Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2023 20:30:38 -0400
Reply-To: Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Weird going-ons!
In-Reply-To: <BL0PR05MB4916D73F99FFE3583142150EA0EEA@BL0PR05MB4916.namprd05.prod.outlook.com>
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Howdy to y'all
I got back to work on the weird brake warning-light. I posted about the
trouble in facebook V.O.G. and got some some friendly advice.
(wanted to share it here, a few of you probably know David B. in Rhode
Island - he knows Dennis)
I opened up the gauge cluster to access those brake pressure switches
(3-prongers)
David advised me to measure resistance between certain select wires, which
I did.
It took me a LONG TIME because trying to keep it all together in my head
(measure OHMS between 81 R/BK and 81a BL/R pedal OFF)
And I was confounded as to whether I should be reading the actual wire
terminal, or reading off the blades of the pressure switch itself.
My first attempt I turned the ignition key to ON, and it caused my cheap
multimeter to geek out... ugh. Seems continuity testers don't like current.
I bought another, slightly better multi-meter. This morning kathleen and I
sat there in the cab, and she wrote down the notes.
We felt SO DYSLEXIC trying to execute this test.
simply:
*front pressure switch* (nearer to steering wheel)
81 to 81a (pedal off) = 0.3 Ohms
81 to 82a (pedal on) = 0.1 Ohms
*back pressure switch* (the deep one)
81 to 81a (pedal off) = 0.5 Ohms
81 to 82a (pedal on) = *127 Ohms, 46 Ohms, O.L., 76 Ohms, 32 Ohms...
beeping intermittenly*
(so we think this is the mcguffin)
I ordered a replacement ATE switch from Van Cafe, as well as caliper
rebuild kit, stainless steel flexible brake lines, and an L.E.D. dash bulb
kit!
I'm excited to do the front brakes.
I first have to get my '98 Subaru back up, with a new radiator and hoses.
That's gonna be its own challenge.
The van has also exhibited a hot passenger -side front wheel after some big
downhills. They're steep hills, and I have to ride the brakes, but driver's
side didn't get as hot. Don't know if itthis hot wheel is related to the
brake warning light. Hence the full rebuild of front brakes (Master
Cylinder was replaced in 2016, so leaving that)
It occurred to me that before we set off for Maine and New hampshire,
wherein the issue first appeared, I had finally replaced the
120volt circuit breaker in the rear cabin, and got power back there for the
first time since i bought the van in 2009! And I turned the fridge power to
120v and that thing worked too!!!
I wondered if the fridge action had caused some mischief with the
other circuits... Dennis mentioned the fridge exciter. That's way over my
head.
But it was cool to find the page of electrical diagrams in my Vanagon
manual, that depicted the Brake pressure switches and the brake warning
light, and the three color-coded wires that David B. hepped me to read ...
Like there might be hope for me understanding auto -electrical.
Take it easy, appreciate all you guys,
vinnie
On Thu, Sep 7, 2023 at 11:25 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> OK,
> So based on it being an 82, the brake system uses the brake light,
> pressure switches to operate the warning light. There is also some magic to
> light it as a test and a switch on the handbrake lever. You mission is to
> determine if this is a true warning or electrical.
>
> If the brake pedal feels normal, it is likely a false indicator. This
> could be due to one of the switches being defective. Does the light only
> turn on when applying the brakes? Disconnect 1 at a time to isolate or just
> replace both switches. Be careful for source. Some are real junk and even
> become leakers.
>
> Check the handbrake switch is not damaged or mis adjusted. It is a
> repurposed door light switch.
>
> While this is a recent change it is possible there is a compatibility
> problem with the Subaru alternator, this set up, and if still in place the
> refrigerator control relay as all of this reacts with the alternator
> exciter and warning light circuit.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> Vincent Dow
> Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2023 11:12 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Weird going-ons!
>
> Thanks for the replies. The connection with other owners is alleviating my
> discouragement.
>
> My van is a 1982 air-cooled, manual transmission. It was converted to a
> 1994 Subaru 2.2 by the previous owner. It's an oddball with lots of hack
> underneath to make it water-cooled (no spare tire tray, radiator *maybe*
> from Subaru donor car, steel exhaust pipes for coolant lines, cut out grill
> in front) Its name is MODESTO. But it's a hard-working beast. It's done
> Montreal-Los Angeles EIGHT TIMES. With no problems.
>
> I'm having to accept that the brakes need a full rehab: Hoses, seals,
> calipers, fluid... When I bought this van I lived in Los Angeles, and had
> a driveway/carport, so no problem was so big that I couldn't deal with it
> eventually. But now, since my daughter was born 4 years ago, I'm in
> Montreal, and there's very little space to lay up a vehicle. If I can get
> to it soon enough I'll move it up north to our family place, and remove all
> the brake parts, bring them back to Montreal, and rebuild them in my back
> shed. But there's no garage up there in St. Sauveur QUE. The van will be
> outside, and thus I'll be working outside. Weather changes fast here.
> (before that happens)
> I have to start with new radiator/hoses/thermostat/prestone in the 1998
> Subaru, so I have at least one car that moves.
> This is a challenging time. I've had my van since 2009 and it's brought us
> to some incredibly special places. My daughter loves it. Our dog loved it.
> I LOVE IT (always loved VW vans since my childhood in Tahoe riding in bay
> window busses) But it's getting hard to hold onto it. The steepening curve
> of van-issues vs. the dropping curve of my time and available
> concentration. When those lines cross, the van might have to go.
> Appeciate you all very much
> Love,
> vinnie
>
> I finished renovating a 120 year-old wood cornice yesterday. 28' up. I
> spent four 10/hr. days in a boom lift\. It was gnarly, and we're in a
> heatwave ("feels like 105 degrees")
>
> On Wed, Sep 6, 2023 at 8:20 PM OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > What Year Van ?
> >
> > > On 6 Sep , 2023, at 11:55 AM, Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey y’all
> > > So I’ve been getting a brake warning light the last couple weeks ,
> > > when I push the brake pedal . At first it wasn’t every instance, but
> now it is.
> > > I was down in Maine when this first appeared. I checked my reservoir
> > > and
> > it
> > > looked okay.
> > > Braking feels normal,
> > > I last did my brakes 2016, but my van doesn’t get 3,000 miles a year.
> > More
> > > like 1,000/year in the last four years.
> > >
> > > Now today I started seeing the seat belt warning light come on too
> > > (my
> > Belt
> > > was done up)
> > > Do brake warning and seatbelt warning share a relay or some such thing?
> > >
> > > My other car, a 1998 Subaru legacy, is laid up in the country
> > > waiting
> > for a
> > > new radiator, so I’m having to drive the van for my job. Sucks.
> > > Traffic, lots of hills in Montréal.
> > >
> > > I want to inspect my front and rear brakes, once my job is done
> tonight.
> > > I’m painting/restoring an architectural cornice and I have a boom
> > > lift rented - so I do long days. No time to get close to my van
> > > until this is wrapped.
> > > Thanks, if you have any ideas. When I get some free time I want to
> > > clean the grounds as I hear that can cause a lot of gremlins,
> > >
> > > Vinnie
> >
> >
>
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