Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:47:45 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Golen <rgolen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Golen <rgolen@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: PS pump switch, engine compartment wiring harness, ECU,
starter
In-Reply-To: <56BB5614.9080705@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The same thing happened to me two years ago. Wire from P/S switch grounded out and fried the wiring harness in the engine compartment in my 87 Westy. I put an inline fuse on the + wire.
Sent from my iPad
> On Feb 10, 2016, at 10:24, Jon VonOhlsen <jondvo@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Interesting about the PS circuit, had no idea. Possible shorts to ground
> seem quite possible.
> Jon
>
>
>> On 2/9/2016 9:03 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>> This is kinda to bring everyone up to speed on recent problems on my '88
>> GL Vanagon.
>>
>> A little while back driving down the road the starter suddenly engaged.
>> Stalled the engine. Clutched it, but could not turn off the starter. Fnally
>> did, and long story short, got it tow to HESCO, one of the best garages in
>> the area. They will work on anything. Even had a snowmachine mounted on
>> wheels in there.
>>
>> Anyway, after checking, they found the engine bay harness was fried, as was
>> the ECU and the starter. It seemed the meltdown began with a PS switch wire.
>>
>> What has been learned from knowlegable folks ln this list, is that:
>>
>> 1) The PS steering switch circuit is a hot, un-fused circuit. There is no
>> protection of this circuit on these vans.
>>
>> 2) The fix ( by way of David Beierl) is to install a 7.5 amp fuse in the
>> engine wiring box, in the red wire that goes from the B+ post inside the
>> box to the relay box. That will keep your harness from smoking.
>>
>> 3) A thru 2003 BRAND NEW FROM THE FACTORY starter for a TDI DIESEL, fitted
>> with an adapter plate, works perfect. This also works with a Subaru engine
>> conversion.
>>
>> See following links:
>>
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-NEW-STARTER-FOR-VW-DIESEL-TDI-MANUAL-TRANS-HIGH-TORQUE-2Kw-ONE-YR-WARRANTY-/300475513229?hash=item45f5bc798d:g:p8EAAOxyJX1TFmlY&vxp=mtr
>>
>> http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html
>>
>> Necessary pigtail:
>>
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1673971
>>
>> Kudos go to Peter Jones at Van Cafe for scaring me up an ECU with the
>> pigtail already installed formy SHOEBOX ECU MONITOR. Since my stroke I
>> don't have fin enough muslce control to do that fine soldering required.
>> Hand shakes just a little to much. But he got'ter done. He is also going to
>> put Davids fix on the Van Cafe web site next to the PS swich info.
>>
>> And KUDOS to JAY BROWN for his advice on the starter pigtail and sending me
>> a new starter relay to replace the one that got fried in all this. I happen
>> to have his headlight relay set-up in both my vans, too.
>>
>> There were many others who provided input on this, and I want to thank you
>> all too.
>>
>> I seriously hope this helps someone else avoid the problems and expense
>> that I have had with this. Remember, fore warned is fore armed! Fuse that
>> wire and avoid all this some place on a dark and stormy night, between
>> Somewheresville and Nowheresville!
>>
>> John
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