Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 17:37:52 -0800
Reply-To: Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear Defroster Questions
In-Reply-To: <CALGCdoXNGB1T9DBi-E2R_BVbVx2b=PpFfkfmPg5dcoCHiyBVww@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi Donna,
I'll chime in a couple of comments. If the 35 mile commute is "ouch"
because of the fuel cost, then leave 10 minutes earlier and drive 5-10 mph
less. I know this can be a painful suggestion having commuted so much of
my work life... but then Syncro/Vanagon saves some bucks at slower speeds
and can be a nice lazy drift down the road rather than "commute". I
wonder, is meditation possible while driving? Hmmm......
I have no experience with defroster material getting weak. But the effect
of the material may be reduced by lower voltage. Check the wiring and the
ground connections, and the connectors for corrosion. With lower voltage
the effect of the material on the glass may be lower. The material is a
resistor, giving off heat as current passes through it. So with lower
power from corroded connectors or grounds it might reduce the heat.
Yeah, the defroster switch is easily accessible when you pull off the top
cover over the instrument panel. There is a little indentation on the back
when sitting (or the front side by the windshield) you can pull up. May
take a little force but the whole thing will pull off and you'll then be
able to access the switch. The switch will have a couple of little bendy
clips on it, maybe one of the clips broke.
I hope it is nice and snowy and cold and cozy and comfortable where you
are. The best we can manage here is hail once or twice a year and some
cold, and maybe every 5 years a flake or two, and maybe every 20 years 1/4
inch of accumulated snow. That's not right, the government should do
something about that, its the holiday season, every place in the US should
be guaranteed at least 2-3 six-inch snowfalls a winter -- especially in mid
to late December -- I'll have to write the president about that.
Roland
On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 9:22 AM, Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@gmail.com>wrote:
> For a few weeks I have to use our Syncro for my commute to a train station
> (ouch, this will be an expensive month as the train station is 35 miles
> from my house - I may look for a vanpool or carpool).
>
> Anyway, I wonder if over time the effectiveness of the defroster wanes?
> Seems like it takes longer nowadays to get the job done. Obviously I run
> the rear wiper so it's not a big deal.
>
> The second thing that happened is that when I went to turn off the
> defroster switch I pushed it right through the outlet into the dash! I
> assume I can just pull the dash top up and fish it out and hopefully get it
> put back in place?
>
> Donna, 87 Syncro
>
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