and the new female side >> of the connection was one half the width of the old female connector. >> Meaning, there was no way that new female side was going to fit the old >> blade. I had to jump through some hoops to find the correct replacement >> connector. Where I live - in a fairly rural area, made distant trips to >> various FLAP"S necessary to find that single correct connector. Found >> it, fixed it, put the steering well back on. Reconnected the battery, >> put in the key, started her up. No problem. But - when testing the >> wipers - NO GO! Jiggled the key - still no go. Checked fuses, OK. So >> now I'm stumped. The ignition switch is supposed to be the most likely >> culprit in wiper failure, but apparently not in my case. >> >> Any ideas as to where to start trouble shooting?? >> >> Thanks, >> >> John >> >> -- >> John Rodgers >> Clayartist and Moldmaker >> 88'GL VW Bus Driver >> Chelsea, AL >> Http://www.moldhaus.com > > >


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