Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:31:59 -0500
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: intermittent electrical problem in dashboard and wiper fluid
problem
In-Reply-To: <CAFeNKKF5==FA2-aYOUrqdx5k0deRPctF2XXAdg55sM2XCuJwcw@mail.g
mail.com>
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>First problem - I seem to have an intermittent electrical problem in the
>dashboard. Sometimes the light behind the speedometer doesn't go on, and
>with it several other things - the blowers to defrost the windshield, in
>particular. Wipers work, the light on the clock works. I don't know if
>the light on the tach works because it has been disconnected for ages.
Manual says panel light fuse is above the main row of fuses, ten
amp. If the light for the idiot light legends, heater switches,
cigarette lighter are working then your trouble there is definitely
inside the panel, probably the lights themselves or their contact
with the panel. The speedo, tach and LED lights are all on top of
the panel (in front of the gauge faces).
Heater blower is fuse 13. If the wipers work then you're not having
a problem with the load reduction relay. Doesn't seem likely to me
that the blower and the panel lighting problems would be
related. You have the new type fuses though, which don't *usually*
have contact problems like the older type. If the fuse was blown the
blower simply wouldn't work. You could be having a ground problem
with the star grounds up behind the fuse/relay panel.
>Second problem - the pump that should put out wiper fluid makes noises but
>no fluid comes out. (I just poured a bunch in, so the tank isn't empty.
>Unless it has a leak, but I didn't notice one. And since there's a noise,
>this isn't part of the aforementioned electrical problem.) Could something
>be blocked in the system?
Either nozzles blocked or the pump is toast (or hose broken or
disconnected, in which case it will pump lots of fluid on the
ground. Get someone to pump while you probe with a fine wire or thin
needle, see what happens. You can drop the tank (maybe can
disconnect the hose without doing that, I forget) and see if the pump
is working. Should put out a very strong stream with the hose disconnected.
> I haven't tried to use wiper fluid since last
>winter - and for a LONG time I have had major problems trying to get fluid
>to spray in the right place on the windshield. Endless application of a
>pin to move the jets this way and that, but the fluid is always too high or
>too low. Might these two problems even be related, if things are clogged?
The spray nozzles are very difficult to get just right because
they're at such a low angle to the windshield. The left side one is
particularly infuriating. They'd be a lot easier if they were out on
stalks a couple inches long.
Yrs,
David