Date: Sun, 16 Feb 2014 09:19:37 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: vanagon fire
In-Reply-To: <CAEcEDArtgxu7Vdyv0dzB+SRrGVEEfY3LrKF5iPqKnZi9kuB3NA@mail.gmail.com>
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Art,
I only work on Vanagons as a part time business but over the years I have
worked ~140 of them. To date I have replaced 7 headlight switches. They
really don't fail that often and at this age is just normal maintenance. In
comparison back in 2004 I purchased a brand new motor home and the switch
was defective from day one. Lots of intermittent headlight flickers. Took
almost a year for the dealer to admit that was the problem. Anyway yes
switches can fail but somehow adding another point of failure is not always
the best approach, especially for folks that will be supporting these
modified systems on their own. Now if you want to add higher wattage bulbs
then relays become a necessity.
Adding fuses can often result in nuisance shut downs. Remember there are at
least two power sources. Do you fuse both the alternator and batteries? What
size for the starter cable. These items need some thought.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Art Jury
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 12:56 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: vanagon fire
Thank you for the advice I was wondering what hose to get and planning to
research it.
I would disagree with this though. (#2 for me)
When you have the switches on the dash board switching the relays instead of
the direct power you should end up switching a lot less current with the
25 year old parts. Every time you switch a high current circuit (for
instance headlights) you wear out the switch a bit (think small lightning
bolt). I can buy 10 good quality relays for $20 (40 amp). If one fails I
can just plug another one in. Im sure Ill come up with something that
works, NASA let me wire and trouble shoot airplanes for 15 years.
Electrons I can chase. The mechanical bits make me scratch my head. Ill
try to post something when I come up with a solution and test it for a
while.
#2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays for
the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need more light).
Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead of the
ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays. Consider
improving the current path from the alternator to the battery, and then the
dash board. While driving, the alternator, not the battery is your power
source. Don't just add fuses to the battery circuits. You need to know what
you're doing. You can't easily fuse the starter cable.
On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Dennis Haynes
<d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> See comments below.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Art Jury
> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:12 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: vanagon fire
>
> Tracing fuel lines is my next project, thanks for the advice!
>
> The plastic firstarter is not there, the PO had the engine rebuilt and
> claimed it was taken care of. Since he was a long time owner of vanagons
> (and had 2 burn on him) I think he is probably right but since it will
> be my fat in the fire Ill check it on my own.
>
> I messed up I usually ask for parts so I can fiddle with them but with
> the time crunch to get the new plates I did not this time.
>
> It was not a big expense in any case but I suspect it did not really
> fix the problem so I will make it my 3rd or 4th priority.
>
> #1 fuel lines
> Be sure to get good stuff. The original lasted 15 to 25 years in many
> cases.
> All the aftermarket stuff seems to need a 2 to 5 year replacement
> cycle. VW actually specifies a different hose for the fuel rail supply
> then other parts of the vehicle. They also changed the clamp design
> around 90 or so. I get the hose and the outer sleeve from them.
> Bel-Metric has the good squeeze
> (crimp) type hose clamps if you like those.
>
> #2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays
> for the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need
> more light).
> Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead
> of the ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays.
> Consider improving the current path from the alternator to the
> battery, and then the dash board. While driving, the alternator, not
> the battery is your power source. Don't just add fuses to the battery
> circuits. You need to know what you're doing. You can't easily fuse the
starter cable.
>
> #3 Fix lose shifter gates, hard to find the gear, I have driven
> other vanagons and have a friend that has owned a few so I know it can
> be made better than it is.
> A proper adjustment can do wonders. Many shifting problems can be
> caused by transmission or clutch problems.
>
> # 4 make sure the engine is burning the fuel correctly, I dont know
> much about engines but incorect combustion can only be wasteful at best
and
> dirty things up at worst. Fortunately in Washington state after 25 years
> I no longer have to pass smog and with a 24 year old van that means
> I'm done.
>
> If you failed any states emissions test program you know you have a
> problem.
>
>
>
> Somewhere between 3 and 4 I hope to make a trip or 2 with my family to
> enjoy the van.
>
> Thank you for the warm welcome volks!
>
> ARt.
>
> --
> The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do
> not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
>
> "You don't pay back, you pay forward." Robert A. Heinlein
>
--
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
"You don't pay back, you pay forward." Robert A. Heinlein
